Performers, Workshop Leaders

and Workshops

Please note that all workshops are open to anyone interested, regardless of recommended skill level.

Absolute Beginner or Beginner: no experience or very little

Intermediate: can play presented pieces without too much difficulty, can finger, embellish, and chord without intensive instruction

Advanced: can play easily, has a wide repertoire of music, can easily learn new techniques

Call for Open Stage Participants

New format this year! Two main stages will feature both scheduled and open stage performances. Open stage will be limited to those acts containing mountain or hammered dulcimer, harp, autoharp, or bowed psaltry, or harmonica.

Sign up in advance by calling the phone number on the festival flyer: 708-331-6875, or sign up during the festival at the HANDS tent. You may sign up for one slot per day.

Set Length: Two songs, not to exceed 7 minutes.

We look forward to hearing new talent!

MIKE ANDERSON (www.dulcimerguy.com)

Mike Anderson is one of the most versatile folk performers and educators in the Midwest. Mike plays guitar, banjo, jaw harp, noseflute, bones, and more. He is best known as an outstanding mountain dulcimer player - one of the very best in the entire Midwest. Mike is also nationally renowned, appearing at the National Music Festival, holding a prestigious position on the faculty of the Mountain Dulcimer Workshops at The Ozark Folk Center, Mt. View, AR, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, and West Carolina University, NC, as well as presenting workshops and concerts across the U.S.

As an author and elementary school teacher, Mike has honed his skills as a storyteller and is one of the best yarn-spinners and worst pun-tellers anywhere. Mike Anderson is a driving force on the Illinois folk scene and is one of the people we can thank for keeping traditional music and storytelling alive.

· Performance Techniques (Workshop E)

Saturday, 11:30-12:45

What makes your performance successful? We’ll discuss stage presence to sound to material selection and promotion.

Skill Level: All

· Mountain Dulcimer Tune Decoration (Workshop E)

Sunday, 10-11:30

This will be exploration of trills, hammer-ons, bass walks, chording, cheap tricks.

Skill Level: All

· Kids’ Music (Workshop E)

Sunday, 11:30-12:45

Make effective music for kids, using mountain dulcimer, banjo, etc

Skill Level: All

CATHY BARTON and DAVE PARA

Cathy Barton and Dave Para have created dynamic performances for 25 years in vocal and instrumental music. Dave and Cathy play several stringed instruments as well as “found” instruments. Putting the song before the singer, Dave and Cathy are caretakers of a long musical heritage, and they are known for deep understanding and affection for traditional music. They have at least 10 recordings out.

· Cathy and Dave, We Poor Laboring Men (Workshop B)

Saturday, 11:30-12:45

Songs of various occupations. Some are call and response, others have

several verses.

Skill Level: All level vocals

· Cathy, Banjo (Workshop B)

Saturday, 1:00-2:15

Cathy has won several banjo championships, and she is the best frailer

around. Learn from her!

Skill level: Adv Beg and up

· Cathy and Dave, Odd Instruments and How to Play Them (Workshop A)

Saturday, 2:30-3:45

Leaves, mouthbow, spoons – all make interesting sounds. Come

discover how.

Skill level: None and all!

· Cathy, “Delta Queen Waltz” (Workshop B)

Sunday, 1:00-2:15

A lovely waltz for hammered dulcimers

Skill level: Adv Beg-Int

· Dave, Beginning Clawhammer Banjo (Workshop C)

Sunday, 1:00-2:15

Skill level: Little or no clawhammer experience

· Cathy and Dave, River Songs (Workshop B)

Sunday, 2:30-3:45

For all voices

Skill level: All vocals

GORDON BOK and CAROL ROHL

Gordon Bok grew up around the boatyards of Camden, Maine. In his early years, he worked on a variety of vessels, and learned many tunes, sea songs, stories, legends and ballads from the people he worked with. His early songs like "Bay of Fundy", began to get attention, as did his rich voice and fluid guitar work. Paul Stookey, of the folk trio Peter, Paul, and Mary, produced Gordon's first album for Verve. Gordon became a leader in collecting, preserving, creating, and sharing a wide variety of rich and intensely beautiful songs of both land and sea. His music has been used in films and is published in folk music anthologies.

