Bill Schilling

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

Dulci-More Festival

Updated March 2, 2022

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.

Dulci-More Festival 26

The Annual Dulci-More Festival was held on Memorial Day Weekend from 1995 through 2019. After postponements for two years, Dulci-More Festival 26 was finally cancelled on March 1, 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a decrease in the volunteers available to ensure being able to put on a quality festival. Check the link above for some information about what the festival was like. With this cancellation, there is the possibility that there will not be any future Dulci-More Festival and/or the possibility that if there is a future Dulci-More Festival that it might be in a much different format, at a different time of the year, and/or at a different location.

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 Avella, PA, the project will offer week long and weekend folk music workshops led by performers from across the country. Only one course will run at a time so that participants can immerse themselves in the music while still managing to Escape to Tranquility! as the slogan at Weatherbury Farm says. Workshop leaders who have been scheduled or are scheduled for future workshops include Tina Bergmann, Bryan Bowers, Guy George, Les Gustafson-Zook, Cindy Harris, Dan & Jennifer Levenson, Patty Looman, Madeline MacNeil, Jerry Rockwell, Bill Schilling, Stephen Seifert, Bill Staines, Neal Walters, Kendra Ward & Bob Bence, and Bob Zentz. This link connects to the home pages of Folk Music at Weatherbury Farm with all of the current information and registration forms.

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.

Recordings

Finally available as of July 13, 2001, is a new CD by Bill Schilling and Linda Sigismondi titled Songs from Canal Days. Go to Recordings Web Page for the information on this CD, which uses songs from an interesting period in Ohio’s history. Most of the songs on it were written by Pearl R. Nye who spent his life on the Ohio & Erie Canal, which ran from Cleveland to Portsmouth. Bill and Linda sing these songs accompanying themselves on mountain dulcimers, guitars, recorders, autoharp, banjo, banjo-guitar, bowed psaltery, hammered dulcimer, jug, and more. Lyrics are included for all the songs. Written versions of the songs are also available in Linda’s Songs from Canal Days for the Mountain Dulcimer and from Bill’s Dulci-More Public Domain Songbook.

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.

Bill Schilling

Linda Sigismondi

984 Homewood Avenue

474 Kathy Street

Salem, OH 44460-3816

Gallipolis, OH 45631

330-332-4420

740-446-9244

bill@billschilling.org

lsigis@zoomnet.net

billschilling.org

lindasigismondi.com

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 Schilling with Carol Gaj. Bill will also do some companion recordings on his own and/or with Dulci-More members for the Public Domain Songbooks. The design of these recordings will be mostly relatively simple accompaniment with the words and tunes to help those who learn more by ear than by written music to build their repertoire with a lot of good old songs. Bill is also working on recordings of originals, songs as he does them in concert, songs as they appear on his slide shows with multi-tracking for more instruments, and still someday thinking about a video of the Schilling’s Slides, Songs, & Stories programs.

Books

Bill has nine 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, and Octave Volume (with DAA Dulcimer Numbers), newly available in 2018. Check the Dulci-More Public Domain Songbook page, the Dulci-More Public Domain Autoharp Songbook page, or the Octave Volume (with DAA Dulcimer Numbers) 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 “Nashville” number system – with a simple, lucid explanation of how it works – so the songs may be sung and performed in any key. Spiral-bound, 136 pp., nice price!” “2004 Revision. Huge songbook – 295 titles, including 45 for Christmas – with lyrics to all the songs in Schilling’s song compendia for dulcimers and autoharp! Spiral-bound, 74 pp., nice price.

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 Ohio (Salem, Gallipolis, & Elyria) has been getting together for festivals and special events for several years now. At many late-night jam sessions, they discovered that they know different versions of many of the same songs. Each performance is an experiment as they try to figure out which version to use. They have performed at the Central Ohio Folk Festival, Emerald City Folk Festival, Fort New Salem Dulcimer Weekend, Hale Farm’s Music in the Valley, Kent State Folk Festival, Roscoe Village Dulcimer Days, Defeated Creek Old Time – Fun Time Jam, and been featured with a set of Songs from Canal Days at Dulci-More Festival 4. Linda Sigismondi adds vocals, mountain dulcimer, and guitar and Mountain Marge Diamond plays mountain dulcimer.

Bill Schilling with Carol Gaj

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.

Workshops

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 Salem area. Let Bill know what you need.

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 Avella, Pennsylvania. Check for the current lineup of courses and nationally known instructors at Folk Music at Weatherbury Farm.

Bill has led a weeklong beginning autoharp workshop at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina from Sunday, March 28 – Saturday, April 3, 1999. Ask for their catalog directly at 1-800-FOLK-SCH.

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 Las Vegas, NV for over ten years helping to create new characters and performing as most of the classic characters (Traditional Messenger, Mr. Wonderful, Super Onion Man morphing into Captain Onion, Country Onion Cowboy, Pink Gorilla, Super Chicken, Monkey and Messenger, and working as the Traditional Messenger with a wide variety of Belly Dancers, Topless Cheesecakes, Female Strippers, and Male Strippers) and performing for such celebrities as Liberace, Wayne Newton, Tony Orlando, Glen Campbell, Joan Rivers, Sigfried & Roy, Brooke Shields and others.

Leader of Harmonica Play Along for Guinness World Record in 2007

On Sunday, September 23, 2007, 1882 people gathered at the Rocky River Reservation and Frostville Museum part of Cleveland Metroparks for the Cedar Valley Settler’s Celebration. One of the highlights of the festival was the second attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most people playing harmonica together with Bill Schilling (that’s I) leading everyone. When the first attempt was made at the same festival in 2006, we were impressed to have 684 participants, but knew it was far too few to break the record of 1706 in Seattle in 2005 (I think those are the correct facts, but I am relying on memory for them, and I may have forgotten some of that). Rather than being discouraged, the people at Cleveland Metroparks, started planning earlier for the second attempt, changed the way that several things including my workshop would be done, and ordered more harmonicas than they had ever ordered before.

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

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

Bill Schilling

984 Homewood Avenue

Salem, Ohio 44460-3816

330-332-4420

bill@billschilling.org

bill@dulcimore.org