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News from Garfield Farm |
CAMPTON HILLS, IL Garfield Farm
Museum will host two Dulcimer workshops this month. The April 22nd
workshop will serve as a basic introduction while the April 29th
workshop will cover more advanced techniques. Musician Dona Benkert
will provide the instruction on these unique stringed instruments. She
will have some instruments on hand for individuals that do not have
their own. During each workshop, there will be a 1:00 pm mountain
dulcimer session and a 3:00 pm hammered dulcimer session. There is a
$25 donation per session. Reservations can be made by contacting the
museum at (630) 584-8485 or info@garfieldfarm.org.
The Mountain Dulcimer is often considered the
only real American instrument. On April 22nd, visitors can discover the
origins and evolution of this traditional, easy to play instrument.
After learning the basic right and left hand techniques, participants
will try playing some easy traditional melodies. No experience is
needed. The April 29th session is for individuals that can play a basic
melody. They will learn full richer sounding chords, strum variations,
and more right and left hand techniques.
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. On April
22nd, visitors will explore its history and learn basic playing
techniques and a few easy tunes. No experience is needed. The April
29th session is for individuals that have played some before. They will
learn easy melodies, focusing on tune and chord structure, and then add
embellishments that will make their music more exciting.
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.