In addition to performing in concert halls, coffeehouses, and festivals through the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Scandinavia, New Zealand, and Australia, Gordon has taught choral singing and song writing at summer music camps, in his own community, and other gatherings. He has served both as Artist-in-Residence and faculty member of the College of the Atlantic. Although he never graduated from college, he received an honorary Doctorate of Science degree from the Maine Maritime Academy in 1997.

· Twelve String Guitar, Gordon (Workshop C)

Saturday, 11:30-12:45

Gordon is THE 12-string expert in the US, and will teach his

techniques and music.

Skill Level: All

· The Harp and Healing (Workshop A)

Sunday, 2:30-3:15

Carol gives her personal experience of the harp and healing.

Skill Level: Anyone with ears and an interest in healing music.

BRYAN BOWERS

Bryan Bowers was raised in New Bohemia near Petersburg of the Civil War's Battle Of The Crater fame. As a child, Bowers would tag along with the field workers and gandy dancers and learned to sing old call-and-answer songs.

In the late ‘60’s Bowers discovered music when he took up the guitar. It wasn't long before he encountered the autoharp.

Bryan relocated to Seattle in 1971 and played for coins as a street singer and in bars for the right to pass the hat. Once he had polished his technique, he headed east . He recalls “The Dillards heard me in DC when I went to the Cellar Door. They took me to a bluegrass festival in Virginia and when they got an encore, they put me out there." Bower won induction into Frets Magazine's First Gallery of the Greats after five years of winning the stringed instrument, open category of the magazine’s readers' poll. In 1993, Bryan was inducted into the Autoharp Hall of Fame to stand only with Maybelle Carter, Kilby Snow, and Sara Carter. From his rather unglamorous beginning, Bryan Bowers has become a major artist on the traditional music circuit. His towering six foot four inch frame can be wild and zany on stage while playing a song like `Dixie' and five minutes later he can have the same audience singing `Will The Circle Be Unbroken' in quiet reverence and delight.

· Autoharp (Workshop E)

Saturday, 1:00-2:15

Autoharp from the best performer in the states.

· Autoharp (Workshop E)

Sunday, 1:00-2:15

More autoharp instruction from this very entertaining and helpful artist.

ALISON COYER

Alison is an apprentice under Master Bill Robinson, through the Illinois Arts Council.

STEVE ENDSLEY

Steve Endsley from Canton, IL, has been playing mountain dulcimer for 23 years and custom building them since 1985. He is a self-taught master who strives for artistic appeal as well as the ease of playability of his instruments. Over the years, in Illinois and across the country, Steve has organized dulcimer workshops, has been involved in the Hickory Ridge Coffee House, RR3 Radio show at Western Illinois University, Mountain Dulcimer week at ASU Boone NC and currently at WCU Cullowhee, NC, presented his craft at the 6th annual Mid West Folk Festival Bishop Hill IL, directed the Dulcimer Gathering at Dickson Mounds, and has coordinated or been involved with other arts and music events.

· Absolute Beginner Mountain Dulcimer (Workshop B)

Saturday , 10-11:15

A presentation of how to play the mountain dulcimer as a beginner. Discussion on history, mountain dulcimer terms, fingerboard layout, scales, strumming, and the very basics of playing. Explore the difference between the Ionian mode and the Mixalydian mode in the same key. Tips on what to look for when buying an instrument.

Skill Level: Absolute beginner to novice

SHERRI FARLEY with Skip Sittig, Joy Ortiz, and Jim Johnson (www.sherrifarley.com)

Sherri Farley was inspired to take up the hammered dulcimer here at at Gebhard Woods 17 years ago, and was soon heartily immersed in performing, teaching, and presenting programs. She has been an Illinois Arts Council grant recipient and is on the agency’s Artstour Roster. Skip Sittig adds guitar and vocals, accompanied by his daughter, Joy Ortiz, on bass. On lead guitar is Jim Johnson. While their music is best known for its energetic lively appeal, it is often described as “happy” or “soothing” or simply as “old fashioned, toe-tapping fun!” They have two recordings, and were featured this past week on the WTTW Channel 11 program, Arts Across Illinois : CenterStage.

