Mel Bay First Lessons Dulcimer

This instruction book for beginning lap dulcimer in DAD tuning is unique in two ways. First, it instructs the beginning student in the increasingly popular DAD tuning. Secondly, the author, a classroom music teacher, has carefully and systematically layered the lessons to guide the student through familiar songs while teaching skills and musical concepts. This not only enables the student to enjoy the lap dulcimer but also enhances total music understanding and participation. The accompanying CD provides instructional dialogue and demonstrations of the techniques and songs included in the book. Additional hints and exercises are presented in an inviting and encouraging conversational text.

Joyce ("Joy") Ochs is a retired K-8 music teacher with a BA degree in Music and a Master Degree in Music Education. She has also taught 1st grade and Language and Reading Development to primary children. Her ultimate goal in any teaching experience has always been to provide a fun, creative, stimulating environment to enable students to not only learn, but to make the subject matter a significant part of their lives. A number of years ago, Joy’s musical world seemed to enter the “traditional/folk” stage. She became infatuated with the lap dulcimer while sitting under an oak tree on a warm, autumn day. After playing it for a short time she found herself teaching this friendly folk instrument to children and adults. She has authored and home-published Strum-A-Long with JOY!, a beginning dulcimer book. Her favorite student quote: "My interest in the dulcimer began with and will forever be enhanced by Joy’s teaching. Her vitality and enthusiasm are contagious. She is not only a great dulcimer teacher but a music teacher as well. That makes a winning combination" Joy feels that it is important to convey this same enthusiasm and joy for new musicians in her instruction books.