Hmm.... Four hours of intensive instruction each day, afternoon workshops, evening concerts, and late night jams. This low-key, homebody, mountainmama isn't used to that kind of schedule.
But the vibrant energy of the Dulcimer Week kept me going. I learned enough to keep me occupied for months and months to come..... which was exactly my goal. My wonderful instructor, Jeff Sebens (below), met us exactly where we were.... and taught in just the right way. He challenged us and took us to the next level on our instruments, but didn't give us so much new information that we became glassy-eyed and overwhelmed.
Of course, it didn't hurt that all our classes were held on the gorgeous Davis & Elkins College campus with its historic buildings and lush greenery. Our class was held in the Victorian Halliehurst building:
And this was our classroom... the parlor of Halliehurst, with its ornate fireplace, high ceilings, beautiful paintings, and old woodwork:
Spring was in full bloom and sights like this greeted me on the footpaths between classes and events:
Good medicine, folks..... good medicine......
25 comments:
wow! those are some beautiful surroundings (both inside and out) in which to play and learn and enjoy a community of musician learners.
love that first picture of you!
I am so glad you had a wonderful time....and what a great way to spend time with your Mom too! West Virginia is a beautiful place....I grew up in Summers County and my parents still live there.
What a wonderful looking place! It seems a perfect environment for the arts. Glad the time was everything you wanted it to be.
i LOVE that picture of you "fainting", blue. that's awesome. so very victorian of you. did you have to wear a corset, too?? ;o)
seriously though, it sounds like an amazing week. surrounded by beauty & good music & someone you love. things are a-blooming, they are.
peace to you, beautiful girl!
kirsten.... no corsets. the bohemian in me likes things a little more free-flowing. :)
and can you believe that was the women's restroom? quite lavish...
That looks like so much fun! And such a gorgeous campus to spend a week on!
What a beautiful campus--it must have been very inspiring to learn in such lovely surroundings.
I had a dulcimer when I was in high school--I was, without a doubt, the only person in my Eastern North Carolina high school who played a dulcimer!
cool, beth...do you still play?
What a fantastic place to indulge. Great shots of the campus and yourself. Being with your Mom for the week must have been so great. I think you will be on a high for a while.
Oh man, I am so jealous! My dulcimer sits in its case most of the time--I really need to go to Dulcimer Week. And faint on the couch.
How cool to be with your mom all week. What did she teach?
Sometime I'll have to tell you about the night we spent in the haunted gatehouse at Davis and Elkins.
i didn't realize the gate house was haunted.... i'd like to know that story.
my mom taught hammer dulcimer. but she also plays and teaches mountain dulcimer classes elsewhere.
and if you get a chance, you should go one year. it's a wonderful week.
Just beautiful. What a blessing. :-)
Wonderful post...
You want to hear something funny?!?!
My brother went to Davis and Elkins!
How funny is that AND completely RANDOM!
wow, anna.... what a coincidence. i'd be curious to find out why he chose it. it's now the top rated college in WV. it's agreat little school. and home to the augusta heritage center... that's who sponsored the dulcimer week.
I absolutely LOVE the picture of you "fainting." Beautiful girl. And your it sounds like you had the most beautiful time too. A blessing indeed.
man, kirsten and l.l., wanna move to WV? i love all these comments about me being beautiful... i need to surround myself with people like you. :)
haha......you need some smelling salts, O Fair Maiden??? :)
beautiful settings, Blue and I am so glad you had such a good time.....:)
Look here BLUE... I am waiting for you to float down the Nile when I see pictures like this one. You are scaring me....just a little. But, you know I love ya. Thus Norma's critique continues......
Oh, I'm so glad that you had such a wonderful week in such a beautiful place!
I look so forward to coming to your blog. I love your music, your poetry, and your love for the mountains. You've inspired me to look at the part of the Appalachian mountains that I live in with new eyes. I've also been reading and studying more about them.
normie- look here.... who's the one who insists we take cheesy photos everywhere we go? hmmmmm? i think i could garner up a few for proof.:)
rebekah: such a sweet comment.... thank you so much. you have quite the lovely little blog yourself...
Wow - I am so very jealous - what a wonderful way to be able to spend a week - but I'm sure your fingertips are protesting!
OK, Blue... You got me there. I am having so much fun with your blog and a glass of wine that I just can't seem to help my comments. Please forgive. You know I find you precious, passionate, and creative. NN
now that's more like it.... although i'm a little scared of future comments if you have wine in hand.
A-HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You slay me. I haven't laughed enough in long enough. Love ya and still reading with wine in hand....and, by the way, some of the writings and pictures touch me and make me feel warm and fuzzy. That's the cuddly side of you that Dilbert alludes to! :)
Loves and pinches, your crazy friend,
crazy might be an understatement.... i'm thinking along the lines of borderline psychotic. but i wouldn't have you any other way, pookumz.... :)
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