· Learn a Tune by Ear (Workshop D)

Saturday, 11:30-12:45

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner or Intermediate

· Basics for Hammered Dulcimer Beginners (Workshop B)

Sunday, 10:00-11:15

Get started with scales, chords, and a simple melody

Skill Level: New Player

GREG FERGUSON

Greg Ferguson is currently one of the guitar players for Bill Robinson and Friends and has been playing guitar and performing in various Bluegrass and Country bands for over 30 years. He currently travels throughout the country with Bill Robinson playing guitar and performing some of his own songs during their shows. Greg is currently a manager for Caterpillar’s Cab Assembly Operation in Joliet and is a 3rd generation employee at Caterpillar. Greg has just released a CD of songs he has written about the machines and for the folks that build the machines that play a part in making the world a better place to live for us all. Greg is married to Ms. Penny and together they have 3 daughters and 3 grand daughters.

· Successful Songwriting (Workshop B)

Sunday, 11:30-12:45

Greg will go over one of the songs he wrote that is on his Caterpillar CD

and explain where that came from and how it evolved. He will also go

through some details that are necessary for this craft.

Skill level: A desire to learn!

BING FUTCH

With roots in both African and Seminole Indian tribes, Bing Futch's window on America is a unique landscape of music, words and imagery. He began playing Appalachian mountain dulcimer at Knott's Berry Farm theme park in 1985, working at a Ghost Town shop for Bud & Donna Ford. Futch left his California hometown of Los Angeles in 1993 to pursue production opportunities in central Florida where he immediately set up a multimedia company called J.O.B. Entertainment Inc. Six years later, Mohave was born. The award-winning Americana band has performed all around the state of Florida and they've also opened for national acts. Along with performing and teaching workshops on mountain dulcimer, Bing is an accomplished filmmaker, podcaster and published writer whose music columns in Connections Magazine have been a Florida scene staple for ten years. He and his wife Jae live in Orlando, so close to Walt Disney World that you can see the fireworks from their interstate exit.

· Primal Mountain Dulcimer (Workshop A)

Saturday, 10:00-11:15

This workshop is about getting spirit, mind and body ready to work together for a simple approach to playing mountain dulcimer. Relaxation and breathing techniques are taught along with basic rhythm and scale exercises that help you define your own unique sound.

Skill Level: Beg-Adv

· Dark Side of the Mountain Dulcimer (Workshop A)

Saturday, 11:30-12:45

Exploring minor keys, drones, dissonance and musical conflict.

Must have a capo.

Skill level: Int-Adv

DIANE IPPEL (www.dianeippel.com)

Diane Ippel has been performing on the hammered dulcimer since 1982, coming to it from singing and playing guitar. Diane holds a B.S. Ed. in Art from Illinois State University. She teaches hammered dulcimer and gives workshops at festivals and arts organizations. Diane is currently listed in the Illinois Arts Council Artstour Roster.

Her passion for the hammered dulcimer motivated her to start the Hammers and Noters Dulcimer Society of Illinois, Inc. in 1985, which is the sponsoring organization for the Gebhard Woods Dulcimer Festival. She is the founder and was Coordinator for 10 years of this nationally recognized festival now in its 21st year.

Diane has performed with many school choirs, has appeared throughout the Midwest, has been a featured performer on both radio and TV, has produced 4 vocal and instrumental album-length recordings, and appears as guest artist on 13 others. Twelve of her full-color flower portrait images are included in the poster format CD insert of “Bank of Flowers.” Diane was a founding committee member of the Morris Arts Council (1999-2004) and established the Morris Old Time Dance, now in its 9th year.

Diane’s photography, stained glass, and original beaded jewelry designs are available at Sanctuary Crystals, Alsip, IL.

· Beginning Hammered Dulcimer (Workshop C)

Saturday, 10:00-11:15

Tuning techniques, processes and tools will be covered as part of the session.

Introduction to the hammered dulcimer from the very beginning. History, stands, hammers, tuners, playing ergonomics, scales, chords, and basic music theory for hammered dulcimer including how to find the sets of notes to use when developing arrangements or providing basic accompaniment to other lead instruments. Simple melody playing, hammer patterns.

· Barn Dance Basics with Diane and Rob (Stage West)

Saturday, 4:00-5:15

Put on your dancing shoes and join us for some great fun in preparation for tonight’s dance! Learn the easy moves needed for the tunes. Bring a friend, and your two left feet, two right feet, or one of each.

