An epic year! And a NEW Concert & Challenge

An epic year! And a NEW Concert & Challenge

Jan 3, 2024 | , , ,

What a year!

As 2024 begins, I want to reflect on the incredible journey we’ve taken together in 2023. For that, read on. But first …

My vision for 2024 is to share a life of creativity and innovation with you in every way. Whether you consider yourself an artistic soul or not. So l invite you – starting now to:

Join me for a challenge, a concert…

EVERYONE is invited to a 5-DAY Creativity Challenge Jan 15-20 — and a LIVE Boston-Area Concert Sat. Feb. 10 – Tix are going fast! Stay tuned for workshops and concerts this Spring & Summer in The Netherlands, Paris, Belgium, Wales, Tennessee, New Jersey – and parts unknown! Check the upcoming schedule.

… and a creativity class for everyone

2024 begins with a new adventure for YOU and me together! For the first time, I’m opening one class in the secret halls of Hip Harp Academy to everyone in search of greater creative expression – whether you play the harp, another instrument. Whether you’re a musician or not. It starts with music – from the harp – and expands to include every part of your life.

For years I’ve been incubating this class, watching the impact on harp players and hearing them say: “this class is about making your LIFE more creative!” – so, now – foranyone who wants more tools for thinking outside the box, enriching life and reigniting the lifelong dream of being more deeply self-expressed join me for The Creative Resonance Project.

Click here to join the FREE 5-Day “Vision-to-Action” Creativity Challenge

Buy your tickets for my First Live Show in Boston area here.

Here are just a few of the 2023 Highlights:

And now … the Highlights of 2023!

Read them below or read and share with friends!

The Golden Cage

The stupendous joy of achieving and sharing a life-long goal with the help of stunningly talented group of creatives including director, actor, designers, arrangers, film producers and YOU – all those who donated to make this possible!!

Film Release on Streaming Musicals

On April 27, 2023, we were thrilled to announce that “The Golden Cage” is now available on Streaming Musicals. This release opens the doors to the magic of this award-winning musical for audiences around the globe.

“The Golden Cage” tells the myth of a magical golden cage that’s irresistable from the outside – and inescapable from the inside. It’s for multi-generational audiences and I’m so proud of this production and the film!

YOU Made it Possible!

THANK YOU TO ALL the incredible individuals who played a vital role in making “The Golden Cage” a reality. Your generous donations to the fundraising campaign where what made this dream possible. It is through YOUR support that we were able to create a film that has already touched thousands of people around the globe.

To everyone who’s watched it:THANK YOU! Your engagement and enthusiasm, your beautiful comments about “The Golden Cage” inspire me to the next step in this journey: to bring the show LIVE to theaters and opera companies everywhere.

What’s next?

If you have a local theater or opera company that produces new works for multi-generational audiences – hit reply and let me know and we’ll connect with them.

The Lifetime Achievement Award

In 2023 I had honor and joy of getting to take my place amongst some of the most inspiring harpists I know, who’ve changed the role of the harp in this world.

What an Honor!

In this year’s Somerset Folk Harp Festival, I was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award through my contributions as a Grammy-nominated musician, composer, performer, mentor, and innovator in collaboration with the CAMAC Harp company in France, for creating the “DHC” harp. Read more here.

What’s Next?

I’ll be back at the Somerset Harp Festival this summer with a powerful new half-day workshop on July 18th called “Creating Performance that Connects” – stay tuned for more info or hit reply if you want a link to join.

Composer’s Spotlight Series

Celebrating YOU

A huge highlight of the year was the launch of our Composer’s Spotlight Series — a blog series designed to shine a light on performers who are bringing their creative talent and dedication to playing my compositions.

Each blog post in the series aimed to showcase the individuality, creativity, and unique interpretations of the featured performers we showcased and celebrated — Evelin Greblo, Imogen Israel and Pumehana Wadsworth.

Read the Composer’s Blog Post Series here.

What’s Next?

We are excited to continue the Composer’s Spotlight series in the coming year, celebrating and showcasing inspired performances of my compositions. If you have – or know of – a performance of one of my works that you’d like us to consider, please hit ‘reply’ and share the URL of the video and what you’d like us to notice most about it.

