Alice's second harp is a 34-string Triplett Catalina Deluxe. The beautiful mellow tones of this harp make it a favorite for outdoor ceremonies and receptions. The built-in pickup for amplification makes it easy for this harp to be heard over long distances outdoors as well as in crowded rooms.

Alice's larger hammered dulcimer is a Dusty Strings D550, 16/15 chromatic dulcimer made in Seattle, Washington. The dampers on this instrument can provide special muted effects. The extra chromatic bridges and extended bass bridge make this an excellent instrument for playing classical repertoire as well as traditional contra dances, jigs, reels, and Medieval music. (Don't confuse this dulcimer with another instrument of the same name. Mountain dulcimers are hour-glass or fiddle-shaped, are usually placed flat on your lap, and are played by fingering fretted strings and strumming.)

Hammered dulcimers are played by striking the strings with small mallets. Different effects are achieved by using wooden heads, leather-covered, or felt-covered hammers. Some hammers are single-sided, others are double-sided. Hammers in this picture have been purchased from Dusty Strings, James Jones, Bob Bedard, Sam Rizzetta, and Jill Weimer. See the Dulcimer Accessories list for information on how to contact these manufacturers.

The difference between a violin and a viola is the relative size of the instruments as well as the pitch of the strings. The viola is slightly larger than a violin. Both are played by holding them under the chin with the left hand. The violin (pictured on the right) has E, A, D, and G strings. The viola has the same A, D, and G, strings but instead of the high E, the viola has a low C string (one octave below Middle C). Alice plays both instruments for special occasions.