Skill Level: All! No previous experience necessary.

· Hammered Dulcimer Embellishments (Workshop D)

Sunday, 1:00-2:15

Lecture/Demonstration style focusing on embellishing tunes. All techniques will be taught as vocabulary units rather than in the context of learning an entire arrangement of a tune. This vocabulary can later be incorporated into arrangements of repertoire that the participants already know.

Skill Level: Int-adv

KEN JACKSON

· Harmonica, (Workshop C)

Saturday, 4:00-5:15

· Harmonica (Workshop A)

Sunday, 10:00-11:15

JUST FOR FUN

Just 4 Fun is a group of ladies from the Quad Cities area who specialize in old time string band music. They have performed for over 10 years at many different venues, for special groups and clubs, churches, children’s programs and festivals. The members include Linda Slack on fiddle, mandolin and guitar; Jean Duncan on upright bass; Yvonne Price on harmonica and rhythm instruments; Lila Gehner on clawhammer banjo; Sandy Koester on guitar, clawhammer and bluegrass banjo; and Chris Clark on mountain dulcimer, tin whistle, autoharp and guitar. Their goal is to have fun! Their website is http://www.myspace.com/just4funoldtimemusic. Chris Clark will be teaching the workshop, and has played MD for 13 years, teaching it at a college, privately, and arranging music for MD.

· Unusual Old Time Fiddle Tunes for Mountain Dulcimer (Workshop E)

Saturday, 4:00-5:15

Skill Level: Adv Beg-Int

· Workshop repeated (Workshop B)

Sunday, 4:00-5:15

KEN KOLODNER

As a major part of the rebirth of the hammered dulcimer in the US, Ken is recognized as one of “one of today’s most accomplished, musical hammered dulcimer artists...” (Elderly). Ken is widely viewed among players as one of the most influential in the United States, and has recently received greater recognition as an old-time fiddler.

As a member of the trios Helicon and Greenfire, and in solo appearances, Ken has toured extensively throughout North America and Europe and has been featured in nationally broadcast concerts, as well as countless television and radio broadcasts around the U.S. Ken has been featured at numerous major festivals and performing arts centers in the U.S., and was the first American to be featured at the International Hackbrett Festival.

Ken is also highly sought after as a teacher of the dulcimer and more recently, the fiddle. Adding to Ken’s previous recordings, Ken’s first solo release of Celtic music in 1997, Walking Stones, was a huge critical success, and hit the top of the World Music charts.

Without any formal music background, Ken began learning to play the fiddle at age 23 by listening to recordings of bluegrass and American Old-time or Appalachian music. After picking up the fiddle, Ken discovered the hammered dulcimer while in graduate school. Ken holds a PhD in public health from Johns Hopkins. While most of Ken’s professional career is devoted to music, Ken still works as a part-time epidemiologist (with over 75 publications), while his family and an avid interest in soccer maintain center stage!

· Arranging Waltzes and Slow Tunes (Workshop D)

Saturday, 1:00-2:15

“Once you have the basic tune, what is next?” An exploration of many

ideas: 2 note chords, 3-4 note chords, tremolos, phrasing, dynamics,

flams, fills, dissonances, baselines, syncopations, accent shifts, use of

simple and complex chord subs, bounced and hammered triplets etc.

Skill level: Advanced beginners and up.

· Appalachian/Old-time fiddle workshop (Workshop D)

Saturday, 4:00-5:15

An introduction of several bowing approaches (e.g. Nashville, 3-1 or

“circle” bowing) and time permitting, bow rocks, string crossing, ghost

bows, anticipations, mid-bow pulses etc. To dress up your playing, left

hand ornamentation (e.g. slides, triplets, grace notes etc.) may be

introduced. Bring your own fiddle.

Skill level: Advanced beginners and up.

· Creating Variations in HD Music (Workshop C)

Sunday, 10:00-11:15

Keep your tunes fresh and constantly changing. Ideas covered may

include simple and not so simple ways to alter the melody and rhythm as

well as adding syncopations, accent shifts, adding chords, baselines, rag

rhythms, chord subs, 4 against 3’s, flams, fills, drones, triplets, drags,

ghost notes and more.

