Stephen Seifert’s QuaranTune 2026 Summer Fest Workshops

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A Beginner Kit for Brand New Mountain Dulcimer Players
(Friday, Session 2, Level 1 - Absolute Beginner, Mountain Dulcimer)

Handouts: F2 - A Beginner Kit for Brand New Mountain Dulcimer Players

You’ll get a sheet of starter strum patterns, simple tablature for three essential jam tunes, and a page of beginner backup chords to make sure you can have fun playing alone or with others. I think you’re going to love Down the River, Pretty Betty Martin, and Rock the Cradle Joe.

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Vivaldi-Style Workout for Smart Right- and Left-Hand Technique
(Friday, Session 3, Level 5 - Advanced, Mountain Dulcimer)

Handouts: F3 - Vivaldi-Style Workout for Smart Right- and Left-Hand Technique

I asked composer Conni Ellisor to write a piece for me and full orchestra that was Bach-like. Because of the dulcimer’s diatonic nature, she leaned toward a Vivaldi style. I performed it with orchestra, and it pushed me to rethink both right- and left-hand technique. We’ll use it as a focused workout to maximize control, efficiency, and speed. It’s also a piece I still use all the time as a warm-up.

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Create Cool Licks for Tunes You Know with L, Slant & X-Slant
(Friday, Session 5, Level 4 - Upper-Intermediate, Mountain Dulcimer)

Handouts: F5 - Create Cool Licks for Tunes You Know with L, Slant & X-Slant

These shapes show you where the safe notes are, making it easy to come up with licks that fit the chords of tunes you already know. Using L, slant, and X-slant shapes as guides, you’ll learn how to create intros, endings, and fill-in licks that sound natural and musical. This is a practical shortcut to adding variety and expression to your playing.

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Slow Expressive Irish Aires for Strummers and Fingerpickers
(Friday, Session 6, Level 3 - Intermediate, Mountain Dulcimer)

Handouts: F6 - Slow Expressive Irish Aires for Strummers and Fingerpickers

These Irish-Gaelic titled melodies come from a long tradition of unaccompanied singers. You don’t march through them. You shape each phrase with rubato, stretching and compressing time, adding hesitation, and moving between soft and strong dynamics to tug at your listener’s heart. Whether you prefer a pick or fingerpicking, I’ll show you ways to bring out their lush, beautiful sound on the mountain dulcimer.

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David Schnaufer’s Forked Deer - Get One Good Tune Down
(Saturday, Session 2, Level 2 - Novice, Mountain Dulcimer)

Handouts: S2 - David Schnaufer’s Forked Deer - Get One Good Tune Down

David Schnaufer is my favorite dulcimer player. Performing and teaching with him around the country put music in me I’ll carry with me the rest of my life. I want to show you his arrangement of this great old-time fiddle tune along with a bunch of his techniques to make it come alive.

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Two GREAT Banjo & Fiddle Tunes: The Cuckoo and Moonlight
(Saturday, Session 4, Level 3 - Intermediate, Mountain Dulcimer)

Handouts: S4 - Two GREAT Banjo & Fiddle Tunes: The Cuckoo and Moonlight

For a preview of the first tune, search YouTube for “Clarence Ashley - The Cuckoo.” The music starts after the interview. For the second, search “Moonlight” by Don Pedi or Walt Koken. I learned Moonlight from Don, who I believe learned it from Bruce Greene. The arrangements I’ll share are my own take on two of the coolest tunes I’ve ever played.

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Ukulele Chord-Melody for Novice Players
(Saturday, Session 5, Level 2 - Novice, Ukulele)

Handouts: S5 - Ukulele Chord-Melody for Novice Players

Travel with me to Hawaii! I love playing chords and melody at the same time on the ukulele. We’ll use two favorites from old Hawaii throughout. Using beginner chords, you’ll play along with my melody. Next, you’ll take the melody while I play chords. Finally, you’ll combine both in a simple, pleasing way.

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Scottish Classics: Loch Lomond, Parting Glass & Auld Lang Syne
(Saturday, Session 6, Level 4 - Upper-Intermediate, Mountain Dulcimer)

Handouts: S6 - Scottish Classics: Loch Lomond, Parting Glass & Auld Lang Syne

Learn to play Scottish classics Loch Lomond, The Parting Glass, and Auld Lang Syne using a pick or simple fingerpicking. Each tune will have two arrangements: a straightforward version and a fancy version. Along the way, I’ll share right- and left-hand techniques I use for cleaner, more interesting playing.

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Visit the event website at https://www.virtualdulcimerfest.com.