Music and workshops

Dulcimer Adventures Europe Cruise 2027 • August 7–14

Bring your mountain dulcimer and come make music with us. Stephen Seifert, Thomasina Levy, and Rob Brereton will offer workshops for beginner, intermediate, and upper-level players.

What we’re planning

Each player can take eight 75-minute workshops, for 10 hours of instruction. We plan to offer three choices in each session, so you can choose the class that suits you.

Stephen’s workshops are listed below. More workshop descriptions and the daily schedule are coming soon. We’ll post times and rooms here once they’re settled.

Schedule note: Workshop offerings, levels, and scheduling may be adjusted once we know more about participants’ experience and interests. Some sessions may offer two intermediate choices. Our aim is to provide useful options for the group traveling with us.

Workshops with Stephen Seifert

We Gather Together: A Dutch Folk Melody

LOWER · Netherlands

Many of us already know this melody as “We Gather Together,” but its roots are in an older Dutch song. We’ll learn a simple melody version in small, manageable phrases, using both our ears and easy-to-follow tablature. A steady strum and a few optional chords will help us turn a familiar tune into a satisfying instrumental.

Per the Fiddler: A Norwegian Folk Favorite

LOWER · Norway

“Per spelmann” tells of a man who trades his cow for a fiddle, a story musicians might understand! This lilting Norwegian song gives us a friendly melody to learn a little at a time. We’ll use its repeated ideas to help us remember it, find comfortable fingerings, and keep the music moving with a relaxed strum.

Fingerpicked Songs from Germany

INTERMEDIATE · Germany

A tender love song and a quiet evening song make lovely dulcimer instrumentals. We’ll work with “Dat du min Leevsten büst” and “Der Mond ist aufgegangen,” letting their singable melodies lead the way. Simple fingerpicking patterns and a few supporting chords will give the music a flowing accompaniment. No previous fingerpicking experience is needed.

Soldier’s Joy Goes to Denmark

INTERMEDIATE · Jutland, near Aarhus

“Hornfiffen fra Randers” is a Danish relative of “Soldier’s Joy,” with a familiar sound and a character of its own. We’ll learn an approachable version, then add a little lift and sparkle through phrasing, hammer-ons, and pull-offs. You’ll have a straightforward melody to keep and a few ways to dress it up without losing its dance pulse.

A Danish Summer Song

INTERMEDIATE · Denmark

“Jeg gik mig ud en sommerdag,” or “I Went Out One Summer Day,” pairs a gently turning folk melody with a text inspired by birdsong. We’ll explore its minor sound and flowing three-beat rhythm, then add a few chords and slides where they serve the melody. The emphasis is on making a modest tune expressive and enjoyable to play.

Chord College for Backup and Chord-Melody

INTERMEDIATE AND HIGHER

You don’t have to memorize a chord book to know where all your major and minor chords are all over the fingerboard. I’m going to walk you through an easy-to-remember system that fits on just two pages. Not only does this help with backup and chord-melody, it will also make you a better reader. Actually, it’s a big part of everything I do. I’ll show you.

An Island Dance from Bornholm

UPPER · Bornholm, our Rønne stop

“Bornholmsk Engelskdans nr. 29” is a bright traditional dance preserved in a Bornholm musician’s notebook. We’ll begin with its clear melody, then build a fuller arrangement with chord-melody, a contrasting octave, and rhythmic variations. The challenge is making each pass sound fresh while keeping the tune easy to recognize and the dancers’ pulse easy to feel.

A Dance from the Swedish Coast

UPPER · Halland, western Sweden

“Engelska från Släp” is a tuneful dance from Sweden’s west coast, part of the English-dance tradition that also appears in Denmark. We’ll build from the basic melody toward a more developed instrumental, exploring smooth runs across the strings, selective ornamentation, and contrasting textures. We’ll also practice simplifying a busy passage while preserving the shape and spirit of the tune.

Workshops with Thomasina Levy

Eight workshops planned. Titles and descriptions coming soon.

Workshops with Rob Brereton

Eight workshops planned. Titles and descriptions coming soon.

Let’s play together

Jams are a big part of our trips. Join in, try a tune, listen for a while, or simply enjoy the music. Most of our evening jams will be led by the instructors, and both players and companions are welcome.

We’re planning six evening jams and a concert during the week. Dates, times, and rooms will be included in the final schedule.

Some of our favorite moments happen over dinner or while exploring a port together. There’s time to get to know each other beyond the workshops.

Meet the instructors and the people organizing the trip.