Skill level: Advanced beginners on up.

· So you don’t know the tune? Back-up techniques for Hammered Dulcimer. (Workshop C)

Sunday, 11:30-12:45

Learn lots of tricks of the very challenging and creative process of back-

up including using of vamping, drones, harmony, counter-melody and

bassline construction including chromatics.

Skill Level: Int and up

DAN LANDRUM

Dan's hammered dulcimer playing has taken him from street performing in Chattanooga, TN to Olympic Ceremonies, Presidential Inaugurations, multiple festivals around the country and major stages in hundreds of cities from the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles to New York's famed

Madison Square Gardens. Since 2003, he's been a soloist in the Yanni Live tour. This performance is currently being televised as a PBS special.

In 2006, Dan and his wife, Angie, took over publication of the

internationally distributed Dulcimer Players News magazine. DPN is a full color quarterly publication for dulcimer enthusiasts, which includes a CD with each issue. It has been in print since 1974. Dan lives in Signal Mountain, TN, and does his best to balance a schedule of touring, teaching, writing and occasionally finding enough time to street perform at the Tennessee Aquarium.

· Rudimentary Tricks for Spicier Playing on the Hammered Dulcimer (Workshop E)

Saturday, 2:30-3:45

Learning, so you can then forget about, a few essential percussion rudiments opens your playing to expressive hammering. We'll learn exercises to help you get the essentials out of your head and under your hammers where they need to be.

Skill level: Adv Beg and up

· “Norwegian Wood” for Hammered Dulcimers (Workshop D)

Sunday, 2:30-3:45

This Beetles’ favorite is unique on the HD, and Dan has planned it for those beyond the beginning level.

Skill level: Int and up

· Droning is Cool. (Seriously, it is.) (Workshop D)

Sunday, 4:00-5:15

There's a lot more to droning than just repeatedly playing one note. Droning does not mean drowning. We'll work on making a rhythmic drone support and present just about any melodic line.

Skill level: Adv Beg and up

DAVID AND ANNETTE LINDSEY

David Lindsey first discovered the hammer dulcimer in June of 1978 while vacationing at Silver Dollar City, MO. He bought and put together a dulcimer kit, and taught himself to play. David realized he was looking for a different sound than the kit, so in November ’78 he built his first dulcimer from scratch.

Meanwhile, his wife, Annette, became interested in the mountain dulcimer when she and David discovered the Ozark Folk Center in April of 1979. After purchasing a mt. dulcimer, David and Annette helped found the Sweet Song String Band, still an active group today.

While playing in those early days, audience members asked where they could purchase a hammer dulcimer. Once they learned that David had built his own dulcimer he was asked to make dulcimers for them, and David’s Dulcimers was born.

David and Annette travel all over the United States performing, instructing, and selling David’s Dulcimers. They are privileged to perform at times with their daughters Angie and Cara. Cara is continuing David’s love for playing the HD as well as learning the trade of making them. She has been working in the shop and building dulcimers with David since 2004. The family is very involved in the Red River Valley Dulcimer Club. They work together to sponsor Winter Creek Reunion every October at David’s Dulcimers, Bennington, OK. Their favorite thing is to help others find the love for music that changed their lives so completely that day back in 1978.

· David: Learn a Tune (Workshop D)

Saturday, 10:00-11:15

We will learn Comin’ Down the Brae

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner-Intermediate

· Annette: Learn a Tune on Mntn Dulcimer (Workshop C)

Saturday, 1:00-2:15

Annette will teach you a tune you will recall forever!

Skill level: Adv Beg and up

· David and Cara (Workshop D)

Sunday, 10:00-11:15

Father/daughter team will give you tips for playing duets, techniques

and interesting variations of working with other dulcimer players.

Skill Level: All

· Annette: Start from the Beginning – Mountain Dulcimer (Workshop A)

Sunday, 1:00-2:15

We will start at the beginning of learning to play a mountain dulcimer and go from there to learning one or more tunes.

Skill Level: Beginner

MARGARET (PEGGY) MISTAK

Margaret Mistak is a classically trained musician whose love of folk music began in her childhood in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, an area rich in the ethnic diversity of Eastern and Western European immigrants who came to work in the iron mines.

