Songs from Canal Days
CD with Linda Sigismondi
Folk-Style Music; Slides, Songs, & Stories
Bill Schilling
with Carol Gaj; Bill Schilling &
Folks
Dulci-More:
Folk & Traditional Musicians
Folk Music at
Weatherbury Farm
Available
for Concerts, Programs, Artist in Residence, Workshops,
Lessons
Updated
Bill Schilling has been singing and playing various
folk instruments for over 40 years. He has performed for audiences of all ages
in many settings from coast to coast. His high-energy performances may include
songs, slide programs, and/or stories selected specifically for your group. His
performances often involve members of your group with audience participation
songs or activities. Bill Schilling with Carol Gaj; Bill
Schilling, Linda Sigismondi, & Marge Diamond; or Bill Schilling & Folks
provide harmonies or more combinations of instruments. Since Bill
believes that his music should be inclusive, he is involved in many groups
which share music. Check the home page of Dulci-More:
Folk & Traditional Musicians (Bill is the founder and leader
(called Fearless Leader) of this group); of the annual Dulci-More
Festival (Bill is the director); of the Canton
Folk Song Society (Bill is one of the original members); of the Dulcimer Society of Trumbull County
(Bill has reorganized and leads this group); of Folknet (Bill
is a charter Executive Committee Member & has served terms as Vice-President
and as President); or of Folk Music at
Weatherbury Farm (Bill is the Music Coordinator and a Workshop Leader
for these resident workshops at a Farm Vacation Bed & Breakfast in Avella,
PA started in 2005); for information about one of these groups. Bill has also
been the leader of the Folk Service at the First United Methodist Church
of Warren, a member of Wings of Fire, a praise team at the First United
Methodist Church of Lisbon, and served as music leader and part of a worship
team at a Saturday evening Vespers Service and at the early service (during the
summer months) at the First United Methodist Church of Lisbon.
If you
would like to print out flyers or brochures for Dulci-More Festival 10, it is
probably easiest to do them with the links here,
however they do require that you have a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Free
downloads are available from www.Adobe.com if you need
it
Get Dulci-More Festival 15 Registration Forms in Adobe PDF
Format
Get Dulci-More Festival 15 Flyer in
Adobe PDF Format
Get Dulci-More Festival 15 Brochure
in Adobe PDF Format
Get Dulci-More Festival 15 Workshop Grid in Adobe PDF Format
Get Dulci-More Festival 15 Program in Adobe PDF Format
(Four pages have not yet been updated)
Concerts
Bill plays 6 and 12 string guitars, autoharp,
hammered and fretted dulcimers, bowed psalteries, 6 and 12 string banjo
guitars, National steel guitar, ukuleles, recorders, bazooka, jug, and an
assortment of inexpensive or homemade instruments. His large repertoire of
songs includes old favorites or more recent ones by some of today's
singer-songwriters; many to bring a laugh or some to bring a tear to the
listener; ones with special emphasis for particular audiences; or the
occasional original. The concerts become complete as Bill talks about
instruments, songwriters, locations, and other related information on the
songs; or tells stories about the songs, his personal experiences, or many
other subjects. Most of Bill's engagements are for concerts, and he has
performed them in a wide variety of settings all across the country.
Folk
Music at Weatherbury Farm
Folk
Music at Weatherbury Farm is Bill’s newest venture. Developed along with
Dulci-More members Marcy, Dale, and Nigel Tudor at their Weatherbury Farm
Vacation Bed & Breakfast in
Schilling’s Slides,
Songs, & Stories
The unique combination of photos and folk-style
music, which is Schilling’s
Slides, Songs, & Stories, uses a cassette tape to control a dissolve
unit with two or more slide projectors for flowing, interesting changes between
slides, not the harsh changes associated with single projector shows. The
programs include Bill’s own spectacular natural world photography with live and
taped performances of songs, which compliment the slides.
Finally available as of
To Order: Send check or money order for $17.00 per CD ($15.00
for CD plus $2.00 for shipping/handling) to Bill or Linda. Use this link to
open a printable Order Form
(in a new window) to send along with your order.
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Several other recordings are partially completed or
are in the active planning stages with work to begin whenever possible. Another
recording with Linda is under consideration. Another recording may feature
Bill has eight books available presently, 5.5” X 8.5”
soft cover copies of Dulci-More
Folk & Traditional Musicians Public Domain Songbook – Volumes 1, 2, 3, and
Christmas Volume, and 8.5” X 11” plastic bound copies of Autoharp Volume (with
Melody Chord Numbers) and General Volume (with DAA Dulcimer
Numbers), (both updated to include over 300 pages in July, 2002),
and plastic bound copies of Sing Along Volume (with Lyrics & Chords)
and Lyrics
Volume (with Lyrics Only) available since 2004. Check the Dulci-More
Public Domain Songbook page or the Dulci-More
Public Domain Autoharp Songbook page for more information, song
samples, and indices. He has done the computer layout and design for another
book and welcomes questions about your project. Use this link to open a
printable Order Form
(in a new window) to send along with your order.
