052 We spoke with the talented young dulcimer player Grant Olson from Minnesota. In 2019 at the age of 17, Grant won the coveted first place in the Mountain Dulcimer National Championship at the Walnut Valley Music Festival in Winfield, Kansas. In addition to playing the dulcimer, Grant also composes his own music.

Hearts of the Dulcimer

Grant Olson Dulcimer Explorer

051 In this episode we feature the stories and music of Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly, a husband and wife musical duo based in Warren, Rhode Island. They’re well known for their blend of gorgeous vocals as well as being multi-instrumentalists. The amazing array of instruments they play include old-time banjo, tin whistle, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, limberjacks, feet, and of course, mountain dulcimer.

The Sweet Harmonies of Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly

050 In this episode we feature our conversation with Jim and Betty Woods, longtime owners of the renowned McSpadden Dulcimers. Over the last two decades, Jim and Betty were able to maintain and raise the reputation of McSpadden Dulcimers. In 2020, Jim and Betty transferred ownership of McSpadden Dulcimers.

Jim and Betty Woods: The Longtime Owners of McSpadden Dulcimers

049 Here’s another stay home and play dulcimer episode created during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aubrey Atwater shares tips on how to improve singing and singing with the dulcimer.

Stay Home and Sing with the Dulcimer: with Aubrey Atwater

048 This is another episode created especially for dulcimer players. We spoke with Heidi Muller and Bob Webb, who shared tips and ideas for using time at home to improve your dulcimer playing.

Stay Home and Play Dulcimer: with Heidi Muller and Bob Webb

047 This episode was especially created for dulcimer players. We spoke with Stephen Seifert, one of the top dulcimer performers and teachers in the mountain dulcimer world. Steve gives tips and ideas for what dulcimer players can do to help improve their playing while they’re staying at home.

Stay Home and Play Dulcimer: with Stephen Seifert

046 We spoke with Neal and Coleen Walters, a husband and wife musical duo who have been playing music together for more than 5 decades. Neal is well-known for his deep voice and his dulcimer and autoharp playing. Also featuring music from The Mill Run Dulcimer Band and Doofus.

The Deep Sounds of Neal and Coleen Walters

045 We spoke with 2008 National Dulcimer Champion Nina Zanetti about her approach in playing the dulcimer. Nina’s known for her gentle style of fingerpicking the dulcimer.

Nina Zanetti: The Gentle Side of the Dulcimer

044 The gentle sound of the dulcimer lends itself to lullabies. They ease us into the day and calm us down at night. Lullabies give comfort to the inner child in all of us, no matter how old or young we are. In this episode you’ll hear lullabies played by dulcimer players David Schnaufer, Molly McCormack, Neal Walters, Aubrey Atwater, Dusty Turtle, Jessica Comeau, Stephen Seifert, Carol Walker, Kevin Roth, Lorinda Jones, and Duane Porterfield. With commentary by lullabologist Julia Soto Lebentritt.

Dulcimer Lullabies

043 We're focusing this episode on music for children on the mountain dulcimer. You'll hear traditional and original songs, songs about whimsical instruments, animal adventures, and songs about people and places. With music from dulcimer players Heidi Muller, Bob Webb, Molly McCormack, Kevin Roth, Aubrey Atwater, Joellen Lapidus, Rick Scott, and John Elwood.

A Children’s Music Special

042 Meet Bonnie Carol and Max Krimmel, multi-instrumentalists and the builders of the well-known and loved Bonnie Carol Dulcimers.

The Multifaceted Bonnie Carol and Max Krimmel

041 We spoke with dulcimer players Lorinda Jones, a professional music therapist, Sally Smith, a hospice music volunteer, and Marian Perdas and Carollyn Robinson, music volunteers for memory care about how they use the mountain dulcimer to help those in need.

The Healing Dulcimer

040 In this episode we feature Oregon-based composer and conductor Mark Steighner, who has written two concertos for the mountain dulcimer. We're also featuring Stephen Seifert, who performed both of Mark's concertos as the dulcimer soloist.

The Orchestral Dulcimer

039 With music from all over the globe, celebrate the season with wintry seasonal dulcimer music from Butch Ross, Lorraine Hammond, Jessica Comeau, Don Pedi, Tull Glazener, Madeline MacNeil, Nina Zanetti, Aubrey Atwater, and Christine Shoemaker.

The Winter Holiday Dulcimer 2018

038 Winter's Turning, My Barista, and Sacred Ground. What do they have in common? They were all written by singer songwriter and dulcimer player Heidi Muller. Heidi and her life partner Bob Webb tell us the stories behind each of these three tunes.

3 Stories and 3 Tunes from Heidi Muller and Bob Webb

The Hearts of the Dulcimer Podcast explores the mountain dulcimer's past, present, and future. If you like mountain dulcimers, this is the podcast for you.

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Hearts of the Dulcimer

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