She has a degree in music education with a concentration in vocal music from Northwestern University and began her teaching career in the public schools of Deerfield and Park Ridge, IL. She has taught classical and folk guitar in her private studio and as a lecturer at Northwestern University. Her interest in the mountain dulcimer began when one of the students in her guitar class at the university brought one to show her. She has been performing on and teaching the mountain dulcimer since 1991.

· Beyond Bum Diddy Bum on MD (Workshop A)

Saturday, 1:00-2:15

This is a workshop for developing more varied and sophisticated

accompaniments for the mountain dulcimer. Suitable for use with singers

or other instrumentalists, it will explore many different styles of finger-

style playing.

Topics to be included: basic arpeggios in 2/4 3/4 4/4 and 6/8 meter,

chord voicings, developing harmony and countermelodies.

Starting with ways to make a simple two chord song more interesting, it

will move through the above topics toward more complex accompaniment

styles including syncopation and a dulcimer version of guitar style "Travis

Picking."

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner and up

PICKS & STICKS

They are a gumbo mixture of acoustical folk, swing, traditional, light pop, western, country, jazz, bluegrass, oldies, and ethnic tunes that captivates audiences of all genres. They feature the hammer dulcimer in a mesmerizing way, spiced up with vivacious vocals, and the hottest, most incredible guitar and banjo playing style you will ever see, combined with surprising arrangements. They have had the privilege of being named convention and festival headliners, and have toured around the country and performed for many wonderful organizations.

BILL ROBINSON & FRIENDS (www.billrobinson-dulcimer.com)

They have made a solid name for themselves throughout the tradition¬al dulcimer, folk and bluegrass communities in Illinois and Indiana. Bill has also spent time back East as a master instructor at the Augusta Heritage Arts Workshops. A multi-instrumentalist who also plays guitar and piano, Bill is an authentic traditional hammered dulcimer player and a true master with a bluegrass-inspired style and repertoire all his own. Through on-stage appearances, recordings, and especially through teach¬ing and. Instrument building, Bill is helping a whole new generation to carry on the music he learned from his ancestors, especially his grandmother.¬

Bill now makes dulcimers in partnership with Ken Harris (H & R Dulcimers). The band’s bluegrass-flavored style makes them unique among dulcimer bands. The members for Saturday are Bill, Jill Stargardt (bass), Greg Ferguson (guitar), Ed Cosner, (fiddle), Merle Lawson (banjo), Dan Hoehn (mandolin) and Sterling Wilson (gui¬tar). Several of their recordings are available.

On a special note, Bill won the North American Country Music Association International's 2003 Instrumentalist of the Year in the Bluegrass category, beating out performers from 17 states and 3 countries.

In addition, Bill received the 2003 Little Jimmy Dempsey Instrumentalist of the Year in All Categories. Bill was inducted into the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame, April 2006, and has the distinction of the Illinois Arts Council Master/Apprentice Program, teaching Alison Coyer.

· Learn a Tune (Workshop C)

Saturday 2:30-3:45

Skill Level: Intermediate and up

· Saturday night band at Immaculate Conception School, 505 North Street

· Learn a Tune (Workshop D)

Sunday 11:30-12:45

Skill Level: All are welcome, but playing level is intermediate and up

SASS!

Sass! is songwriters Sandy Andina & Susan Urban from Chicago, Illinois. Sandy and Susan are accomplished performers and songwriters, each with many years of experience entertaining audiences across the Midwest and beyond. Although these two wise and witty women describe their music as Original Classic Folk, their influences range from folk to rock to opera and everywhere in between! Guitar, six string banjo, mountain dulcimer, hand drum and other percussion instruments back up their expert vocal harmonies.

· Arranging Duets on Appalachian Dulcimer (Workshop E)

Sunday, 4:00-5:15

How and where to use different types of dulcimers (standard, bass,

baritone, soprano), and how to integrate and complement them with

other instruments.

Skill Level: All

TONY SCARIMBOLO

Tony, from Chicago, has been teaching and calling the Gebhard Woods Old-time Dance since just about the first time around. He’s a wonderful teacher who can make both veteran dancers and newcomers comfortable and well informed. Tony is a stalwart member of the Volo Bogtrotters, one of the Chicago area’s best known string bands, and is active in the Chicago Barn Dance Company.