The 8.5” X 11” volumes are all available from Elderly
Instruments for those who would like to order with credit cards. They
say, “Huge songbook – almost 300 titles –
with melody, lyrics, guitar chords and numbers for dulcimers tuned D-A-A. Chord
Charts for D-A-A, D-A-D and D-G-G-tuned dulcimers, too, as well as notes about
basic theory and harmony. All songs are in the public domain, including 45
songs for Advent and Christmas. Great for singers and other instruments, too! Spiral-bound.”
“2002 Revision. Huge songbook – 295
titles including 45 for Christmas – with melody, lyrics, chords and a special
numbered tablature for autoharps of all kinds! Play chords or melody style on
hundreds of familiar songs, plus detailed notes about basic theory and harmony,
a section on chord button configurations and lots more. All songs are in the
public domain – great for singers and other instruments, too! Spiral-bound.”
“2004 Revision. Huge songbook – 295 titles, including 45 for Christmas – chords
and lyrics to all the songs in Schilling’s song compendia for dulcimers and
autoharp! Chords are in the “
Bill Schilling and Linda
Sigismondi
Bill Schilling and Linda Sigismondi released a CD of
Songs from Canal Days in July of 2001 on which they had been working for some time.
Ror about 10 years before that, Bill and Linda had
been singing around campfires, during workshops, and in concerts together at
various dulcimer and folk festivals and other events where they could get
together (which wasn’t always convenient since they live five hours apart).
They drew from similr sources for different
arrangements of many songs and found ways to make them work together, never
knowing what they might end up with. They have been featured together (and with
others) at several festivals, concerts, and other events. They started the
project of Songs from Canal Days thanks to a storyteller who wanted to do a
video and canaler, singer, storyteller, songwriter
Pearl R. Nye who spent his life on the Ohio & Erie Canal. When the
storyteller moved on without making the video, Bill and Linda decided to
continue with a CD of the material. They are currently working on a second CD
of original material. They have performed at the Central Ohio Folk Festival,
Defeated Creek Old Time – Fun Time Jam, Dulci-More Festival, Emerald City Folk
Festival, First Night Salem, Fort New Salem Dulcimer Weekend, Hale Farm’s Music
in the Valley, Hockhocking Folk Festival, Kent State
Folk Festival, Ohio Festival of the Hills, Opening Night in Warren, Roscoe
Village Dulcimer Days, and Southeast Ohio Dulcimer Festival.
Bill Schilling, Linda Sigismondi, & Marge Diamond
This trio from all over the state of
Bill Schilling and Carol Gaj are long-time friends
and singing partners. Carol adds close harmonies to Bill’s lead singing and
takes the lead on some songs. Carol also plays autoharp, bowed psaltery,
hammered dulcimer, and more in performance. Their material is drawn from songs
of the folk revival, those of contemporary singer-songwriters, and traditional
sources. Bill and Carol share
some of the warmth of their friendship in their performances.
Artist in
Residence
With ten years of experience as a classroom teacher,
Bill can enrich you elementary school, youth group, club, organization, camp,
or other event through short-term artist in residence programs featuring music,
sound, or multimedia performances and experiences for your students, members,
guests, campers, or (even) adults.
Bill’s Workshop Subjects include:
Beginning/Intermediate Autoharp; Beginning/Intermediate Bowed Psaltery;
Beginning/Intermediate Mountain Dulcimer; Beginning Hammered Dulcimer;
Beginning Instrumental Accompaniment Styles; Campfire Songs, Skits, &
Stories; Children’s Songs; Folk Revival Songs; Folk-Style Songs &
Instruments; Humorous Songs; Hymn/Gospel/Spiritual Sing; Jugs, Tubs, Kazoos,
Whistles, Washboards, Shakes, & More; Multi-Media Programs; Shaker Songs; Singer/Songfinders; Songs from Canal Days; Songs from the
Appalachians; Songs of Land & Water; Songs of Love; Songs of Peace; Songs
with Good Choruses; Traditional Songs; Vocal Accompaniment for Folk-Style
Instruments; and Vocal Styles. If there are other subjects you would like
covered, let Bill know since the creative part of putting these workshops
together is great fun for him. Go to Workshop descriptions.
