In the Spring 2022 term of the WKU Society for Lifelong Learning, Linda Paulus taught a class that featured her book PLUCK, a comprehensive description of the history of mountain dulcimers and the people who make and play them.

 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​After the class was over, she offered to teach anyone who wanted to learn to play the dulcimer. Three students accepted that offer and began meeting weekly in the Knicely Conference Center lobby.

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Others eventually joined in, and the little group began to grow. Practices were sometimes in homes, then in the fall, the group moved to Faith Methodist Church for weekly Monday afternoon practices.

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When Linda had other projects that required her attention,

the group decided to keep meeting and learning on their own.

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By December of 2022, there were about a half dozen members in the group, and they played their first gig at a Christmas party for the Creative Quilters Guild.

 

The year 2023 brought much growth - both in membership and skill improvement. By the end of the year, the group numbered 23, the name SoKY HeartStrings had been adopted, a logo was chosen, shirts were purchased, and the group was performing monthly gigs at assisted living facilities in Bowling Green.

 

Because the group was born from The Society for Lifelong Learning, the focus continues to be on learning and improving a particular skill or technique each week. The goal is always to play fewer songs well rather than many songs poorly.