TESTIMONIALS
• Performer • Workshop Instructor • Songwriter • Poet • Private Lessons •
TESTIMONIALS
A friend of mine, Laura Phillips, invited me to go to a dulcimer workshop in Longview, Texas in 2001 hosted by the Circle of Friends Dulcimer Club. If I remember correctly, I had no idea who was teaching it or what it was about. I just knew that I could play my dulcimer and that was good enough for me! I had been playing for about two years at this point and was interested in soaking up all the dulcimer knowledge I could.
So Laura and I made the two hour trip and were privileged to have Linda Brockinton as the instructor. I had no idea who she was or that I was sitting in the company of the current Mountain Dulcimer Champion! I loved the fingerpicking style on the dulcimer, but what she had to share about fingerings was totally different from what I had been doing and what I had learned from other instructors at the festivals I had attended.
I have to be honest at first I really got frustrated and didn't believe it was worth the effort to "re-train" my fingers. BUT after getting home I decided I would just apply Linda's fingerings to any new music that I was learning to play. I would continue to play my familiar tab using my old fingerings. Much to my surprise after a short time of doing this I began to automatically play my familiar tab in the new fingering style as well. This really got me excited and I had to have more.
I soon found out that Linda Brockinton would be teaching at the Western Carolina University in Cullowhee for a WHOLE WEEK! I was on cloud nine thinking about going. I quickly found another dulcimer player that wanted to make the trip. So in June 2002, I headed to North Carolina and my dulcimer playing would never be the same. Being able to concentrate on dulcimer playing for a whole week can really advance your playing quickly.
Linda did a wonderful job of teaching her style of playing to a packed class of novice players. By the end of the week "light bulbs" were coming on all over the room. Linda even gave all her students light bulb necklaces while wearing sunglasses saying that we were so bright that she had to wear shades!
I had a wonderful week of learning, but also was blessed with the opportunity to make a great friend. Linda was sweet enough to take me under her wing when I was standing in the lobby area by myself waiting for a shuttle bus to take me to the concert area early in the week. She asked me what I was doing out there by myself and told me that I just needed to ride with her. The rest is history! We stayed up until 3am and laughed so hard my stomach muscles were sore. We have a bond now that goes beyond the dulcimer. It is a kindred spirit and a bond that can only be found in the sisterhood of Christ.
I have kept in contact with Linda over the past several years and stop by to see her in Arkansas when I can. I thank God for the wonderful gift of music, but even more for the wonderful blessing of friendship! Linda is truly a gifted musician and an excellent teacher. Her patience, ability to communicate well, and sense of humor make the learning experience a true joy! One final note ..... I have come to the conclusion that "re-training" your fingers IS worth the effort! So GO FOR IT!
--Teresa Gentry
Rowlett, Texas
August 2008
My first class with Linda was, to put it mildly, frustrating! I had only played in DAA and had never tried fingerpicking. When Linda tried to show how to form the various chord shapes it was if she was speaking a foreign language. I tried to place my fingers in the positions she showed, but they had a mind of their own, and just wouldn't cooperate. However, by the end of the week, in spite of everything, I had learned one important fact ---- "middle finger, middle string". Back home as I continued to struggle, I kept repeating that mantra ---- "middle finger, middle string". Finally, several months later it began to pay off. I found when I kept that middle finger on the middle string, I was able to shift smoothly from one chord shape to another. Three years have gone by since my first class with Linda, but thanks to the "middle finger, middle string" I now feel comfortable forming chord shapes and moving around the fret board. I'm even sharing the middle finger mantra with the students in my beginning class.
--Joy Williams
Hendersonville, NC
I met Linda Brockinton at the 2004 Annual Summer Solstice held in Calabasas, CA. I was totally enthralled with her fingerpicking style of playing and made it a point to attend all of her workshops dealing with the Chord/Melody style of playing. At first it was a little frustrating because some of the chord positions had me using my pinkie finger which I had never used before. Even with the initial frustration, I continued to pursue this new skill because I kept remembering how Linda made the melodies flow like water out of her dulcimer. Linda mentioned early on during the workshops that the conversion should be made in small steps ..... we should continue to play the things we had learned just the way we had learned them and slowly learn how to play new songs with the Chord/Melody style. You've gotta learn how to crawl before you can walk!!! I took Linda's advice seriously, and progressed very slowly on my own, learning the new songs a measure or phrase at a time. One day it seemed as though the light just came on and I started to play everything with the Chord/Melody style. The funny thing about it was that I was now playing with the chord shapes without consciously thinking of it. I'm not claiming to be a master of this style, but it has definitely improved my playing. It has made playing without tablature much easier. Once you know the melody, you can easily figure out the chords with just knowing the basic chord shapes. You don't even need to know what chord you are playing ..... is it D or G or Am or E7 ..... everything just flows! Once you know the basic shapes of the chords you can intuitively play almost anything. Give it a try! Step out of your comfort zone! You'll be glad that you did -- I am! It's not difficult! Thank you, Linda Brockinton, for introducing me to the Chord/Melody style of playing.
Regards,
--Dennis Kim
Poway, CA
Last week I received Linda's latest CD, "In The Stillness", and have played it constantly since its arrival. Linda's choice of material for this CD is very special. This has become one of my favorite CDs and also my husbands. Keep up the good work, Linda!
--Brenda Warren
Cape Coral, FL
I discovered Linda's beautiful approach to the mountain dulcimer through a recommendation from a workshop leader at a local dulcimer festival last summer. Since then, I have been delighted to correspond with Linda via email and to become acquainted with her CDs and TAB. Linda's gentle finger-picking style of dulcimer playing is truly lovely. I've been happy to discover, thru' her playing and tab, the "softer" side of this instrument's capabilities. I have several of her tab books; the finger "exercises" and explanations are helpful, and the tunes are lovely to play. Whenever I've had questions, Linda has been more than gracious about answering them and giving dulcimer-advice via email. I just received the "In the Stillness" CD a couple of weeks ago, and can't stop playing it. In fact, it is such a soothing, restful collection of arrangements that I need to order a couple more to share with friends. Thanks, Linda!
--(withheld)
Linda Brockinton's O'Carolan Tab book is an absolute gem. It is filled with vibrant, imaginative arrangements, innovative introductions and a variety of setting of melodies and harmonies for many beloved O'Carolan tunes. She has certainly made a significant contribution to the ever growing collection of O'Carolan arrangements for the Mountain Dulcimer. Well worth the price.
--Bruce O. Bowes
Playing with Linda has been a rare privilege, and it is always wonderful to play with Linda, and rise to new levels of heart felt music. Brenda Ramsey, her flute playing friend, is such a dear person, as well as the finest musician, who adds warmth and emotion to Linda's delicate fingerpicking style. It was a treat and pleasure working with Brenda. When the three of us recorded "In the Stillness," it was truly a labor of love, and had a healing effect of me that renews each time I hear this special cd.
Linda is an inspiration as a friend and a musician, and I have been truly blessed to have the opportunity to play music with her.
--Kay Martin
