Joellen Lapidus is one of the pioneers of contemporary mountain dulcimer playing, songwriting, instruction and building. She is the author of the updated 2nd edition of her classic dulcimer instruction book, LAPIDUS ON DULCIMER 2.

She blends Appalachian, Indian, Arabic, jazz, classical, and pop musical styles to give the mountain dulcimer a new range of rhythmic, melodic, and tuning possibilities. Her instruments were known for their innovative shapes, exquisite sound hole and peghead inlay work. Her work influenced many of the dulcimer builders of the 70's and 80's. She introduced the dulcimer to Joni Mitchell and has also made instruments for David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Wendy Waldman, Garth Hudson and Harry Stiles.
She has been a featured artist at multiple dulcimer festivals across the country, been written up in the LA Times, Dulcimer Players News, The London Telegraph, the BBC Online Print Magazine and has appeared on radio and TV. Her recordings include "Joellen Lapidus in Concert (2004)" and her first studio CD: “Dulcimer Music for the Pelican Ballet (2014),” a feast of dulcimer styles and moods accompanied by violin, viola, dumbec, spoons and jazz trumpet. Joellen currently teaches mountain dulcimer in West Los Angeles at McCabes Guitar Shop and on Zoom. She founded the Los Angeles Mountain Urban Dulcimer Club which now meets once a month on zoom. Joellen still makes dulcimers and does custom inlay in her shop in Culver City, CA, performs solo or with her trio The Urban Gypsies.