JOSEPH — Heidi Muller will be offering a five-week adult beginner class, “Learn to Play the Mountain Dulcimer,” starting on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2-3:30 p.m. at the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, 104 N. Main St.

The class continues to meet Sundays, at the same time, through Feb. 11. Cost is $150. Registration is open now at www.josephy.org or register in person at the center.

The mountain dulcimer is an American fretted folk instrument that is easy to learn, with no musical experience required. Usually made in an hourglass or teardrop shape, it has three or four strings that are pressed from above and strummed while held on the lap. Students can typically learn one or two simple songs in the first lesson.

Rental dulcimers are available from the instructor for $50 for anyone who does not have their own. To reserve one, email heidi.muller.music@gmail.com. She also has new and used instruments available for sale.

About the instructor

Muller discovered the dulcimer in the 1970s when she lived in New Jersey and her housemate started making instruments, including a dulcimer.

“I’d been playing guitar since I was 11 years old and got into folk music in my teens,” she said.

Her past college roommate and singing partner, Gail Finnie, took up the dulcimer and began taking lessons from Lorraine Lee Hammond.

“I was fascinated by the delicate sound and Lorraine’s playing and saw how Gail used it to accompany her singing,” she said.

After moving to Seattle, Muller started playing the dulcimer as well.

“I taught myself by ear and started to perform a few songs with it in my sets,” she said. “A woman in the audience asked me to give her lessons, and that’s how I started teaching.”

She’s taught and played all over the country, and in 2012 moved to Wallowa County with her partner, Bob Webb. During the COVID pandemic, they taught lessons over Zoom and she instructed for virtual dulcimer festivals.

“Here in Joseph I now teach in-person, on Zoom, and also for the virtual festivals that have continued,” she said.

She’s taught dulcimer for more than 35 years, and has been an instructor at dozens of dulcimer festivals across the country. She has produced nine CDs and numerous songbooks, and hosts the adult music camp “Dulcimer Week in the Wallowas” every July.

For more information, email her at Heidi.muller.music@gmail.com, call 304-382-9422 or visit her website, www.heidimuller.com.