The Salzburg Concerto

3 Powerful Women ~ 2 Hip Harps

On October 7-8, I experienced two of my dreams colliding: to get to play on stage with inspired musicians for an enthusiastic audience — and to get to WATCH as a master soloist plays a show-stopping performance of my full 3-Movement concerto for harpists. For this wonderful experience I got to collaborate with powerful women: Maestra, Elisabeth Fuchs – conductor of the Philharmonie Orchestra and the award-winning soloist, Evelyn Huber. Stay tuned as we prepare video selections from the show.

What’s Next?

As we bid farewell to 2023, we can’t help but feel a surge of excitement for the year ahead. Get ready to mark your 2024 calendars and watch out for more live performances next year!

Check the upcoming performances, events, and concerts here.

Or contact us for booking. We are now accepting bookings for 2024 and beyond!

The Modulation Staircase

Phase One – Released!

For YEARS I’ve been wanting to release the powerful set of warm-up exercises I creatd for myself – but was my Legacy Project Team started preparing them, we released we’d need to create premliminary exercises to prepare harpist for the advanced level warmups I play.

So we created the Modulation Warmup Series: The Modulation Staircase. This new class, launched in September 2023, has already made a significant impact on harpists who are using it to expand their skills and knowledge of music. Check out the Modulation Staircase


What’s Next?

Stay tuned for the next step in the Modulation Warmup Series and more arrangements to be released soon!

Inside the Golden Cage

‘Unlocking The Golden Cage’ Series

Unlocking the Golden Cage is a series of interviews and conversations where we unlock the stories that lie within us through the themes of the award-winning musical “The Golden Cage” and the people who inspired it, created it and love it.


What’s Next?

We’re reaching out in 2024 to local theaters or opera companies that produce new works for multi-generational audiences. Check the Producer’s Info Page to learn more.

Jung at Harp

We’re celebrating our 138th episode!

Do you love great conversations? In “Jung at Harp” you jump into a conversation that explores the world where music and the psyche meet, illuminated by Kathleen’s expertise in the work of Carl Jung and my lifelong work as a composer and performer. Two experts in their fields – music and psychoanalysis – in a conversation about ideas without any ulterior agenda. These conversations aren’t about trying to prove, teach, or sell.

Deborah Henson-Conant is a composer, performer and creator of Hip Harp Academy an international training community for creative expression, improvisation and performances skills for harpists.  Website · TEDx Talk

Kathleen Wiley is a Jungian Psychoanalyst, presenter, and author empowering people to live out of a conscious connection to the larger Self – in her work with couples and in her writings and workshops at Inner Divine Spirit.

What’s Next?

After 3 years of sharing it as a video podcast, we will put it out as a podcast this 2024, including some of our most popular earlier sessions.

One THOUSAND HARPISTS!

The 5-Day Harp Improv Challenge

To introduce the Hip Harp Academy Fall Quarter last September, I invited harpists around the world to join my 5-Day Harp Improv Challenge, to get the taste of what “Structure is Freedom” really is all about. The response was spectacular, with a THOUSAND harpists enthusiastically joining the challenge and embracing the structure and freedom of the “Power Progression” I taught.

Here’s what they said:

“…these challenges are life-changing. My family comments frequently on the change in me…my playing and my confidence.” ~ Betty H.

“Three words—Fun, non-threatening, educational.” ~ Cherrie M.

“I really love this challenge, it makes me practice! And i love the sixthes!!” ~ Alma K.

“It is fun and you learn a lot… I can clearly recommend it to every harp player – no matter what level!” ~ Michaela S.

This year’s 5-Day Harp Improv Challenge was also special because some of my favorite harp friends like Sylvia Woods and Shelley Fairplay provided special prizes to our daily winners.

What’s Next?

The “Vision-to-Action” Creativity Challenge!!! My next challenge is for EVERYONE — harpists, musicians and non-musicians! Whether you’re a seasoned musician, an aspiring artist, or simply someone looking to explore their creative side, my upcoming challenge is all about expanding YOUR creative expression.

Join the FREE 5-Day “Vision-to-Action” Creativity Challenge

TedX: How to Get Out of Your Inner Cage

A Story about a Story that took a lifetime to tell

My second TedX talk – the 13-minute titled “How to Get Out of Your Inner Cage” was released last October. This talk tells the story of why it took a lifetime for me to complete my musical “The Golden Cage” and the 4 questions I needed to answer to get out of my OWN cage so I could finally discover the key that the characters needed to complete their story.

