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  • Pictured from left are Dulcimer Music Club members Ronnie Crutchfield, Ron Rowland, Ginny Rowland, Kathy Smith and Karen Stewart. Sarah Beth Ariemma

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June 30, 2010

Dulcimer Music Club bringing back old sounds

Sarah Beth Ariemma The Union-Recorder

MILLEDGEVILLE — The Middle Georgia Dulcimer Music Club is bringing back the melodic sounds of the dulcimer.

Stationed in Macon, the club is free to all who wish to discover and partake in learning how to pluck the four-stringed instrument, a lost art form that dates back to the Middle Ages in Europe, but has been played for centuries in America as well.

Early American settlers used to pluck at the strings to keep themselves amused after a long day of work.

Kathy Smith of Jackson is the club leader for the area dulcimer group, which meets every first Saturday of the month at 1 p.m. at the Macon Music Hall of Fame.

The club was established in 1995.

For those who wish to learn how to play the dulcimer, a practice dulcimer is available to use free of cost. The sheet music is also available at no cost to the student.

The club is donation based to keep the learning free for all members and potential members. Members of the club hail from all over the Central Georgia area and have a deep love and appreciation for the unique sound of the dulcimer.

Ron Rowland, of Baldwin County, is a member of the club.

“I am always surprised to find out that many people have dulcimers, but they become wall art when people have no network to learn how to play them,” he said via e-mail. “But now, we offer them a network so they can learn for free.”

Rowland and his wife are both members of the music club. They have greatly enjoyed being able to learn and perform for free. The club plays throughout the state.

“Recently we performed at the festival at Daucett Trails and last weekend at the Mossy Creek Barnyard Festival in Perry,” Rowland said. “The year before that, I actually heard the Dulcimer Music Club perform in Perry and decided that I also wanted to get involved.”

Practice makes perfect for the dulcimer music club, and the more events they play, the better they become at their craft.

The purpose of the club is, of course, to learn how to play the dulcimer, but members also achieve a sense of pride in their skills and have an opportunity to give their audience the gift of music. Performing in front of an audience can be daunting, but the musicians seem to relish the challenge.

“The dulcimer is a relatively simple instrument to learn. We have Kathy Smith, who is the beginner instructor, and the novice instructor is Barbara Stephens. My wife and I spent about six or seven months in Kathy’s group and are now in Barbara’s novice group,” Rowland said.

There are presently around 30 members in the club, but Smith and Rowland said they hope the number will continue to increase.

“When we are all together, it is so much fun. Everyone gets a chance to show off their new skills,” said Smith.

To learn more about the Middle Georgia Dulcimer Club call (678) 296-1539.

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