Join me, Stephen Seifert, August 1-3, 2013, in Scottsburg, Indiana, just outside Louisville, KY, for a 3-day comprehensive guided tour of mountain dulcimer playing philosophy, technique, and music for ALL LEVELS. Regardless of your level of musicianship, I want to give you the big picture.

No matter what you’re new to or already good at, my method of playing and learning to play can help you be a better musician. This hands-on, pick-moving approach will include plenty of tunes and playing exercises designed to challenge and encourage. There ARE wrong ways to play the dulcimer. Let me help you find what’s right for you.

Read more: Scottsburg, IN Three-Day Intensive, August 1-3

Join me, Stephen Seifert, July 15-17, 2013, three days before the ODPC FunFest, for a 3-day comprehensive guided tour of mountain dulcimer playing philosophy, technique, and music for ALL LEVELS. Regardless of your level of musicianship, I want to give you the big picture.

No matter what you’re new to or already good at, my method of playing and learning to play can help you be a better musician. This hands-on, pick-moving approach will include plenty of tunes and playing exercises designed to challenge and encourage. There ARE wrong ways to play the dulcimer. Let me help you find what’s right for you.

Read more: Evart, MI Three-Day Intensive, July 15-17

How 'bout a little jam? Here's 8 play along videos at various speeds. I'm also including a bunch of tablature. I'm looking forward to a little discussion about what could make this kind of virtual jamming more helpful.

Read more: 8 Sample Jam Along Videos with Tablature and Tips

Announcing Volume 2 of my Join the Jam Video Play Along Series! Here's 16 MORE tunes to get you ready. Between the 1st and 2nd volume, you get slow, medium, and reasonably fast play along videos for 32 top dulcimer jam tunes along with tablature. It really is the next best thing to having a hot jam whenever you're up for it. Immersion is the way to go.

Read more: Join the Jam Video Play Along Series Volume 2

(Volume 2 just released!)

Almost 10 years ago, I created Join the Jam. My idea was to make a simple guide to the most common mountain dulcimer jam tunes. In the introduction, I wrote, "If you're excited about playing the dulcimer with others, I hope this book proves to be a useful companion. Don't follow it too closely, you'll miss the point. It's only a map and an incomplete one at that. Keep your eyes and ears on the better players. Don't be too quick to give up. Stay in the circle. Stay in-tune. Don't go to bed before 1:00 A.M."

This play along series picks up where the book leaves off. It's really about getting better at the process of jamming which isn't just about reciting the same page over and over. With these videos, I want you to feel like the two of us are jamming at different speeds, playing tunes a little different each time through. (This isn't about learning fancy licks and variations, it's about learning to jam.)

Read more: Join the Jam Video Play Along Series Volume 1

My latest video instruction is available through http://dulcimerschool.com for $15 a month. There's a ton of stuff here for all levels and many interests. Have you visited lately? You can look around without subscribing. Just go HERE and check out the titles.

Take private mountain dulcimer lessons with me over the internet regardless of playing level. You just need a computer webcam or smart device with the right software (Skype or FaceTime).

How It Works

We see and hear each other. I can immediately send you tablature or other handouts. If necessary, I video myself playing the material in question and provide you with a private link for later viewing. If you have any computer trouble, I will help you straighten it out.

What We Can Work On

All levels are welcome. Lessons can be tune or technique based. Name a song you want to play and we'll arrange it together. Work on strumming, fingering, chording, Tabledit, teaching, etc. It's really up to you.

Contact Me

To register and schedule your first lesson, email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Let me know if you have any questions.

There's a lot of of great musicians who learn to play by reading hands like some folks read tablature or sheet music. The skills gained by learning and playing this way are envied and I believe falsely attributed to natural born talent. I very much wish all my students would spend time learning how to learn this way in addition to learning by other methods including by ear and instructional books. I've writing about this in the new Dulcimer Players News and I've prepared a free 30-minute video lesson (http://stephenseifert.com/watchthehands) to show everyone who's interested exactly what I'm talking about.

About five years ago, I spoke with composer Conni Ellisor about the possibility of having her write a new piece for dulcimer and full orchestra. We eventually decided to go for it and started looking for funding from private donors, mainly dulcimer players. The $8500 raised throughout the next year went entirely to the composer who spent a good chunk of the following year writing a 30-minute, 5 part suite. 

The parts were delivered to me about 2 months before I premiered the piece with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra January/February of their 2012 season. I performed Broad Band of Light to 5 near-sold-out shows. It was THE MOST EXCITING experience of my musical career. 

Read more: Broad Band of Light Update