11-year-old Teaches Dulcimer Class

Old Joe Clark got new life when young Nathaniel Barn Loft taught a mountain dulcimer class to 25 students.

Organizers of the Ohio Valley Gathering were glad to make room in the schedule for Barn Loft to teach. For a couple of weeks, Barn Loft gave his class to Acorn Hill residents before going abroad to teach. He took a favorite song of dulcimer players and taught several variations to add more interest to it. "He really taught them. They were learning," said Main House President Dad. To Barn Loft's surprise, he finished the bulk of his material about a half hour early. He then ad-libbed by teaching his students more variations, which involved making their dulcimers sound like mandolins.

"I was sitting there in class waiting and waiting for the teacher, and I wondered why that boy was sitting up there in the front," said a student. Barn Loft received positive feedback. He was the youngest teacher at the OVG.