Linda Smith - I got my first dulcimer as a surprise Christmas present in 2001. My husband,
David, and I had been to Dollywood in October and seen a demonstration of dulcimer playing and I
made the remark that it looked easy enough for even me, who had no musical background, to play.
He remembered that and found a beginner's dulcimer for me that Christmas. I then set about
teaching myself to play, after all, the basics are pretty easy, but the problem was to keep motivated
to play. In January, 2002, I joined the Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club and there I found people who
were very friendly and helpful in teaching me more about the dulcimer. I went to every workshop I
could find to learn more. In January, 2004, I bought a better quality dulcimer from Wood-N-Strings
Dulcimer Shop in Townsend, TN, and after that, things began to change in my playing ability. I
attended Mountain Dulcimer Week in Cullowhee, NC, for the first time in June, 2004, and that was a
huge step in improvement. I've gone back three more times since then. I guess the biggest factor
in learning to play and play well, is to play every day. I play every day even if it's just a song or two.
It's a better way to spend my evenings than watching TV! I've been playing for eight years now, and
it's still so much fun. I love sharing my dulcimer music with others.
David, and I had been to Dollywood in October and seen a demonstration of dulcimer playing and I
made the remark that it looked easy enough for even me, who had no musical background, to play.
He remembered that and found a beginner's dulcimer for me that Christmas. I then set about
teaching myself to play, after all, the basics are pretty easy, but the problem was to keep motivated
to play. In January, 2002, I joined the Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club and there I found people who
were very friendly and helpful in teaching me more about the dulcimer. I went to every workshop I
could find to learn more. In January, 2004, I bought a better quality dulcimer from Wood-N-Strings
Dulcimer Shop in Townsend, TN, and after that, things began to change in my playing ability. I
attended Mountain Dulcimer Week in Cullowhee, NC, for the first time in June, 2004, and that was a
huge step in improvement. I've gone back three more times since then. I guess the biggest factor
in learning to play and play well, is to play every day. I play every day even if it's just a song or two.
It's a better way to spend my evenings than watching TV! I've been playing for eight years now, and
it's still so much fun. I love sharing my dulcimer music with others.
| Copyright T.N.T. Dulcimers. All rights reserved. T.N.T. Logo designed by Mandi Smith, October 2006 |
Deby Libby - I saw my first dulcimer when visiting in the Pigeon Forge area during a trip to Silver
Dollar City (now Dollywood) - it really intrigued me! Years later after we moved to Tennessee, I saw a
group playing in church and decided to give it a try. So, I bought my first dulcimer, a “student
model”, in July of 2002 and after learning 3 chords, I was playing in church a few days later. I was
told that if you wait until you think you are ready to play for other people, then you may never do it
- you’ve just got to jump right in! I started out learning with video tapes and books and with the
help of others that I was playing with at church. Then, I attended my first dulcimer festival in March,
2003, and found out that there are lots of different kinds of dulcimers out there and different ways
to play them! There were workshops, concerts, and vendors with all kinds of great instruments and
other cool stuff! I was officially HOOKED on the dulcimer! Since then, I've played with different
groups at church, festivals and other events, and have also started teaching, arranging, performing
and recording. I've been amazed at the different places I've been, the things I've experienced, and
all the wonderful people I've met, because of the mountain dulcimer. Which direction will this
"dulcimer journey" take me next? One new adventure will be in June, 2010, when I'll be tutoring
and leading some jams at Dulcimerville in Black Mountain, NC. I'm looking forward to seeing old
friends and making new ones there! I also cannot wait to see what new TNT project we tackle
next. We are now working on new tunes, arrangements, TNT Tab and. . . we're still having a BLAST!!!