· Barn Dance Basics (Stage West)

Saturday 4:00 – 5:15

Put on your dancing shoes and join us for some great fun in preparation for tonight’s dance! Learn the easy moves needed for the tunes. Bring your two left feet, two right feet, or one of each.

Skill Level: No prior experience needed!

· Old Time Dance caller

Saturday 8:00 – 11:00 P.M.

Immaculate Conception School, 505 North Street, Morris

Skill Level: Any or none and all!

SKIP SITTIG AND JOY ORTIZ

Skip and Joy are father and daughter, and play with Sherri Farley. They are offering a string (acoustic, upright, standup) bass workshop – done last year for the first time at GWDF! We welcome them.

· Upright/Acoustic/String/Standup (but not washtub) Bass Workshop (Workshop A)

Sunday, 11:30-12:45

Come one, come all – heft your bass over to the workshop and be prepared to learn from the beginning how to play it, or receive some nifty tips on relearning it.

Skill Level: Absolute Beginner and those who want to revive a forgotten skill.

ANNA STANGE

Anna Stange teaches music lessons and classes for adults and children at World Folk Music Company in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood. She also teaches band, choral music and guitar at P.L.A.I.D. Academy in Chicago. The Michigan native currently resides in Blue Island, IL. She travels extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad, and uses songs, stories and artifacts acquired on her trips to bring her musical programs alive. Anna performs for audiences of all ages, and her recordings are available at the sales tent here at the festival or at www.CDBaby.com. Stop by and say hello at the Family tent today.

· Family Tent Area (see map in booklet)

Saturday and Sunday 10-5

We’ll work with clay, paint, puppets, wood, and recyclable materials to create fun and interesting craft and music projects. Rhythm instruments will be available for use at the tent. All materials provided.

STRING FEVER

String Fever is a unique trio of musicians offering unparalleled melodies from soft, gentle waltzes to up-tempo jigs and pulsating polkas. A pair of master crafted hammered dulcimers, accompanied by an acoustic guitar, provide a variety of instrumental music. From foot-stomping Celtic reels to the soothing steel drum sounds of the Caribbean, String Fever provides the quality, stringed entertainment your sophisticated clientele have come to expect. From background dining music or on stage as a main show for a fun, lively, event, from casual to formal, String Fever can perform acoustically or amplified for bookings of one to three hours.

To book String Fever or for more information, please contact Mark Janiga,

e-mail - stringfever@sbcglobal.net, home phone – 219. 365.0489.

JO ANN SURBER

Jo Ann Surber has retired after teaching learning disabled youngsters for 35 years. Her main interests now are spending time with her husband, music, and volunteering at Lincoln's New Salem State Park near Petersburg and at the Old Lincoln Court House and Museum in Beardstown. Jo Ann has written a book, A New Salem Primer, about life in the 1830s. She now has 2 CDs to offer: "At Another Time" and "Promises, Prayers, and Praise."

· Non-denominational worship service (Stage West)

Sunday 9:00 – 9:50

Open to all. Join in praise and worship by attending or by playing along.

RICK THUM

If you want to see pure delight, just look at the faces in the audience during a Rick Thum performance. Whether he’s playing guitar, banjo, harmonica, mandolin, or one of the other many instruments he’s mastered, his lifelong love of music shines through.

Rick was voted “Best Performer” and “Favorite Teacher” for several years in a row at the Evart Dulcimer Festival, the oldest and largest such festival in the United States. Rick can usually be found leading lively jam sessions late into the night, engaging veteran players and encouraging novice players to join in. Rick’s many recordings are heard across the globe and on Internet radio stations. International music publications, including Dulcimer Players News and Blue Grass Buhne (the German version of Blue Grass Now), have written articles about Rick and his music. His book Hammered Fiddle Tunes, was published by Mel Bay. In the late 1990’s, Rick began building hammered dulcimers to his own exacting standards, selecting the right combination of the best materials to create award-winning instruments. Musicians today know Rick Thum Dulcimers for their superb engineering and tone clarity. Rick Thum’s hammered dulcimer playing will get your feet tapping, your hands clapping, and your heart dancing.

