Lap /Appalachian / Mountain Dulcimer Workshop with Madeline MacNeil at Weatherbury Farm Vacation

September 20 - October 1,2006: Weekend Intermediate Singing with the Mountain Dulcimer Workshop Level: Intermediate Tuition: $110 Course Times: Friday 7 - 9 PM; Saturday 9:30 - 11:30 AM & 1:30 - 3:30 PM; Sunday 9:30 - 11:30 AM Course Description: The mountain dulcimer and the voice are wonderful companions. The dulcimer also compliments other instruments when it's used for back-up. That's the focus of this weekend; exploring chords and melodies and how they work together. There will be new songs and old songs, new techniques and enhancements of old techniques. Bring your voice along with your dulcimer. If your dulcimer seems to be a better friend than your voice, don't worry! There are little things we can do to make your singing easier. This will be a weekend of music and song...and fun!

Maddie Mac Neil is known as a singer with an exceptionally clear voice who accompanies herself on hammered dulcimer and mountain dulcimer. Her repertoire includes folk and traditional music, but also extends to songs by contemporary singer/songwriters, show tunes, jazz pieces, old standards, and arrangements of classical music. Most hammered dulcimer players do not sing with the instrument, but Maddie has developed an accompaniment style that uses the full range of her large instrument and caps it with friendly smiles to her audience.
Performances in the United States include The Barns at Wolf Trap, the Smithsonian Institution, the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival, and the National Cathedral. She has also played for such events as the O’Carolan Festival in Keadue, County Roscommon, Ireland; the Glasgow Festival of the Arts in Scotland; and for the Nonsuch Dulcimer Gathering in East Norton, Leicestershire, England. Her music has been part of several public television programs, including To Our Credit, a national production from Oregon Public Television. Mel Bay Publications has released several of her books, including instruction books and videos for both mountain and hammered dulcimers. From Christmas to classical, traditional folk to jazz, her recordings delight listeners everywhere. Maddie comes to Weatherbury Farm from her home in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia where she is editor & publisher of *Dulcimer Players News, a quarterly magazine with international circulation. Maddie writes, “Almost three decades ago, encouraged by my admiration of Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell, and Joan Baez, I began to perform. Singing and playing acoustic guitar, my first job was at the Wayside Inn, a Shenandoah Valley landmark since 1797. The first musicians there probably earned what I did in tips and dinner. “I’m still singing, but my stage is now cultural centers, community gathering places, and festivals throughout the United States, and hammered and mountain dulcimer are my instruments. The Virginia Commission for the Arts has presented me with touring artist grants and I’ve taught at such wonderful venues as the Augusta Heritage Arts Workshops* in Elkins, West Virginia and the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina. “During my early performing years I worked as a musician in Shenandoah National Park. Meeting people and learning about folk music was engaging, so I kept putting off my return to a “real” job. Somewhere along the way I realized this is my real job. Makes me smile.” Maddie has 10 self-produced recordings as well as books, videos, and companion recordings published by Mel Bay (her products will be available at the concert).


Weatherbury Farm Vacation 1061 Sugar Run Road Avella, Pennsylvania 15312 Autoharp, Mountain Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer, Clawhammer Banjo, Bowed Psaltry Workshops and Concerts. Mountain Dulcimer is also known as an Appalachian dulcimer, lap dulcimer or fretted dulcimer. Some folks call Hammered Dulcimers Hammer Dulcimers	(724) 587-3763 (Dale or Marcy Tudor; location questions) (330) 332-4420 (Bill Schilling, music questions) email us! www.folkmusic.weatherburyfarm.com