I've been playing McSpadden's World Dulcimer all over the world but China was by far the best. I've played on board ship and on South Pacific beaches and Japanese gardens. In China, Shanghai in particular there was a lot of interest.
In the Hunan District of Shanghai is Jinling Road. It must have 20 music stores in a 2 or 3 block stretch. There were big stores with pianos, band instruments, smaller guitar shops, stores with tranditional Chinese instruments with children getting music lessions and little mom and pop stores.
Almost every one of them wanted to see and hear the dulcimer played. Many jumped in when I'd start with You are My Sunshine or Fleur de Lis. I showed store owners and managers how to play and let them have at it. Some picked it up quickly and did well. They all liked it.
Many also played some traditional Chinese instruments for me. I was a really fun day and I handed out these last of a box of my cards with the McSpadden information on the back. I have another box on the ship, so that's about right. I'm halfway through the trip and I've handed out half my cards. Several were already looking it up on their phones while I was there.
One owner wanted to buy the World Dulcimer. I finally figured out what he was saying and he didn't understand me well so I hugged the dulcimer and said, "No. I love my dulcimer. This one is mine." They laughed hardily and I pointed to back of the cards I gave them and made the money sign. They smiled and nodded their heads.
I really hope this works for McSpadden as they were so wonderful to sponsor me on this world cruise musically. Everyone I met seemed to really feel good about it and had a comradery about playing music together that totally got around the problem of not speaking the same language. Music is its own language and well understood. I'm certainly not the most accomplished dulcimer player around but, I do enjoy it so.
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