Walk Through the Folk Wood
Our name, Folk Wood Players, reflects our love of a type of music and the acoustic instruments we play. Wood, metal, stone, hide, shells are elements found in nature. Each are useful in their own right. Combining them in the hands of gifted builders, gives us the means of sharing music with all we meet. Our songs tell stories, make jokes and sometimes just set the right mood to day dream and relax.
As you listen you may have a momentary escape from the ordinary or a vision of meandering a shady path that will lead to pleasant memories. Whatever happens, we hope you will find a connection to the music we play. |
|
|
Folk Wood Players Are:
 Elaine Schnipke is our percussionist. Elaine has played Irish and folk music for the past four years and enjoyed Irish dance for three years. For more than 20 years she has used her talents in the field of music. Her love of international folk music and dance have provided many opportunities to play her traditional Celtic Bodhran and Middle Eastern drum, the Dumbek (pronounced: di-beck-ee). She is well versed in and enjoys playing many styles of music. She has been a "one take wonder" in the recording sound booth. Elaine is a wizard at networking and seems to know people everywhere we go. She is our contact person for booking. She would love to hear from you! Beth Duffield plays the hammered dulcimer, the mountain dulcimer and sings. She loves to harmonize. Her first mountain dulcimer was a gift from her husband James in Jan. 1995. She figured if she couldn't learn to play it, it would still make a lovely wall ornament. Playing dulcimers soon became a passion. If you ask her how many dulcimers a person needs she may tell you "Just one more!" By a railroad voting
procedure she became the current president of the Standing Stone Strings and Things Dulcimer Club. As the club artist, she designed our logo and CD cover for our recent release, First Time Out.
 Alyce Stoops plays the mountain dulcimer, hammered dulcimer, Irish whistle and sings. Her love of dulcimer music was inspired by her uncle, Dale. Many of the dulcimers he made adorn the walls of her home. She is the past president of the Standing Stone Strings and Things Dulcimer Club and is currently the Director of the Harmony Harvest Dulcimer Weekend held in Lancaster, OH each September. Alyce is our song historian and is constantly bringing new tunes to our attention. OUR NEWEST MEMBER
 Al Belasco started playing the guitar and singing at age
15 after five
torturous years of classical piano, and various other
instruments of
mass instruction. Playing folk music, Irish, Kinston
Trio, John
Denver, ballad type songs and funny songs in many
venues and Jam sessions here in the Columbus area
for the past 10 years has given him an opportunity to
meet and play with many talented musicians. He’s
worked and traveled in almost every state in the U.S.
over the past 35 years, but has lived here in Ohio since
1988. He’s a geologist, so don’t get him started
on minerals around the states or he’ll be gone faster
than the “Wabash Cannonball”.
|
 |
 |
|
Folkwood
Players at the 2006 North Market Music on
the Patio |
John R Clear is the Folkwood
Players Photographer / Promotor and helps Elaine
M Schnipke in the process of finding gigs for
them.
His e-mail address is
jrclear64@netscape.net
John Clear - Biography -
Photographer - Folk Wood Players
John is our photographer and the
band's
assistant in promotions and scheduling gigs.
John has been
photographing musical events for the
Columbus, Ohio area for the past five years.
Alyce met
John while he was taking photos of her Celtic
Jam group "The
Bardic Circle". She
recommended
to Elaine that John would take pictures and
promote the band and Elaine said that this is
great news. He takes pictures for
Bardic
Circle, Columbus Folk Music Society, Columbus
Maennerchor,
and Story Tellers of Central Ohio.
Even though he has no musical
talent
whatsoever, and can't hold a tune to save his
life, and flashes going off at no
particular
time, when we least expect them, we put up with
him anyway. He is a great guy.
OCCASIONAL GUEST MEMBERS
Gary Sager also plays guitar for us when he is in town.
He started playing the guitar when he was 13 years old. He is also a master mountain dulcimer player and builder. Gary heard Mountain Dulcimer for the first time in 1991 and built one the same year. He began building and selling his dulcimers as a hobby that paid for itself. This has grown into Prussia Valley Acoustic Music Shoppe located in Waverly, Ohio. Gary and his wife Toni travel to many dulcimer festivals around the country and often play together. Toni plays the autoharp. Many of us are anxiously awaiting the delivery of Gary's CD, "Rats in the Fencepost". After hearing a preproduction sample CD we can' wait to own our own copies. To visit Gary's store online type in
www.prussiavalley.com . Gary Puckett has played with us for the two years (2004 - 2005). Unfortunately for us, life is calling him to other endeavors. Gary, thank you for your wonderful guitar work with us and your supportive attitude. Beth, Elaine and Alyce wish you all the best. We hate to loose you but realize that you gotta do what's best for you.
Harmony Harvest
Further information about Harmony Harvest Dulcimer Weekend can be found on our "Folk Wood Home" page. The weekend is scheduled for Sept. 15, 16, 17, 2006. E-mail
als5367@hotmail.com for more information about registering. Please
be sure "Harmony Harvest" is in your e-mail subject box.
|
