What Child is This

Tis the Season

December appears it will be a big strumming month. Nathaniel will spend two full days strumming in the home studio of a popular local artist, John Kollock, during the 25th Annual Foothills Guild Art and Craft Tour on Dec. 6th and 7th. He'll play mostly Christmas songs. In addition, the Nacoochee Strummers will be playing at least four Christmas programs at nursing homes and churches. (Nathaniel will play a finger picked Silent Night solo at each.) Finally, Nathaniel, his sister, Sarah, and his dad will be part of the living history at Traveler's Rest State Historic Site, a 1700s stagecoach Inn, on two separate December days.

Inspired

After four days of leaving home early, attending workshops and roaming the vendor halls all day, attending concerts at night and late-night jams after those, what did Nathaniel do when he got home this afternoon? Picked up his dulcimer, of course. So much inspiration and so much to apply! He decided to try Joy to the World with lots of play in an aggressive strum. This is the work in progress - second time through after he had the idea. He also worked on a fun Go Tell it on the Mountain in A and a beautiful O Come All Ye Faithful in G, with a mix of flat picking and strumming. Dad just thought this one was cool and decided to tape him working on it.

On Stage Solo

Nathaniel has played quite a few solos, either while performing with the Nacoochee Strummers (dulcimer club) or strumming with his dad at a festival or other event. Yesterday, however, he took the stage all alone for the first time during the "Open Stage" portion of the North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association's Fall Festival. Nathaniel played Gray Cat on a Tennessee Farm and I'll Fly Away. Here's I'll Fly Away, with Dad's apologies for the sideways filming.