Watch this video to get a real good idea about what I cover in class. Scroll down below the video for all the details like WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and WHY.

Every workshop I host is like a living, evolving piece of music. If you've joined me before, know that each session is a fresh rendition, harmonizing the foundational teachings with new insights. Over time, I've refined and retuned my approach, always striving to resonate more deeply with learners. While we'll revisit some cherished classic concepts and melodies, you can also anticipate enhanced interpretations and entirely new topics. Think of it as revisiting a favorite song, only to discover new layers and nuances. So whether it's your first workshop or your fifth, there's always something fresh to inspire your musical journey.

Date: July 13-15, 2026 (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday)

Location: Evart United Methodist Church, 619 Cherry St, Evart, MI 49631 (This is the same church Rick Thum uses to teach his hammered dulcimer intensive.)

Schedule: 9 to noon and 1:00-sh to 4:00-ish all three days. We break for lunch noon to 1:00-ish. (Meals aren't included in the price but we sometimes eat together.)

Cost: Pay a non-refundable 50% deposit of $132.50 for all three days. You’ll pay the other half on the first day of class. Total price when it’s all said and done: $265. Current MountainDulcimerAtoZ.COM subscribers save 15% on my live events, online and in-person. If you're a current subscriber, go fetch the coupon code from: https://mountaindulcimeratoz.com/p/save-on-live-events. You'll enter this coupon during checkout on this site.

These three days are right before this fantastic Evart event: http://evartdulcimerfest.org/funfest.html. If you’re going to be at one, you might as well be at the other.

Limited Seating: Pre-registration is required to insure your place in the class.

Registration and Payment Details:

Deposit and Payment Structure:
To secure your spot in this three-day workshop, the following deposit system is in place:

1. Initial Deposit: A 50% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of registration. This ensures your commitment and helps me prepare a rewarding workshop experience for you.

2. Final Payment: The remaining 50% balance will be due upon your arrival to the class, which can be settled in person for an immediate start to our musical journey.

Refund and Transfer Policy:
Life can sometimes be unpredictable, and I completely understand. If for any reason you're unable to attend after placing the deposit:

• Your deposit isn't lost! It can be transformed into credit towards any future events I organize, in-person workshops, online sessions, my digital products and services including digital books, records, video packages, private lessons, or even a monthly subscription on mountaindulcimeratoz.com. This credit is available for you, providing flexibility whenever you choose to use it.

In the Event I Have to Cancel:
I always aim to hold scheduled events. However, should I need to cancel a class, rest assured it will be rescheduled. If the new date isn't suitable, you may convert your payment into credit for any of the offerings previously mentioned.

Special Note for Previous Attendees:
If you previously made a non-refundable deposit for one of my past three-day intensives but were unable to attend, that deposit can still be of value! Apply it towards this event by simply emailing me at stephen@stephenseifert.com.

Mountain Dulcimer A to Z In-Person Three-Day Intensive

Join me, Stephen Seifert, for a 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, A to Z!

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.

I want to show you how to thrill both you and your listener with an approach to playing music that’s all about passionate creation and not just about reciting the same thing over and over. I want to give you the truth about how many of your favorite musicians do what they do. These concepts work regardless of how experienced you are or how simple or complex your music is. My goal is to surprise you with what you’re really capable of.

These intensives are always evolving. You can expect refinements to my teaching methods, new topics, and new music. I’m always blending the old with the new. It keeps me excited but it also means you can get something new out of this class every time you take it. (I’m always open to new ideas. Shoot me an email at stephen@stephenseifert.com, and I’ll see what I can do.)

Worried you’re too much of a beginner or too advanced? I’ve designed these exercises to allow different levels to play together successfully. While I ask one level to do one thing, I’ll ask another level to do something different but compatible.

Beginners, much of what I’m covering is essential information that will help you immediately. Some of it will seriously challenge you. Beginners that enjoy this class are adventurous. They have great attitudes. They focus on the obvious and the easy. When things get over their head, they do their best as they wait for the easy to return. You must understand, while beginners are absolutely welcome, this is not a beginner class. For each topic, I start with the basics and gradually progress through intermediate skills on the way to the more advanced ideas. I do this for each topic. It’s a great opportunity for you to strengthen your foundation as well as be inspired by the higher level activities. Again, everything is designed to work together, regardless of your level. If you get tired, you’re welcome to close your eyes, go for a walk, or better yet, just hang on and give it all you’ve got. You won’t be judged. Come as you are, but come ready to work and pace yourself as needed.

