I want to be prepared for the QuarTUNE music lessons I’m taking in a couple weeks. Yesterday I hauled out my hammered dulcimer.

It took a while to find all the stuff I will need: hammers, stand, music, tuner, batteries, etc. (The stand was lost and at first I couldn’t locate a tuner.) With everything assembled, I started.

I put the dulcimer in front of the sliders in the great room. I can still glance at the TV and I can work a little at a time.

Tuning was much more difficult than in the past. Normally with your wrench on the peg, you tweak a string to the exact tone but generally it’s almost there. It’s always been easy to figure which note I was aiming for. Not this time! The strings were so far off I had no idea where I should tune them so I needed a layout. I finally found a diagram for my instrument but it’s slow going. There are two bridges (bass and treble) so I started with the treble bridge. I’m about 2/3’s of the way through the 17 sets of strings (two each or a total string count of 66). After I finish it’ll take a while for the tuning to settle in. It’ll be easier as time goes by. Right now each string has no memory of what it should be. I will re-teach it.

Actually finding the layout wasn’t easy. I knew I had a copy posted on my old website but I’ve forgotten how to get to the files. The whole process has changed and I had to re-learn so much. But I finally was successful getting the layout printed out and I went to work. I figure I can tune little by little. When I finish, I’ll try picking out a couple simple tunes. I’m sure I’ll remember as I try it. I can’t do too much at a time because I get an ache at the base of my neck. But I’ll forge on.

My penny whistling sounds awful. I know it’s just my technique. I don’t know how to get the good tones out of the fingering. My instructor will have a hard time getting me to play anything.

Yesterday I had several detours as I tried to remember how to print out a PDF file, how to get to the files I needed, and more.

I’ve forgotten so much! I remember when internet stuff was in my wheel-house, but no more. The rules have changed. I was lost.

Why didn’t I keep up on the stuff I was good at? It would make this process so much easier. Maybe I should try to re-lean the autoharp instead, but I really prefer the hammered dulcimer.

A friend said she couldn’t wait to hear my harp. That’s not going to happen — maybe someday, but the dulcimer seems like it’s an easier path to a pleasant pass time.

Music was a life I shared with John. It was so much fun and provided me with lovely memories. I don’t expect to ever get “good” but I’m going to aim for a few nicely played tunes for the holidays. Wouldn’t it be something if I could have a little concert for friends.

I want to relearn “Ashokan Farewell.” That was one I played nicely. I can’t bring back the past, but I can find something pleasant to fill my free time.