CTO ... Plan to play on MLK Day!

You still have time to reserve your spot in the workshop Marya Katz is teaching this coming Monday, the 18th, Martin Luther King, Jr holiday ...

Check This Out ... Marya Katz will be teaching her annual hd workshop in Winston Salem.

Registration and setup: 8:30am
Workshop: 9:00am - 3:30pm
Location:  College Park Baptist Ch, 1701 Polo Rd, Winston Salem
Fee: $60, includes lunch and all materials

The Plan ... a kind of "Master Class" focusing on:
- Dynamics, specifically volume and tempo control
- and Chords, including the use of chord substitutions
- resulting in the Creation of interesting, expressive arrangements

Tunes used will be a couple of Moravian hymns and a simple German round.

No need to pre-pay for the workshop, but please do RSVP to Marya so proper planning may take place.

Christmas tunes ... A good measure of how far you've come!

Sometimes it is difficult to recognize progress.

We take lessons. We learn tunes. We work on technique. We play with friends. We play with the metronome. We practice, practice, practice. We experience some frustration and enjoy some success. Time passes. It all happens gradually, and it's hard to know if we're gaining ground! But if you enjoy the annual playing of Christmas music, you actually have an inherent indicator that hints at how your musical skills have evolved over the past year.

Just think. About the time October rolls around, the old holiday tune lists are resurrected. We dust off our favorite tunes and spruce them up. Most of the tunes come back with a little effort. Many of the tunes will be improved upon. In fact, you may find yourself wondering, "Why did I find this so hard last year?"

And THERE's your sign!

• You ARE making progress.
• You HAVE gained ground.
• YOU are developing as a player.

Keep up the good work!

Monday's Muse

The easiest way to avoid wrong notes is to never open your mouth and sing. What a mistake that would be. ~ Pete Seeger

CTO ... Slow Jam this Sunday

Another new meeting place for the Slow Jam of the Triangle!

Check This Out ... This Sunday, January 10, 2:00 - 4:00pm, the Slow Jam will meet at the Durham Central Park Cohousing at 130 Hunt Street, Durham. This makes the third location in a monthly rotation. The idea is to make the event accessible to folks in different parts of the Triangle and to spread out the responsibilities.

Click on the "Slow Jam" tab at the top of this page for everything you need to know, including the schedule going forward, the list of venues and addresses, and contact information. While this is organized by and for hammered dulcimer players, all acoustic instruments are welcome. Check it out!

New Year's Resolution ... Dump the Slump

OK ... True confession time. I have fallen off the practice wagon. I have never been in such a long-lasting slump! Don't get me wrong ... I have "played" the dulcimer. I have prepared lessons for students. But intentional, serious practice has been missing since late October.

The main reason ... I've had a lot going on!

It happens to the best of us. When life gets extremely busy, something's got to give. I spent three weeks of November traveling on the other side of the world. Of course, the two weeks before departure were spent packing and getting everything in order. The week after was spent recovering from jet lag, catching up at the day job, and getting everything back in order. Then I flew to New Mexico for my sister's wedding. When I returned home, I hit the ground running, preparing for and living the holiday season. Woo hoo! We made merry for a solid two weeks!

I'm sure many players can relate. Disruptions in the routines of life can adversely affect the practice schedule. There's no time. Energy is sapped. Focus is lost. It's really hard to get going again!

But I am determined to do so.

As luck would have it, we are entering a new year. It's the perfect time to find new inspiration and to set new goals. I know what I must do:

• Set aside time
• Set goals / deadlines
• Get back to basics
• Try something new
• Be persistent
• Be accountable

Easy, huh? Ready or not ... 2016 here we come!

"And now we welcome the new year.

  Full of things that have never been!" ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

Monday's Muse

We all can dance when we find music that we love.  ~ Giles Andreae Giraffes Can't Dance

CTO ... Slow Jam of the Triangle adopts new rotation in the new year

The Slow Jam of the Triangle continues to meet 2:00-4:00pm on the 2nd Sunday of each month. Beginning with the January 10 meeting, however, the location will rotate among three different venues -- St. Giles Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church in Cary, and Durham Central Park CoHousing in Durham.

Check This Out ... Find all the info you need, including addresses and contact info, on the newly updated Slow Jam page and make plans to attend the next Slow Jam of the Triangle, Sunday, January 10, 2-4pm, at the newest location: Durham Central Park Cohousing.