Matthew Dickerson, National Hammer Dulcimer Champion, will be conducting four hammered dulcimer workshops on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, from 9 am to 6:00 pm at Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 800 S. Northshore Dr, Knoxville, TN  37919.      This will be an all day event to include dinner and followed by a concert by Matthew.       Please see the SignUp Genius posting to view the schedule of the day.

The cost will be a special rate of $35 for club members.     Payment can be made at a prior club meeting with either cash or check.   Checks should be payable to KADC and can be sent to PO Box 31512, Knoxville, TN   37930

The four workshops Matthew will be teaching are the following.

Learn New Tunes Efficiently – Master new repertoire faster and build rock solid muscle memory!  This class offers a practical approach to learning hammered dulcimer tunes efficiently, whether you prefer picking them up by ear or lightly referencing sheet music.  We will focus on recognizing visual patterns across the bridges, breaking melodies into manageable chunks, and building a practice routine that saves you time. 

The Art of Performance: Captivate Your Audience – What separates a good player from a captivating entertainer?  Because the hammered dulcimer is a highly visual and percussive instrument, how you play is just as important as what you play.   We will dive into stagecraft, visual phrasing, and the physical presence of performing.   Learn to project confidence, command the room and truly connect with your audience from the very first strike. 

Trust Your Ears: Freedom from the Page – Ditch the sheet music and play with confidence!    This low-stress workshop teaches you how to find melodies and chord structures using just your intuition.   We will break down the familiar block patterns of the hammered dulcimer, showing you how to anticipate chord changes and pick out tunes on the fly.    Perfect for jam sessions, you will leave with the tools to trust your ears and play freely.

Power & Subtlety:  Transform Your Sound Through Dynamics – Unlock the full expressive range of your instrument.   This workshop focuses strictly on dynamic control–from a whisper to a roar.   We will break down the physical mechanics of your grip, finding the perfect balance point in your hammers, and utilizing fingertip motions to create powerful strikes and delicate accents.  Learn to shape your sound and give your music a true heartbeat. 

What to bring to the workshop:

• Hammered Dulcimer
• Instrument Stand
• Music Stand
• Tuner
• Brown Bag Lunch
• Any snacks or drinks you may want
• Spending money for Matthew’s merchandise table
• Armless chairs will be provided at the location.

Meals:   Attendees should bring a bag lunch. Dinner will consist of pizza, salad & dessert with a donation basket.   When you sign up, you can select your pizza topping choice.

For Workshop Content questions, please contact Darlene Brazil at programmingVP@knoxvilledulcimers.org

All other questions, contact Gretchen Edwards at treasurer.kadc@knoxvilledulcimers.org

Sign up below at the SignUp Genius for this day of hammered dulcimer workshops.