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News from Garfield Farm |
CAMPTON HILLS, IL Garfield Farm
Museum will host a Dulcimer workshop on Sunday, March 21st.
During the workshop, musician Dona Benkert will give instruction
on these unique stringed instruments. No experience is needed. Donna
will have some instruments on hand for individuals that do not have
their own. The 1:00 pm session will cover mountain dulcimers and the
3:00 pm session will cover hammered dulcimers.
The Mountain Dulcimer is often considered the
only real American instrument. Visitors can discover the origins and
evolution of this traditional, easy to play instrument during the
1:00pm session. After learning the basic right and left hand
techniques, they can try their hands at playing some easy traditional
melodies.
The Hammered Dulcimer is among the most
beautiful sounding and oldest instruments. The fore-runner to the
piano, it is a trapezoidal instrument played by striking the strings
with hammers, much like climbing inside a piano to play. The
3:00pm session will explore its history, and visitors will learn basic
playing techniques and a few easy tunes.
Benkert's instruction has been so effective and
popular that two of the museum's board members have taken up the
instrument and one has played with the Scantlin' Reunion, Benkert's
traditional music band for over 15 years.
Reservations are required as the class size is
limited. There will be a $25 donation for each session and refreshments
will be provided. Reservations are required and can be made by
contacting the museum at (630) 584-8485 or info@garfieldfarm.org.
Dona is the owner of Folk-Lore Center music
school in Warrenville, and founder of Warrenville Folk Music Society.
She is an accomplished hammered and mountain dulcimer artist and winner
of the 2003 Studs Terkel Humanities Award. She is on staff at the
renowned Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago as well as DuPage
Girl Scouts as a music and dance badge program facilitator. Her
arrangements are rooted in the traditions of the British Isles, New
England Country dance music, Appalachian fiddle tunes, and the music
Irish harpist Turloch O’Carolan. She enjoys sharing her
love for traditional music and helping to preserve our musical heritage.
Garfield Farm Museum is located 5 miles west of
Geneva, IL, off of Illinois Rt. 38 on Garfield Road. Garfield Farm is a
former historically intact 1840s prairie farmstead and teamster inn
that is being restored as a working 1840s farm.