Watch it here.

What’s Next?

If this TEDx talk inspires you, please share it with friends and learn more about the show at GoldenCageMusical.com

Thank you so much for being a part of my 2023!

I can’t wait to see you in 2024.

Celebrating the teams that make this possible

‘How’s 2023?’ – according to the Hip Harp Team

Rhenzell, Jehu, and Ivann joined the team this year. Here are their takeaways:

“Working with this incredible team is one of the highlights of my 2023. I can’t express enough how thankful and lucky I feel to be part of a group that not only works together, but also supports and guides each other. And I can’t wait to dive into 2024 with all of you, making even more awesome projects together while having a blast. Let’s remember to have fun and not stress too much about making things perfect!“ – Rhenzell

“I couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of the Hip Harp Team. It’s a pleasure to work with DHC – a Grammy-nominated composer-performer – and with everybody on the team who encourages and helps me grow and hone my skills. I hope we achieve all of our goals for the next year!” – Jehu

“Joining DHC’s team has been a highlight of my 2023! The combination of fun, teamwork, and mutual support, coupled with our shared passion for Music, Arts, and Creativity, is propelling us to end the year with a BANG! Excitedly looking forward to even bigger projects in 2024!“ – Ivann

Thank you for being part of our 2023! Your passion and dedication have been an inspiration to us all.

Now, as we look forward to the new year, we invite you to continue your creative journey with us. Stay tuned for exciting updates, new opportunities, and transformative experiences in the coming year!

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

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Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

Dec 22, 2023 | , , , ,

Merry Christmas!

I so wish I could be with you right now, celebrating this year and welcoming the next. I imagine us sitting at the piano. I’m playing and we’re singing together – all the songs we love. I’m harmonizing, like I love to do, and I can hear your voice singing with me.

This is a season of celebration — of the beautiful moments we shared.

I always believe that the most meaningful gifts we can share are those that reflect our true selves. With that in mind, I wanted to share something special with you this season.

This Holiday Weekend:

These are the gifts of LISTENING I want to share with you:

This is the gift of FANTASY – a Filmed-Live Musical about two mythical creatures and the Golden Cage they …. ??? freedom from your own inner cage that I want to share with you

For many years I dreamt of being able to share this fairy tale with ANYONE – it’s the musical I always dreamt of completing and sharing and after YEARS of work and the inpsired collaboration of so many people, I can finally share The Golden Cage with you. The Golden Cage, an inspirational musical film that encourages self-reflection and inspires you to pursue your dreams, is for anyone, regardless of age.

Watch The Golden Cage and enjoy the thought-provoking and heartwarming experience. Share in the emotions, the triumphs, and the joy that this film brings and create lasting memories with your loved ones.

This is the gift of YOUR creative expression

1. EARLY REGISTRATION is for Hip Harp Academy – Classes officially start Jan. 18, but Visioning and Goal-Setting sessions start Jan. 4 . EARLY REGISTRATION for HIP HARP ACADEMY HERE!

2. HOLIDAY SPECIALS for HARPISTS are still available: Classes, Mini-Classes, double-classes. SEE ALL THE HOLIDAY SPECIALS HERE!

My 12 Blogposts of Christmas

I had so much fun putting these together years ago and I hope you have fun reading them, listening, downloading, singing …

  1. Season of Celebration – A Holiday Round to Sing Read it here
  2. The Guessing Gift Read it here
  3. Tracks for Tix Holiday Special– Read it here
  4. Santa & the Harp Lady (drawings by Ellen Lebow) Read it here
  5. I Found Christmas for you in the “Season of Celebration” – Read it here
  6. The Gift – 15 Fantasies on Carols from Around the World Read it here
  7. Flute & Harp for Christmas Read it here
  8. In the Christmas Grotto ~ A (Very) Imperfect Carol Read it here
  9. Chappy (Belated) Chanuka Read it here
  10. Holiday Music is Here … whether you like it or not Read it here
  11. How to Wrap a CD in One Piece of Letter-Sized Paper (with downloadable gift-wrap paper) – Read it here
  12. And a partridge in pear tree … (OK there’s no blogpost for this, but the partridges insisted)

And wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, I wish you a wonderful holiday weekend!