Lessons
Bill is available to give lessons on most of the
instruments he plays and presently gives lessons at two locations in the
Select
Featured Performances and/or Workshops
Since its beginning in Spring
2005, Bill has been the Music Coordinator and an instructor for many weeklong
and weekend courses for many instruments and subjects at Folk Music at
Weatherbury Farm in
Bill has led a weeklong beginning autoharp workshop
at the John C. Campbell Folk School in
Some of the events where Bill and/or Bill with one of
his groups have performed concerts and/or given workshops include: Algonquin
Mill Craft Festival, Beaver Creek State Park, Buckeye Dulcimer Festival,
Canfield Fair, Central Ohio Dulcimer Festival, Central Ohio Folk Festival,
Chestnut Ridge Dulcimer Festival, Cleveland Metroparks
Art in the Park at Chagrin Reservation, Columbiana County Fair, Columbiana County
Historical Society, Defeated Creek Dulcimer & Old Time Music Fest, Dulci-More Festival, Emerald City Folk Festival,
First Night Salem, Fort New Salem Dulcimer Weekend, Great Dulcimer Round-up,
Hale Farm’s Music in the Valley, Harmony Harvest Campout, Hockhocking
Folk Festival, Johnny Appleseed Festival, Kent State
Folk Festival, Lawrence County Fair, Lisbon Historical Society, Little Mountain
Folk Festival, McKinley Museum Celebrations, Mill Creek Park and Morley Perfroming Arts Pavilion at Mill Creek Park (opening for
Bill Staines), Mound Builders Folk Music Day, Music-nic,
Roscoe Village Dulcimer Days, Salem Heritage Days, Salem Historical Society,
Salem Jubilee, Sheepfest, Spring Fever Folk Festival,
Warren’s Opening Night, West Virginia State Folk Festival, WAPS-FM Just Plain
Folk, WERE Night Owls, WEWS Morning Exchange and Weekend Exchange, WKSU Cabin
Fever Festival, Winona Flax Scutching Festival, and
Worley Gardner Memorial Festival. Click here for some of the
upcoming or recent appearances by Bill Schilling.
Musical
& Performance Affiliations
Bill is the Founder and Leader of Dulci-More: Folk & Traditional Musicians,
director of the annual Dulci-More
Festival, a Charter Executive Board Member who has served as President
& Vice-President of Folknet:
Northeastern Ohio Folk & Traditional Music & Dance Society, Leader of
the Dulcimer Society of Trumbull County,
a Founding Member of the Canton Folksong
Society, the Mountaineer Dulcimer Club, Music Leader for Vespers and other
Services at the First United Methodist Church of Lisbon, and a Member of the
First United Methodist Church of Salem Choir. Bill has been the instructor for
a Continuing Education Course, Folk-Style Songs and Instruments, at the Kent
State University Salem Campus, Folk Service Director at First United Methodist
Church of Warren, a member of the Salem Music Study Club (past president and
Program Chairperson and Counselor for the Salem Junior Music Study Club), a
member of the Wings of Fire Praise Team, a member of the Kent/Salem Community
Choir, a member of the Kent State University Folk Festival Committee, a member
of the North Canton Hammers & Harmonies Hammered Dulcimer Club, a member of
the Psst Storytelling Guild, and a member of the
First United Methodist Church of Salem Brass, Woodwind, & Percussion
Ensemble. Bill has volunteered at the Mountain Rose Coffee House and served on
committees for the Cuyahoga Valley Heritage Festival and other festivals. Bill
originated, managed, and was resident performer at a coffee house in the Salem
Memorial Building many years ago. Bill was also an Eastern Onion Singing
Telegram messenger in
Leader of Harmonica Play Along for Guinness World Record in 2007
On
I determined that we would once again use Frere Jacques (Are You Sleeping) as the song for everyone
to play together. I chose the song for several reasons. I wanted something that
almost everyone would recognize so that I would be teaching how to play the
song rather than teaching the song and how to play it. I wanted something short
enough and with enough repetition that I would have time to break it apart and
teach it in very recognizable segments. I wanted something that I could create
some arrangement for (thought about ahead of time, but done on the fly once I
heard how well people were picking it up). I wanted something that I could play
and lead without thinking much about it (very necessary since I am not really a
harmonica player, but I understand the instrument well enough that I have
taught thousands of people the basics of playing one).
Longtime Dulci-More member
and harmonica player Don Blair (also the most recent leader of the Steel Valley
Harmonica Players and leader of the Grooving Grandpas Harmonica Group), went
along and organized a few other excellent harmonica players from around the
area to join us at the microphones on the stage to help keep everyone together
and sounding good. During the five minutes that we needed to play the song to
establish the record, everyone played together a few times, just the men, just
the women, just the children all played on their own, and the whole group did the
song as a round as well. Photos, a description of the event, and a link to a YouTube video taken from a crane looking down on the event
are available at http://www.clemetparks.com/events/guiness.asp.
It was a fun event, and I was very pleased to continue a long association with
that festival and its predecessor and to be a part in establishing the official
Guinness World Record for the Largest Harmonica Play-Along up to that time.
Links to
Other Home Pages Developed by Bill
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Links to
Other Pages
These links may be to other organizations with which
Bill is involved, other sites that have agreed to share a link with Bill and/or
to include this page in their listings, other sites that have provided a service
to this page, other sites in which Bill has an interest, or other favorite
sites of Bill’s.
Contact Bill Schilling by e-mail.
Return to Bill Schilling’s Home Page.
Contact
Information
984 Homewood Avenue
Salem, Ohio 44460-3816
