In the winter of 2018, through support of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Indiana Arts Commission, Traditional Arts Indiana partnered with Kara Barnard to host a Silver Strings program at the Salem Public Library. Washington County has a strong tradition of music making, and in the past thirty years, the mountain dulcimer has become popular in the region and are commonly seen at community jams. Kara uses the dulcimer to help older adults improve their social engagement and general wellbeing.
Playing the mountain dulcimer is easy. With strings tuned to an open D chord (DAD), workshop participants learned to strum and play simple melodies on the instrument. Before the end of Kara’s course participants were playing chords and harmonizing. Silver Strings not only helps fight loneliness and boredom for older musicians, but also instills a sense of mastery and purpose through their new found creative practice.
Video shot and edited by Jon Kay, Traditional Arts Indiana