 

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Season of Celebration

Season of Celebration

Dec 16, 2023 | , , ,

Season of Celebration Round to Learn

by Deborah Henson-Conant

 The Story of “Season of Celebration”

My former manager, Stephanie Maillet, and I would sit down once a week for our fantasy “Future-Now” sessions in which we’d describe our world as if it were a year from now, and then five years from now.  We’d use a timer and each fantasize aloud for two minutes, while the other took notes.  One of these sessions happened while I was composing a new holiday suite to premiere with the “New England String Ensemble.”  During Stephanie’s fantasy session she said, “I see you playing this suite and the whole audience is singing along.” 

Boom! Everything stopped. I loved this idea!  I love getting to sing with orchestra. The exhilaration of that experience is what keeps me going during the sleep-deprived weeks and months it takes for me to compose and orchestrate the pieces I play with orchestra.

How could I give other people that same experience … INSTANTLY? People who may not read music, people who don’t have weeks to practice?  How could I write something that would give them that exhilarating experience of singing together, in harmony and with an orchestra – but something they could learn in less than three minutes?

I kept thinking of the moment, in Beethoven’s Ninth, when the chorus stands up and sings “Ode to Joy,” and how, if I’m in the audience, it feels soooooo unfair that I can’t ALSO stand up and sing — I mean, I KNOW the tune …

That’s when I thought of writing a simple, beautiful round I could quickly teach the audience just before we sing it. I jumped up and started writing “Season of Celebration.” I wanted a simple holiday song that celebrated the common message throughout all the traditions of this holiday, and that seemed to me to be the fact that this is a season of celebration and song, whether religious or secular, thus the lyrics: “This is a season of celebration. This is a season of song.”

And I wanted to include the idea that this celebration, and the messages of peace, reverence, joy and celebration, are really just a kick-off for the rest of the year, a kind of running-start, a re-affirmation of those feelings.  And I wanted to also include a Scottish tradition I especially love, of holding hands and singing at the end of every Ceilidgh (music party) — so those two ideas make the second half of the lyrics: “And when you take my hand it’s celebration all year long.”

When it’s played with orchestra, the round (or “canon” as a round is called in concert parlance) comes at the end of a suite that includes some of my favorite holiday tunes starting with horns playing “Dona Nobis Pacem,” then woodwinds and harp playing “Lully Lullay,” and pizzicato strings, winds and brass swelling into a rousing chorus of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” Then the orchestra segues into an introduction for the “choir” (aka. the audience) – a hush falls over the hall – we stand, and with a single violin line as accompaniment, we begin “Season of Celebration,” first very simply, getting our bearings, and then — we begin the round: one voice, two, three, four — with the orchestra swelling, we sing it through and repeat the lines “All year long, all year long, all year long…” . And just like that … we are a Heavenly choir!!  For a moment.

Hey, I know I’m not Beethoven.  I know we’re not the Mormon Tabernacle choir — but why shouldn’t we have the chance to feel just a little of that exhilaration of singing together in harmony, part of a whole, with a symphony and choir of a hundred voices … or nine hundred? Or two. If only to help remind us that just because we’re sitting in the audience doesn’t mean our voices aren’t an essential part of the music.

Instant Holiday Repertoire: For Harpists All Levels!

Instant Holiday Repertoire: For Harpists All Levels!

Dec 5, 2023 | , , , ,

funny hands on harp

Instant Holiday Repertoire for $200 OFF:
“Holiday Lead Sheet Bootcamp”

Holidays are upon us! Are you ready to get into the holiday spirit with our exciting Holiday Sale?

After the success of my Black Friday Week of Thanks Sale last week, I am thrilled to continue providing opportunities to enhance your creativity and musical expressions.

Holiday Lead Sheet Bootcamp – 40%

A dynamic online harp class designed to help you expand your holiday repertoire with ease – Holiday Lead Sheet Bootcamp teaches you to learn how to utilize Lead Sheets for popular holiday tunes, breaking them down to simplify your playing process.

Get ready to effortlessly play dozens of tunes ranging from holiday classicsto classical melodies, tango rhythms, folk tunes, blues, and even a touch of jazz!

It’s MORE than a workshop!