· Learn the tune "Turkey in the Straw" and Syncopation for Hammered Dulcimer. (Workshop D)

Saturday, 2:30-3:45

A fun tune with a little syncopation to really get it going on the hammered dulcimer.

Skill Level: Int and up

· Easy Chord Embellishments on the Fly for Hammered Dulcimer (Workshop C)

Sunday, 2:30-3:45

A simple trick to always know what chord to use and how

to use it. This is a new workshop of Rick’s.

Skill level: Close to intermediate and up

· Learn “Forked Deer” on Hammered Dulcimer (Workshop C)

Sunday, 4:00-5:15

A favorite jam tune that is really fun to play.

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner and up

TRILLIUM

Trillium is an acoustic quartet located in the far western suburbs outside Chicago, with an eclectic repertoire ranging in style from Celtic to folk to ragtime to swing to bluegrass -- entertainment intended for all ages and most musical tastes! Having now performed together for just under three years, they've played and been rebooked at many community festivals, coffeehouses, libraries (Best of the Best List in the Northern IL Suburban Library System), pubs, house concerts, nightclubs, fundraising events, corporate and private parties, weddings and receptions, and have been featured many times on The WFMT Midnight Special, WDCB, CelticNet and Highlander Radio as well as live broadcasts on public radio stations in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana.

Trillium has released two CDs: The Moody Leprechaun (called "one of the best recordings I've heard in awhile" by WDCB's Folk Fest host Lilli Kuzma) in 2007, as well as their 2006 release Over the Waterfall. Please visit them at www.trilliumtheband.com for more information!

The musicians are: Mim Eichmann on hammered dulcimer and vocals, Ed Hall, Walnut Valley National Fingerpicking Style Guitar Champion on guitar, banjo, and vocals, Doug Lofstrom on bass, and Paul Russell on fiddle and mandolin.

SUSAN TRUMP

Susan Trump has been a favorite on the dulcimer scene for the past twenty years, and has played at all the major dulcimer camps and festivals. She is known for her clear teaching style and interesting, playable arrangements. She has authored the book Classical Collections and Novice Level Chords and Fingering Book and Instructional CD. She was the producer of Volumes One and Two of the classic Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer series, featuring instrumental selections from many of the finest players in the country. The third in the series, Masters Play Music for Christmas was released in November. She has four solo CDs to her credit. Her newest CD, “Songs of Faith and Hope”, a collection of inspirational, uplifting songs for everyone is being touted as her best ever! Her latest project is Lessons in Your Living Room, a monthly subscription series of lessons with TAB and instructional CD, for players at the novice to intermediate-plus levels. www.susantrump.com.

· Understanding and Using Hammer-ons, Pull-offs and Slides for Mountain Dulcimer, (Workshop A)

Saturday, 2:30-3:45

These techniques can add some zip to your playing. We'll work on the “how to’s,” and then apply them in a few pieces. You'll be surprised at how easy it can be, and what fun you'll

have! DAD Tuning

Skill level: Low intermediate

· Early Music for Mountain Dulcimer (Workshop A)

Saturday, 4:00-5:15

We'll go back in time to play lute music, and greatest hits from the 1500-1600's. We'll be playing in G and Am out of DAD tuning. It's exciting and opens up new territory for our instruments! DAD tuning.

Skill level: Int-adv

· Songs of Stephen Foster for Mountain Dulcimer (Workshop E)

Sunday, 2:30-3:45

Let's learn a few songs from one of our most famous composers! These are a natural for the dulcimer, and people still love them. We'll incorporate simple chords, and fingerings. DAD tuning

Skill level: Adv Beg-low Int

ROB WILLIAMS

Rob Williams brings us music from his native land on Sunday, and is a permanent and favorite support in the barn dance basics Saturday workshop.

· Barn Dance Basics with Diane and Rob (Workshop B)

Saturday, 4:00-5:20

Put on your dancing shoes and join us for some great fun in preparation for tonight’s dance! Learn the easy moves needed for the tunes. Bring your two left feet, two right feet, or one of each.

Skill Level: No experience needed

· English Music (Workshop B)

Saturday, 10:00-11:15

We will learn English tunes. All instruments are welcome. Sheet music will be provided (no tab). Learn by ear or by reading the music.

Skill Level: All ages, all levels, all instruments!