We are really pleased to welcome Karen Mueller for this online Mountain Dulcimer Workshop. Karen is a much-loved tutor on both mountain dulcimer and autoharp, and has taught at many workshops and festivals throughout the USA and in the UK. Karen bridges many mountain dulcimer traditions to formulate her own dynamic style.
Her repertoire incorporates traditional Appalachian and Celtic music as well as pop, jazz, and original material. Her techniques range from rhythmic flatpicking and strumming to sensitive fingerpicking.
For more information about Karen, see https://karenmueller.com
The day offers a chance to take classes online with a tutor who is coming in person this October to our annual weekend. If you can’t attend in October or just want a sneak preview of her classes and her approach, this event gives you the perfect opportunity. And while the classes will provide a firm foundation to some of the things covered in October, they are not a pre-requisite and are designed to complement (not duplicate) our October weekend classes. The cost is £20 per workshop and there are two levels of workshop on offer.
In addition there is a evening concert open to all, whether or not you attend the workshops. Entry is free but we hope you will send our performer a tip!
We hope to see you there!
Schedule of the day
All times are UK times (BST)
14:00 – 16:00 Workshop with Karen Mueller – (Beginner / Intermediate levels), Cost £20.
16:00 – 17:00 Break
17:00 – 19:00 Workshop with Karen Mueller (Intermediate / Advanced levels), Cost £20.
19:00 – 20:00 Break
20:00 – 20:30/45 Evening Concert with Karen Mueller. Free, with tip jar.
Evening Concert
Our evening concert features our tutor Karen Mueller. Everyone is welcome to come and listen, and there will be a tip-jar for each performer. Karen will play a selection of non-copyright material.
20:00 – 20:30/45 Karen Mueller – Free – with Tip Jar.
If you would just like to attend the concert, please note we will be sending out the concert link to ALL Nonsuch members, in case they would like to attend. If you are not a member (and not booking for one or more of the workshops) you are still very welcome, so please email us for a link.
Workshop Descriptions
Karen Mueller – Workshop for Beginner / Intermediate levels
Time: 14:00 – 16:00 BST
We’ll begin with some strumming exercises to practice a range of rhythms and utilize efficient and comfortable ergonomics, then move on to chord practice with some familiar folk songs from both the UK and US. Topics and techniques will include: Making good fingering choices, adding fill strums to basic tab, and building fingerpicking and flatpicking arrangements from a basic strummed tab. We’ll play a variety of styles, such as Scottish airs, American country and bluegrass, and other songs from around the world.
Karen Mueller – Workshop for intermediate / Advanced levels
Time: 17:00 – 19:00 BST
Build on your skills and move to another level as we dive into an exciting array of styles and techniques, from French Canadian, Shetland, and American fiddle tunes to beautiful expressive fingerpicked airs from Ireland, Sweden and more. Practice precise clean flatpicking and take some time to strum chords in different inversions while singing and accompanying others. We’ll also do some ensemble arrangements with harmony and counterpoint that you can enjoy when you play together.
Both sessions will be recorded so that anyone who cannot attend in person can still sign up and enjoy the workshop at a time that suits them.
Practicalities & Booking
All those who register will be sent information about the Zoom links by email before the workshops, with Meeting ID, Password, and helpful tips about how to participate if you have not used Zoom before.
Please note that registration fees for these workshops are non-refundable. If you have made a booking error in the workshop that you have chosen and wish to correct it, please contact the event organisers as soon as possible.