It’s a creative support system and a series of play-dates so you can put it all in action! It includes:

  1. Immersive Online Harp Class with DHC tools including training, drills, and repertoire jams
  2. Techniques for breaking down a familiar song to performing it with your own creative spin
  3. Access to DOZENS of Holiday Lead Sheets to start your own improv play-book
  4. Build your personal learning library with the downloadable audio & PDF files you get to keep forever
  5. Power & Freedom – Once you learn how, you can apply the method to ANY simple lead sheet and create spontaneous arrangements on the spot – regardless of your skill level: Fledgling, Intermediate, and Advanced Players

The BEST part? 2 Live Virtual Play-alongs!

Get this class now and join us for TWO LIVE VIRTUAL Play-alongs on Sat. Dec. 9th at 11 AM and 3:30 PM ET – or watch the replays later at your own pace.

“Holiday Lead Sheet Bootcamp” builds your “Lead Sheet” Reading Chops for the entire year – just in time for the Holidays!

REMEMBER: Purchase ANY of our ‘Holiday’ classes on sale now and you can apply the full amount you pay to UPGRADE – through Dec. 31st – to the Hip Harp Academy‘s year-long membership!

About "Holiday Lead Sheet Bootcamp"
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Harpists who Dare!

Deborah Henson-Conant & Hip Harp Academy Present

HIP HARP ACADEMY SPRING QUARTER: GROUNDED EXPANSION$400 OFF THRU MIDNIGHT APRIL 29

JOIN HIP HARP ACADEMY NOW

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What I’m Excited for During the Holidays

What I’m Excited for During the Holidays

Dec 4, 2023 | , , , ,

funny hands on harp

Embrace the Joy of Holidays at Hip Harp Academy!

The festive season is here, bringing the magic of Christmas and a much-awaited Holiday Sale at Hip Harp Academy! It’s a special time to celebrate the spirit of the season and offer you incredible opportunities to elevate your harp playing.

Why I Love the Holidays: A Celebration of Musical Journey

1. Try Out New Classes:

Hip Harp Academy boasts a treasure trove of classes in the membership learning vault. With the Holiday Sale, it’s your chance to sample one or two classes – like indulging in a delicious snack of new skills. Explore and discover the joy of learning something new.

2. Affordable Options:

If you’re working with a tight budget, the Hip Harp Academy Holiday Sale presents incredible discounts. Many of our most popular Academy classes are available for almost half their regular price. This is your golden opportunity to access top-notch harp education without breaking the bank.

3. Upgrade to Hip Harp Academy Full Membership:

Purchase classes on sale now and you can apply the full amount you pay to upgrade through Dec. 31st to the Academy’s year-long membership!

Highlighted Classes on Holiday Sale:

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the classes we’re offering:

1. Modulation Staircase:

Master the art of modulating every key on your harp. Learn patterns that can be applied to any key, opening up a world of musical possibilities.

2. Hands-on-Harmony:

Dive into the world of harmony and theory tailored specifically for harpists. With plenty of hands-on examples, you’ll practice and seamlessly integrate what you learn into your playing.

3. Sing & Play Harp:

Discover the magic of singing and playing – at the same time! From creating simple arrangements to leading sing-alongs, this class is your ticket to coordinating voice and harp with joy … and the power of DHC’s “3-Chord Magic” method.

4. One Song: The Nightingale:

Unleash your creativity with this unique approach to learning music. Deconstruct, simplify, master, and expand a single song, unlocking the key to playing any piece with mastery and personal expression.

5. Blueprints for Creativity:

A powerful collection of 7 powerful trainings that provide you with the tools to build repertoire quickly while boosting your creativity. Each blueprint is a formula for creating music using simple compositional forms.

6. Holiday Lead Sheet Bootcamp Retreat:

Just in time for the holiday season, learn how to sit down and play your favorite holiday tunes effortlessly. Delight your loved ones with festive melodies, and add a touch of musical magic to your celebrations.

Embark on a Musical Journey: Holiday Style

This Christmas, embrace the magic of learning, creativity, and community at Hip Harp Academy. Whether you’re a seasoned harpist or just starting your musical adventure, there’s a class waiting for you.

Each class offers an unlimited level of learning, and over the coming days, I’ll delve deeper into the details of each. Stay with us for a comprehensive exploration of these transformative classes!