Intermediate to advanced players, we’re going to cover many concepts from the ground to the clouds. Reviewing the foundational principles is essential to getting the harder stuff. I want to help you strengthen your weak spots as we work towards higher level playing.

Note taking is highly encouraged. At the end of the three days, you’ll receive links by email to at least 65 summary videos from past events. These are super helpful for review after the class. Bring some kind of music stand and a capo.

I believe good musicians care less about WHAT they’re playing and a whole lot more about the act of playing itself. The point isn’t to play MUSIC. The point is to PLAY. Think I sound nuts? Take this class and find out how you can be nuts, too. I’m going to show you EXACTLY how to do it. You will improve your playing, or I will refund your money.

Topics include: (We cover more or less than this depending on the needs and desires of the group.)

Different ways to hold the instrument and pick.
Tuning with a tuner and by ear.
Reading hands.
Reading sheet music and tablature.
Playing by ear.
Left-hand fingering
Strumming, flat-picking, cross-picking, and finger-picking.
Right and left-hand dampening and muting.
Hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides.
Using a capo to play in different keys.
Exactly how to play with rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic variety.
How to make fancy music simpler as well as how to make simple music fancier.
Playing in different octaves.
Playing harmonies.
Chording for instrumental or vocal backup.
Playing melody and chords at the same time.
Adding licks, riffs, intros, and endings to your playing.
How to practice.
Arranging.
Jamming.
Performing.
Teaching.
How to create tablature using Tabledit.
12-bar blues.

Genres might include:

American and Irish fiddle tunes
Hymns
Old-Time Songs
Bluegrass
Blues
Irish

Testimonials from Past Classes:

“Was a perrrrfect workshop!”

“What a terrific three-day workshop! I really loved how you set it up as a journey of discovery. You are an exceptional teacher.”

“Thank you for the inspiring and informative dulcimer workshop! As a beginner, everything was easy to understand and challenging enough to inspire me to continue with the dulcimer. The additional material provided will be very helpful as I continue to learn the dulcimer techniques.

“Steve’s calm demeanor is part of his skill teaching. He gives you confidence thru his calm.”

“It is evident that Mr. Seifert has invested a considerable amount of effort into creating this course. The quality and quantity of information is excellent for any learning level. I can highly recommend the Mountain Dulcimer A to Z Class.”

“Some people are great performers, but you are that AND a great teacher, the way you break things down.”

“As you know, he is a fabulous musician and that does not always translate into being a good teacher; but in this case it does. He's charismatic, interesting, and tells great stories. He presents the information in the lessons logically and sequentially with many reviews of the material along the way, so that you do not feel lost.”

“Thank you for another great class. You are an incredible teacher.”

“Your teaching style is excellent. The best teachers talk to the audience, something you excel at. Sharing your personal life stories was great and very much added to the enjoyment. All the talk about chickens, how to make tea, your beard, lawn cutting; it all added to the experience. I would not change a thing. You have the ability to make the student feel as if they are having a private lesson with a good friend.”

“If you are a new student who feels intimidated or uncomfortable playing in front of others, this is the first class you should take. I would suggest you take this class before you even take a private lesson, and certainly before you attend any other education class. Steve opens up a new world to the player who feels that the only way to play at first is by-the-book. If you come away with nothing else you will come away with the understanding that this instrument has some fundamentals coupled with unlimited potential. Steve teaches the instrument which is much more than how to play the dulcimer. Steve is an excellent teacher. He will compare to or exceed the best teacher you ever had in school.”

“Your teaching skills along with your patience and sense of humor made this class very comfortable for me…Playing a musical instrument isn’t easy for me, but I will continue to put to good use everything you shared.”

“The A to Z class was exactly what I needed. I absorbed more at the time than I imagined was possible. Thank you!”