This post is from a series that shares the “Final BEGINNING Projects” from my winter 2016 “Blues HarpStyle” online course for harp players. students created short videos based on what they learned in the course, and answered 5 questions about what they got from the challenge of this project.

---

---

MARGI SAYS:

A TRIBUTE.

I deviated from the “regular” Blues here to an Aminor feel to pay tribute to the many folks at Alzheimer or Assisted Living units where we have come to know, hug, delight, and share their final months/years of life.

Margi’s answers to my 5 Questions:

1. Give a short description of what it took for you to get to the place of being able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

It took countless replays trying to get this melody into my head rather than on a piece of paper. I would think I had something, then go to bed, and the next day it was “gone”. I also tried at least 5 cameras/mikes/lights thinking all of this would somehow help the final video!

2. What freedoms and blocks in yourself did you connect with (or struggle with) in the process?

I wanted it to be sooo much more, and I had to settle for “simple”. 

3. What challenges did you meet to connect with your own freedom of expression in this project?

The logistics of pairing up with my flute friend were not hard, but convincing her that we could improvise together was a monumental task.

Pairing up with my flute friend wasn't hard, but convincing her we could improvise together was monumental task. Click To Tweet

4. What were your personal “Ahas”?

I realized that I now sit down to any one of the modules in this Blues course and consider playing harp a FUN hobby rather than some skill I have to perfect or achieve.  

5. Is there anything else you´d like to tell people who are watching your video?

I only show two photos of the multitude of souls with whom we have connected in our twice a week sessions with Alzheimer and Assisted Living folks.  To see them smile, tap, sing, clap, dance from their wheelchairs is an amazing thing.

After this course, I consider playing harp a FUN hobby rather than some skill I have to perfect Click To Tweet

DHC’s Feedback:

Oh Margi – before even listening – I LOVE your personal Aha!
Now – after listening: Wow – this is really a PRODUCTION!  I love that you’ve taken what you learned in the class and really made it your own – and not only that, but you’ve made it a tribute to OTHERS — and I just know the people at the centers are going to be so moved by this.

By the way, if you edit this again, I think you can leave the images of the people on the screen a little bit longer – I really wanted to look in their eyes just a little more – at least Joyce – but if you don’t re-edit, no worries.  I loved how you moved the focus around.  I LOVE that you got Barb to improvise with you- that was great, and it sounded great.

I just really love that you keep committing yourself to these duo projects and keep making them more and more your own.  You now have a collection of music videos with so many different moods.

This is really just great Margi.  I hope you can enjoy all that it IS and just let go of whatever you thought you wanted it to be – because I certainly felt nothing whatsoever was lacking.  It’s a wonderful tribute.

---

---

A NOTE TO THE READER FROM DHC

Hey, thanks for reading this example of what it’s like to go thru a course with me! Did you have Aha’s or revelations watching the video & reading the answers she wrote? Add your comments below. Please – no critiques – just share what you learned from someone courageously sharing a project that’s the BEGINNING of a lifelong creative exploration.

Check out the beginning of a lifelong #harp learning journey Click To Tweet

Want to do some courageous learning yourself? Click HERE to get on the first-to-know list for my next course for harpist!