Invest in your musical growth. Invest in your creative potential. This holiday season, let’s make music magic together!

Stay tuned and get ready to unlock the doors to your musical journey.

Learn More and Purchase the Classes

Harpists who Dare!

Deborah Henson-Conant & Hip Harp Academy Present

HIP HARP ACADEMY SPRING QUARTER: GROUNDED EXPANSION$400 OFF THRU MIDNIGHT APRIL 29

JOIN HIP HARP ACADEMY NOW

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YOU are the GIFT! Video Holiday Card 65% OFF

YOU are the GIFT! Video Holiday Card 65% OFF

Nov 28, 2023 | , , , ,

funny hands on harp

There is no more powerful and heartfelt way to connect with the people you love than a personalized musical message – because then YOU are the GIFT you are giving.

And that’s why I’m featuring one of my MOST FUN HOLIDAY CLASSES“How to Make Video Greeting Cards” in this year’s Black Friday Week of Thanks Specials.

What is ‘Video Holiday Card’?

Learn the CREATIVE and MUSICAL part of making a Video Greeting Card PLUS the basic technical part – the fundamental technical know-how such as:

  • how to set up your lighting and camera or iPhone
  • what to music to play
  • how to turn this into an enjoyable experience

What You Get

This course offers you:
– A step-by-step script to use or modify any way you want
– 3 different intros you can use over and over
– 3 simple songs you can use if you don’t want to use the music you already play
– 3 different endings including the easy (and impressive!) Harp-Pizazzy Kerfuffle
– A Project Checklist to keep you organized as you stretch your creative wings
– Training in how to put it all together and share it with the people you love – including a Production Checklist

Don’t Miss the Opportunity – Act Now!

This Black Friday Week of Thanks, you have the chance to get this holiday-themed class. Take advantage of our 50% discount and get access to the “Video Holiday Card” harp class.

REMEMBER: Purchase ANY of our ‘Black Friday’ classes on sale now and you can apply the full amount you pay to UPGRADE – through Dec. 31st – to the Hip Harp Academy‘s year-long membership!

About "Video Holiday Card"
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Harpists who Dare!

Deborah Henson-Conant & Hip Harp Academy Present

HIP HARP ACADEMY SPRING QUARTER: GROUNDED EXPANSION$400 OFF THRU MIDNIGHT APRIL 29

JOIN HIP HARP ACADEMY NOW

BOOKING:

For virtual events, speaking, residencies, or performances:

PROJECTS & PERFORMANCES:

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50% OFF: Blueprints for Creativity – ONE Class that opens the door to infinite creativity!

50% OFF: Blueprints for Creativity – ONE Class that opens the door to infinite creativity!

Nov 28, 2023 | , , , ,

funny hands on harp

Unlock the Magic of ‘Blueprints for Creativity’ at 50% Off!

Unlock the Magic of ‘Blueprints for Creativity’ at 50% Off!

Are you ready to test your inner composer? The “Blueprints for Creativity” harp class is here to help you just in time for the holidays. And the best part? You can access it at a 50% discount for a limited time.

And we only have a few more days left before my “Week of Thanks” Celebration ends – which means all these discounts to the most impactful and fun classes go away…

What is ‘Blueprints for Creativity’?

A class that gives a foundation for all the others – “Blueprints for Creativity” is a set of seven creative music templates that give you just enough structure to set you free.

I originally created this class as an overview for Hip Harp Academy members to all the creative Blueprints we use throughout the year in the Academy. Then I realized how powerful it is on its own and what a “Academy Prep” program it is – because it gives you an intro to so many Academy Basics. PLUS, by the end of the class, you’ll be playing – and improvising on – 7 new pieces.

But that’s just the tip of the creative iceberg: each piece isn’t just a ‘piece’ – it’s a template or Blueprint for an infinite number of pieces that use the same Blueprint.

What You Get

This course offers you:

  1. Seven Immersion Trainings: Each training includes video instruction, blueprints, and playsheets, allowing you to learn at your own pace.
  2. Tailored Repertoire: The ability to create new repertoire at your exact skill level and improve your improvisation skills and creative expression as you play.
  3. Style Diversity: The flexibility to switch between meditative, therapeutic styles to concert or background-music styles.

