I'm currently jamming to the song "Dance Monkey" by Tones and I. My son loves to dance around to it and I feel like I've got a looping cover I want to do that could be pretty fun.  So this was my first attempt at mapping it out - I just used GarageBand and the computer, so it's not about the recording, just about getting my ideas organized.  

As my skills get a little better on the hammered dulcimer, I'm able to write more complex music.  So this little piece I wrote reflects new things I've learned to do on the instrument.  

I continue to tinker around with the dulcimer.  I learned this new song tonight. 

I have a teaching studio with a bunch of pianos and professional music equipment.  But we finally decided to get a piano at home, because of course...a home has to have a piano!  And for the kids, etc.  So we got this old spinet from Craigslist that has a lot of character.  We still haven't tuned it, and it's been in our house for like, 7 months.  Eek!  
I was thinking that usually an out-of-tune piano is annoying, and kind of a liability for your music. But today I tried to think of it as an asset.  What could I write or create that would highlight the quirky tuning of my piano?  And here's what I came up with. 

I learned a new piece on the dulcimer.  I really like how this one uses the leading tone and then occasionally the flat leading tone.  

I have always felt like a perpetual beginner on guitar.  But recently I'm liking it a bit more, and feel more comfortable as long as I'm playing familiar chords.  Maybe I'll keep getting better this year...

Noodling around more on the dulcimer.  I had my first lesson at Artichoke Music, which helped me get a lot more familiar with the instrument.  (I'm learning to play a song assigned by the teacher - LOL it's harder than you might think!)
At any rate, I love the contemplative quality of the dulcimer. More to come on it, I imagine.

I got a hammered dulcimer!  It was a gift from one of my dear music students.  I was a little intimidated at first - so many strings to tune!  But once I spent about 30 minutes tinkering around, I got the idea.  I actually have my first lesson with a teacher here in Portland later this week.  

BUT in the meantime, why not just make it up as I go along?  So here is my music for this week: my first dulcimer improv.  

I have an ongoing love affair with the "minor 3" chord.  This may be a theme for a little while.  
(Back several years ago, it was always the "minor 4 with an added 6" chord.  I wrote SO MANY things with that chord!)
And also, my little Nova makes an appearance in this video.  She might be visiting other videos in the future, so prepare yourself for cuteness!

Here is the first idea in my 2020 project of "52 Ideas"