BEGINNERS.  Very beginning.  Name parts of dulcimer.  Tuning the darned thing.  introduction to notes, keys and scales and frets.  Three chords.  Start using the fingers right.  At least one simple tune you can play when you leave.  Work sheets provided.  

      ADVANCING BEGINNERS.   Give some scale exercises.  Studies in rhythm.  Basic strum patterns.  Basic finger picking.   Learn one or two new songs.  Pick up the things you haven't learned from your beginning classes.  Work sheets and tabs provided.

       INTERMEDIATE.  Learn to play tunes from the chords.  Some new chords.  Parallel chords.  Some minor chords.  Hammers, slides and pulls.  Playing melody across the strings.  Getting away from bumpty-bump.  New songs.  Work sheets provided.

       MAKING THE BIG SWITCH.  Switching from DAA to DAD.  Advantages and disadvantages.  (Advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.)  Learn to shift the tab.  Learn parallel chords. Learn to play a song in DAD.  Try it.  You might like it.  Work sheets provided.

       SAM'S CRAZY MUSICAL THEORY!  For those who want to know why they're doing what they're doing.  Mysteries solved.  Complexities simplified.  Material from the "Crazy Dulcimer Theory Book" now being written.  I know.  Dulcimer players don't like the word theory!  Okay, then, let's call it Sam's Crazy College of Musical Knowledge!  Worksheets definitely provided.

       LEARN TO PLAY SAM'S SONGS.  As many as we can handle in the time allotted.  Let me know ahead of time, and you can even choose the songs you want to learn.  Tablature, Piano notation, and Chords provided.

       PERFORMING WORKSHOP.  Original songs presented with dulcimer and voice.  Other musicians may join in if they know the songs or can follow the chords.  Sing along if you know the words.  A couple of song sheets will be given as a bonus.

       SONGWRITING.  General rules.  (Don't say there are no rules!)  How to weld melody and lyric.  Choosing melody and lyric structure to match the mood of the song.  Learning how to squeeze tunes out of chord patterns.  All questions answered.  No work sheets, but bring your instruments and take notes if you wish.
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         Acoustic Fun Fest, Evart, Michigan
         Big Muddy Folk Festival, Boonville, Missouri
         Blue Grass Creek Folk Festival, Evansville, Indiana
         Central Indiana Mountain Dulcimer and Folk Music Society, Indianapolis, Indiana
         Central Ohio Folk Festival, Columbus, Ohio
         Cincinnati Dulcimer Celebration, Cincinnati, Ohio
         Cosby Dulcimer and Harp Festival, Cosby, Tennessee
         Dulcimer Chautauqua on the Wabash, New Harmony, Indiana
         Dulcimer Clubs Get Together, New Albany, Mississippi
         Dulcimer Festival, Leo, Indiana
         Eagle Creek Folk Festival, Indianapolis, Indiana
         Ft. Clark Settlers Day, Brackettville, Texas
         Kentucky Music Week, Bardstown, Kentucky
         Lagniappe Dulcimer Fete, Port Allen, Louisiana
         Louisville Dulcimer Society, Louisville, Kentucky
         Ohio Valley Gathering, Clifty Falls State Park, Madison, Indiana
                                             Brown County State Park, Nashville, Indiana
                                             Spring Mill State Park, Mitchell, Indiana
                                             General Butler State Park, Carrolton, Kentucky
                                             Lexington, Kentucky
                                             Evansville, Indiana
                                             West Baden Historic Hotel, West Baden, Indiana
            Old Capitol Traditional Music Festival, Corydon, Indiana
            Three Rivers Dulcimer Festival, Waverly, Tennessee