The hammered dulcimer is a wonderful instrument with a magical sound. I decided to ask someone at a festival how they started, and the response was “I heard it once.” I went and I bought my first dulcimer shortly after that.
Here are some resource for people in the New England area who want to start, learn more, or meet other hammered dulcimer players.
Hammered Dulcimer Builders
- Songbird Dulcimers: https://songbirdhd.com/
- Master Works Dulcimers: https://masterworksok.com/
- David’s Dulcimers: https://davidsdulcimers.com/
- Dusty Strings: https://manufacturing.dustystrings.com/hammered-dulcimers
- Song of the Wood Dulcimers: https://www.songofthewood.com/
- Nick Blanton Instruments: https://www.blantoninstruments.com/
- James Jones Instruments: https://www.jamesjonesinstruments.com/
- Lark In The Morning Dulcimers: https://larkinthemorning.com/collections/hammered-dulcimers
- Cloud Nine Dulcimers: https://www.cloudninemusical.com/
Teachers
- Dave Neiman, Cambridge, MA, https://dulcimusic.com/
- Keith Prairie, Westbrook, ME, https://prairie-music.com/
- Tim Van Egmond, Montague, MA, https://timvanegmond.com/
- Beverly Woods, Wolfboro, NH, https://beverlywoods.net/
Events
- Nutmeg Dulcimer Festival, Milford, CT, https://www.nutmegdulcimer.com/, usually October
- QuaranTUNE Virtual Dulcimer Festivals, 3 or 4 times a year. Summer Fest: June 4-7, 2026, https://www.virtualdulcimerfest.com/
- Original Dulcimer Players Club FunFest, Evart, MI, July 16-18, 2026, https://evartdulcimerfest.org/
- North East Ohio Hammered Dulcimer Weekend, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, November 13-15, 2026, https://markalanwade.com/north-east-ohio-hammered-dulcimer-weekend/
Online Resources
- Dulcimer Players News – Quarterly Print Magazine, https://www.dpnews.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/@dulcimerplayersnews
- Dulcimoon YouTube Channel (Lots of interviews with female players), https://www.youtube.com/@Dulcimoon/videos