You’ll master seven basic ‘Blueprints’ for repertoire development, creative expression, and improvisation:

  1. Rondo Form Blueprint: Using the Example of “Baroque Flamenco”
  2. Song Form Blueprint: Using the Example of “The Nightingale”
  3. 5-Part Arrangement Form Blueprint: To build complete arrangements from simple tunes
  4. Blues Blueprint: Featuring three different Blues Examples
  5. Vamp-Expander Blueprint: Using the Example of “Claire de Lune”
  6. Story-Form Blueprint: A 7-Section “Tell Your Story with Music” form
  7. Motiv Suite Blueprint: Using the example of the 5-Movement “Vision Music” Suite

Don’t Miss the Opportunity – Act Now!

This Black Friday Week of Thanks, you have the chance to get this powerhouse of a class. Take advantage of our 50% discount and get access to the “Blueprints for Creativity” harp class.

REMEMBER: Purchase ANY of our ‘Black Friday’ classes on sale now and you can apply the full amount you pay to UPGRADE – through Dec. 31st – to the Hip Harp Academy‘s year-long membership!

About "Blueprints for Creativity"
Buy "Blueprints for Creativity"

Harpists who Dare!

Deborah Henson-Conant & Hip Harp Academy Present

HIP HARP ACADEMY SPRING QUARTER: GROUNDED EXPANSION$400 OFF THRU MIDNIGHT APRIL 29

JOIN HIP HARP ACADEMY NOW

BOOKING:

For virtual events, speaking, residencies, or performances:

PROJECTS & PERFORMANCES:

FOR HARPISTS:

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50% OFF on a Big Student Favorite – One Song: The Nightingale

50% OFF on a Big Student Favorite – One Song: The Nightingale

Nov 27, 2023 | , , , ,

funny hands on harp

Unlock the Magic of the ‘One Song: The Nightingale’ at 50% Off!

We all need an emotional get-away, a place to feel safe, to hear the voice of our own hearts.

We need a song we can play to escape, a song that helps us connect, a song to tell a story, to soothe an anxious heart, to share joy, to bridge the silence, to take us on a journey… and most importantly, a song to bring us back home again.

What is the ‘One Song: The Nightingale’?

One Song: The Nightingale is a new way of learning music: by literally taking this song apart, learning how it works, and putting it back together in a way that lets you choose the way you play it – at YOUR technical ability.

I created this class in the first wave of the pandemic in multiple live sessions.  When you join now, you get to access ALL the versions of this class – every single sesssion – until we sit down and reduce it to a single version.  How cool is that? You get to see creativity in action and watch the development!

But it gets better: I also identified what I think is the best from each of the versions so you can focus in on those if you want a more consolidated experience.  Either way, you get section-by-section teaching in how to play this beautiful piece at your level of technical ability — and get insight into the composition and arrangement process as you learn.

Here’s How the ‘One Song’ Method Works

You learn the song in 4 phases – the way a composer creates it.

  • Symbolize: You’ll learn the structure, the map –  a way to see the entire piece in one view, the way a composer sees it
  • Simplify: You learn to play a distilled version – an ‘essence’ version –  created especially for this class by the composer
  • Master: By mastering the ‘essence version, you quickly experience the beauty of completing and playing the piece deeply  – rather than struggling to learn every single detail of a specific arrangement before you feel ‘good enough’ to play it
  • Expand: Once you’ve mastered the essence of the piece, you expand it – only as far as you want. For fledgling players, truly mastering the essence may be the peak experience. For others, you learn to unlock it in many ways. Why is that important? There are many reasons people play music. If you’re playing at bedside, you need to know how to expand it and add room for improvisation – and even interaction, if you’re playing at a wedding you may need to know how to accompany a singer, a flutist – or sing yourself; if you’re playing with others you need to know how to play it as a duet, trio, or harp ensemble.  Once you know the essence, you have the piece, and you can learn to expand it in infinite ways

Don’t Miss the Opportunity – Act Now!

This Black Friday Week of Thanks, you have the chance to get on a musical adventure like never before. Take advantage of our 50% discount and get access to the “One Song; The Nightingale” harp course.

REMEMBER: Purchase ANY of our ‘Black Friday’ classes on sale now and you can apply the full amount you pay to UPGRADE – through Dec. 31st – to the Hip Harp Academy‘s year-long membership!

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