Dollar City (now Dollywood) - it really intrigued me! Years later after we moved to Tennessee, I saw a
group playing in church and decided to give it a try. So, I bought my first dulcimer, a “student
model”, in July of 2002 and after learning 3 chords, I was playing in church a few days later. I was
told that if you wait until you think you are ready to play for other people, then you may never do it
- you’ve just got to jump right in! I started out learning with video tapes and books and with the
help of others that I was playing with at church. Then, I attended my first dulcimer festival in March,
2003, and found out that there are lots of different kinds of dulcimers out there and different ways
to play them! There were workshops, concerts, and vendors with all kinds of great instruments and
other cool stuff! I was officially HOOKED on the dulcimer! Since then, I've played with different
groups at church, festivals and other events, and have also started teaching, arranging, performing
and recording. I've been amazed at the different places I've been, the things I've experienced, and
all the wonderful people I've met, because of the mountain dulcimer. Which direction will this
"dulcimer journey" take me next? One new adventure will be in June, 2010, when I'll be tutoring
and leading some jams at Dulcimerville in Black Mountain, NC. I'm looking forward to seeing old
friends and making new ones there! I also cannot wait to see what new TNT project we tackle
next. We are now working on new tunes, arrangements, TNT Tab and. . . we're still having a BLAST!!!
Ginny Cliett – In 2003 my husband and I were staying in Townsend just prior to moving to East
Tennessee – I was very intrigued by the Wood-N-Strings Dulcimer Shop. My husband suggested we
“stop in” – and the rest is history!! I was immediately taken with the “sweet” sound of the
instrument – bought one – and by the spring of 2004, I was a very serious student of the dulcimer. I
attended Rudy Ryan’s fabulous beginner’s class at Pellissippi State during that time, took lessons
from Rudy and then more lessons from the dulcimer guru, June Goforth – both members of the
Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club, of which I was a new member. As time passed, I found that I was able
to play increasingly complex pieces, and it was with this excitement that I first attended Mountain
Dulcimer Week at Western Carolina University--a wonderful, uplifting experience. I enjoy
performing and playing with my good friends of T. N. T.
Currently I own fourteen dulcimers (one of which I gave to my mother-in-law). Most are
standard (diatonic), one is a chromatic dulcimer, one is a baritone (tuned five notes lower), one is a
dulcimette (tuned an octave higher), one is a bowed dulcimer, another is a Ginger (tuned five notes
higher) and the last is a banjammer (played like a dulcimer but sounds like a banjo). I also play
guitar and a little mandolin and bodhran. Making music is such a joy and a wonderful gift from God
– I only hope that by sharing my music I can make someone’s day a little brighter, someone’s hope a
little stronger, or, perhaps, someone’s problems a little smaller.
Tennessee – I was very intrigued by the Wood-N-Strings Dulcimer Shop. My husband suggested we
“stop in” – and the rest is history!! I was immediately taken with the “sweet” sound of the
instrument – bought one – and by the spring of 2004, I was a very serious student of the dulcimer. I
attended Rudy Ryan’s fabulous beginner’s class at Pellissippi State during that time, took lessons
from Rudy and then more lessons from the dulcimer guru, June Goforth – both members of the
Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club, of which I was a new member. As time passed, I found that I was able
to play increasingly complex pieces, and it was with this excitement that I first attended Mountain
Dulcimer Week at Western Carolina University--a wonderful, uplifting experience. I enjoy
performing and playing with my good friends of T. N. T.
Currently I own fourteen dulcimers (one of which I gave to my mother-in-law). Most are
standard (diatonic), one is a chromatic dulcimer, one is a baritone (tuned five notes lower), one is a
dulcimette (tuned an octave higher), one is a bowed dulcimer, another is a Ginger (tuned five notes
higher) and the last is a banjammer (played like a dulcimer but sounds like a banjo). I also play
guitar and a little mandolin and bodhran. Making music is such a joy and a wonderful gift from God
– I only hope that by sharing my music I can make someone’s day a little brighter, someone’s hope a
little stronger, or, perhaps, someone’s problems a little smaller.
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WHO WE ARE
