HOHS
News
Inland Northwest
Harrington Dulcimer Day
at the Historic HARRINGTON OPERA HOUSE
Harrington, WA 99134
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Guest Instructors: Heidi Muller & Bob Webb
Heidi Muller has played and taught mountain dulcimer for over 40 years. She organizes Dulcimer Week in the Wallowas, has headlined at festivals nationwide and taught online for QuaranTune. A songwriter and guitarist, her song “Good Road” was the theme of the Inland Folk show heard on Northwest Public Radio for 30 years. She performs with Bob Webb and has produced numerous CDs and tune books.
|
 |
| Bob Webb has played guitar and cello since childhood, and mandolin and mountain dulcimer for over 40 years. He co-hosts Dulcimer Week in the Wallowas and teaches its beginner class. He was an original member of the Mountain Stage house band of National Public Radio fame. Bob performs with Heidi Muller and has published instruction and tune books for dulcimer, mandolin and fingerpicked guitar. |
 |
Click HERE for Downloadable PDF Registration Form
Return Completed Page 1. Keep page 2 & 3 for your reference
Pre-Registration fee for the DAY will be $65+ tax paid by April 15, 2026
Registration received after April 15 is $75+ tax. Walk-ins welcome.
(Volunteers needed! Contact Karen for potential registration discount!)
|
The Day will include:
- Three workshop sessions
(Choose from 6 - for novice to experienced players)
- Jam
- Concert
|
Workshop Descriptions:
- Here’s a Round for Us to Try – Bob Webb - Learning to play rounds is one of the best introductions to playing ensemble music in parts with others. Beginning with familiar two part rounds, we will progress to three and four part rounds by the end of class. Gain skill in listening to both yourself and those around you on songs in a mixture of styles suitable for strumming and flatpicking. Novice/AB
- Two-Part Tunes and Songs – Heidi Muller - Enjoy some dulcimer duos on both instrumental and singing songs, as we play chord melodies and their accompaniments with strumming and flatpicking. We’ll explore ways to play more smoothly, blend your sound with others, and identify fingerings that “connect the dots” between the melody notes and chords. Int/Adv
- Venture Beyond the Key of D – Bob Webb - Let the capo be your “key” that unlocks the door to playing in other keys besides D without having to re-tune your dulcimer. Learn how the capo can help you creatively explore new territory up the fretboard. We’ll also discuss how to use the capo to join with other instruments that may play in keys not easily accessible in DAD tuning. Novice/AB
- Play Smoother and Faster with Hammers, Pulls, and Slides –
Heidi Muller -
Improve your playing skills by adding ornaments to your music. Glide up the fretboard with hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides, using different finger combinations, on a variety of tunes that will build your repertoire. We’ll play a jig, a hornpipe, a slow classical piece, and a fiddle tune, and show how to add your own ornaments to existing tablature. Int/Adv
- Cook Up Your Own Delicious Arrangements – Bob Webb - Around any melody lurk notes that can be added from above or below. Chords can be substituted to add color or change the mood. Dynamics and tempo are fair game, too. No matter the song, using these hidden ingredients will help you “cook up” a delicious arrangement. Just remember, a great chef knows just the right amount and blending of the spices! Come discover several ways to enhance and expand upon your own arrangements. Int/Adv
- Fingerpicking: A Gentler Way of Playing – Heidi Muller - Would you like your slower songs to sound more graceful? Learn how to fingerpick! We’ll cover basic right-hand patterns in 3/4 and 4/4 time while playing tunes with easy chords, and use techniques like arpeggios and pinches. We’ll show how to read the tab, bring out the melody, and play smoothly through the chords. Novice/AB
|
|
|
| Tentative Schedule: Details may change slightly
|
The historic 1904 Harrington Opera House is located in Harrington, a community about 60 miles west of Spokane, WA with a small but vibrant downtown. Most businesses are in a walkable 3 block area.
Accommodations: The Hideaway RV Park is at the south end of town. The nearest motel lodgings are 13 miles north in Davenport, 26 miles west in Sprague, 26 miles south in Ritzville and 26 miles south in Odessa.
For more about the historic Harrington Opera House, explore the rest of this website.
|
|
