Stephen Seifert’s QDF17 Student Page
This is the Zoom meeting link for all my classes:
Zoom Meeting Link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86559374853?pwd=0Ybn1y5MZWav7FQeuGQ7JPQVqq6JSz.1
Meeting ID: 865 5937 4853
Passcode: 516301
Handouts will appear below with each class by Wednesday morning, September 31.
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Fastest Way to Know Chords All Over the Dulcimer (Friday, Session 1, Level 3 - Intermediate, Mountain Dulcimer) 17MD082
Handouts: Stephen Seifert - F1 - Fastest Way to Know Chords
I used this system to learn chords all over the fingerboard, which made it easier to play backup, blend melody with chords, and create my own intros, endings, licks, and riffs. With this approach, you'll see a clear path to doing the same in your own way. All my workshops come with review videos. Visit https://www.stephenseifert.com/qdf17 for demo video and more.
How One Tune Can Take You from Novice to Intermediate (Friday, Session 3, Level 2 - Novice, Mountain Dulcimer) 17MD036
Handouts: Stephen Seifert - F3 - How One Arrangement Can Take You from NOV to INT
Back when I first started playing, this one arrangement of "Cherokee Shuffle" took me from novice to intermediate not because of how long I practiced, but because of HOW I practiced. We'll use this tune to tighten your strum, make reading tablature easier, and combine melody with chords. You'll also unlock hammer-ons, pull-offs, and smarter fingerings. All my workshops come with review videos. Visit https://www.stephenseifert.com/qdf17 for demo video and more.
Build Impressive Arrangements for Performance and Competition (Friday, Session 4, Level 5 - Advanced, Mountain Dulcimer) 17MD142
Handouts: Stephen Seifert - F4 - Build Impressive Arrangements
In this workshop, we'll build a complete arrangement of a single tune suited for performance or contest. I'll show you how I move the melody into different octaves, play with and without chords, and use both piano-link fingerings and single-finger noter style. You'll also learn to create your own variations, licks, intros, and endings, plus how I practice to get ready for the microphone. All workshops include review videos. Visit https://www.stephenseifert.com/qdf17.
Learn “Going to Boston,” a Jean Ritchie Classic (Friday, Session 6, Level 1 - Absolute Beginner, Mountain Dulcimer) 17MD006
Handouts: Stephen Seifert - F6 - Going to Boston
In this class, you'll learn Going to Boston, a favorite many of us first heard from dulcimer matriarch Jean Ritchie. My goal is to have you playing it mostly from memory by the end of the hour. I'll show you how to get there while helping with your strum and a few other simple but important skills. All my workshops come with review videos. Visit https://www.stephenseifert.com/qdf17 for demo video and more.
Add Bluegrass Crosspicking Patterns to Tunes You Already Know (Saturday, Session 1, Level 4 - Upper-Intermediate, Mountain Dulcimer) 17MD123
Handouts: Stephen Seifert - S1 - Add Bluegrass Crosspicking to Tunes You Know
These crosspicking concepts, borrowed from bluegrass banjo and guitar players, can make even the simplest tunes sparkle. In this workshop, you'll learn clear right-hand patterns that fit neatly over melodies you already know. We'll take it slow so you can lock in the picking rhythm, then bring everything up to speed. All my workshops come with review videos. Visit https://www.stephenseifert.com/qdf17 for demo video and more.
My Approach to Playing Folk Music & More on the Ukulele (Saturday, Session 3, Level 2 - Novice, Ukulele) 17UK005
Handouts: Stephen Seifert - S3 - Ukulele
I'll show you how to get the most out of this small but powerful instrument. You'll improve your strum, learn the most important chords, and even do a little melody playing. We'll start with folk classics from my book Join The Jam - Ukulele Edition and then explore ways to play other styles of music without memorizing a million chords. All my workshops come with review videos. Visit https://www.stephenseifert.com/qdf17 for demo video and more.
How to Simplify Jam Tunes and Play Them from Memory (Saturday, Session 4, Level 2 - Novice, Mountain Dulcimer) 17MD037
Handouts: Stephen Seifert - S4 - Simplify Jam Tunes
When I was starting out, I struggled to keep up and remember jam tunes. Then I learned how to strip them down to a simple skeleton that still fits perfectly with the fancier players around me. These clear versions make tunes stick in your memory and give you a solid foundation for building more elaborate arrangements later. All my workshops come with review videos. Visit https://www.stephenseifert.com/qdf17 for demo video and more.
Intro to Fingerpicking for Intermediate Dulcimer Players (Saturday, Session 6, Level 3 - Intermediate, Mountain Dulcimer) 17MD081
Handouts: Stephen Seifert - S6 - Introduction to Finger-Picking
You're already strumming the mountain dulcimer at an intermediate level, but maybe you've never made much progress with fingerpicking. In this class, we'll use three fingers on the right hand to pluck while the left hand plays simple chords and melodies. The tunes are slow, pretty, and harp-like, giving you a calm, expressive start to fingerpicking. All my workshops include review videos. Visit https://www.stephenseifert.com/qdf17 for a demo.
