I have had a few recent conversations that inspired me to tell how I started playing the hammer dulcimer. Without question, it is something that God led me to and has a purpose for bringing into my life. It is an interesting story on how God equips us with talents and desires, even at a young age.
Some may be wondering why this is in the development tactics category, but I think it is a good fit here because it gives insight into my motives for playing the dulcimer, and motives are an important element to overall development.
I first heard it played at about 3 years of age on a recording by Russell Cook. I still remember my soul being moved by the beauty of the instrument, and at that time I promised my mom I wanted to learn how to play hammer dulcimer by the time I was 30 years old.
My interest with musical instruments initially resulted since Dad had two mountain dulcimers since I was an infant. I remember first having an interest with them at roughly 5 years old. When I was 7, Mom and Dad noticed that I maintained my interest in music and decided to get me started with piano lessons.
The piano and I never got along very well. My brain was always active and I wanted to kind of do my own thing without having to be structured with the technicalities of sheet music. Thankfully, my piano teacher recognized this as a potential strength and assisted with me learning how to play by ear. I remember always adding my own twists on the songs that I had to play by the music.
Because of my suffering relationship with the piano, when I was 9 my parents remembered my interest on the mountain dulcimer and decided that it might be a good idea to get me started on lessons. If I remember correctly they had run across a flyer for a mountain dulcimer teacher. One thing is for certain–she was my new teacher, Peggy Carter.
I took a few lessons on the mountain dulcimer, and things weren’t going too well with that either. During one of the final attempts to see if I would take to the mountain dulcimer, I noticed this strange “triangular instrument” in the corner of Peggy’s front room. I asked her what it was and she said it was a hammer dulcimer. Immediately, I remembered the promise that I had made to my mother when I was 3 years old to learn the hammer dulcimer. I went and picked up the hammers, started playing it, and showed a definite interest in it. Wisely, Peggy noticed my peeked appeal to the instrument, and decided that we should take that day’s lesson on the hammer dulcimer.
It didn’t take long for me to progress. I remember taking lessons weekly before I owned an instrument, and even made progress without my own to practice at home. Mom and dad bought me my first hammer dulcimer for Christmas of that year. Unfortunately, it was not yet completed on Christmas day, so Peggy loaned my parents 12/11 Hudson hammer dulcimer, which I unwrapped. Here is a picture of that Christmas Day. Soon, my Hudson 16/15 arrived. I continued regularly taking lessons from Peggy until I was about 14.
There is more about my pursuits that I would like to share, but I think I’ll save that for future posts. For now, this is available as a resource for those who ask me how I started playing.
Everybody has a Gift
Everybody has a gift and purpose in this world. Some may be greater or smaller when viewed through man’s eyes, but through God’s eyes all He asks for is obedience. I’ve learned that He equips us with the tools or resources in order for us to fulfill His plan for our lives. God works everything in, and we work out through obedience.
Allow me to give an illustration:
It is a sign of human strength and discipline when a weight lifter does what it takes to get his body into great shape. I’ve met my share of weight lifters who carry an egotistical approach and want their muscles looked at for the sole purpose of showing off so the world can see what they’ve done.
But, I’ve got one question for them–who gave you the muscles? God gave the muscles. Furthermore, God gave the ability in the human mind for discipline and goals. All that the weight lifter did was work out what God had already put in by being obedient to goals and desires.
In the same way, I want people to know that all I’ve done is work out the gift of music that God put in. He gave me gift, the right parents, and also Peggy Carter into my life to teach me the hammer dulcimer. My talents and gifts would be nothing without the work of God by his direct gift and use of other people’s investments in my life.
No matter what your purpose or place is yours in this world, know there is peace through humility, obedience, and a surrendered life to your Maker.
Tags: Hammer Dulcimer Lessons