Each online course is run once-a-year except for "Hands on Harmony" which is sometimes run 2 or 3 times a year.
Hip Harp Toolkit
“Hip Harp Toolkit” is a 10-Week online courseexclusively for passionate harp players! You learn create a whole repertoire of inventive, fun solo arrangements using my 5-part formula that let's you turn ANY simple melody into a whole arrangement on the spot!
“BLUES: Harp-Style” is a 5-Week online course by Deborah Henson-Conant that’s especially for harp players and teaches you, the passionate musician, to play the 12-Bar Blues – no matter what your skill level is.
You’ll learn the structure of the blues so you can play SOLO BLUES, and you'll learn the roles each player plays in a Blues band, so you can play Blues with other people. You'll learn how to build blues scales, Blues basslines and Blues riffs and you'll learn how to bend notes - whether you play lever or pedal harp. And best of all, you'll learn to write a Blues about something you love the most in the world, no matter what that is.
Baroque Flamenco Bootcamp” is a 4-Week online course I created especially for YOU, the empassioned harp player, to learn the foundation of my powerhouse piece "Baroque Flamenco" so you can play it at your own level - and so you can change it to suit the mood of the situation, whether you're playing for an audience of thousands or at bedside in hospice.
You'll learn the secrets of playing it with fire … and how to shift the notes so they express complete tenderness. You'll learn to EXPAND it if you're an advanced player and SIMPLIFY it if you're still a fledgling player.
You'll learn to make the dramatic Flamenco cadenza SIZZLE when you want to impress your audience, or how to MELT your listeners' hearts if they need musical solace. You'll learn to end the piece with so much inner fire that you COMPEL your audience to jump up and shout - or how to shift the ending into gentle dreamlike flight.
"Baroque Flamenco Beyond the Notes" is all about taking what's on the page and making it speak for YOU and YOUR listeners by learning skills of improvisation, performance and interpretation.
“Summer Harp Jam” is a 6-Week virtual summer camp with Deborah Henson-Conant that’s exclusively for harp players - lever or pedal, from fledgling to professional - and gives you a treasure chest of jams, vamps and playalongs that strengthen your improvisation and rhythm skills while you're having FUN!
A JAM is basically any simple musical structure that gives you a foundation for improvising without extensive preparation or predefined arrangements. The jam sequences we'll learn can be as simple as two chords and a rhythm that you can use as a solo player -- or as involved as a song that you lead with sections where everyone gets to play.
Don't think you have any improvisation and rhythm skills? You WILL after Summer Harp Jam!!
"Hands on Harmony" is an all-day learning retreat that you get spend in the comfort of your very own home! (OR take it at your own pace via replays. Or … both!)
It’s FUN! And it’s all about Harmony. It’s for all levels of adult players on pedal & lever harp.
How can all levels do it at once?? We start by learning basic principles and patterns – then each person puts them into play (literally!) at their own level playing the Hands-on-Harmony Progressions.
There's a creative project aching in your soul. In the next 12 months you'll complete it and share it with your world. I'll walk you step-by-step through this journey.
"Harness Your Muse" is a yearlong group mentorship & mastermind to help you create, shape and share your dream project and develop the systems for production and promotion that will support your journey as a creative entrepreneur - whether that's as a performer, coach or healing practictioner. Most importantly this program is help you make your Next Level Shift to the artist you truly want to be.
Get away from it all and focus on performance studies for a few months.
Sounds like a dream, right?
Well ... here, it's a reality.
Most of my coaching programs are one-line, but starting in Fall 2015 I'm reopening my on-site intensive program.
You Live IN My Studio Building
My Student Rooms are now set up for out-of-town students, with a harp, bed, shared bathroom & demi-kitchen. I usually recommend students stay for 3-6 months but occassionally I have weekend group retreats.
We Create Your Curriculum Together
Coaching focuses on areas from jazz-harp curriculum to arranging, creativity and performance preparation. You live here, practice and, after the first week, you have 90 minutes of coaching a week, broken into as-needed segments.
For students staying 3+ months, your first week includes two separate 90-minute sessions to get your curriculum set up.
Coaching is Focused Around Intensive Practice Time
The advantage of being on-site is that your coaching can be spit into small segments so you get the information you need to put new ideas into practice, then can ask questions, or get quick brushups when you get stuck.
The power of working this way is that you can maximize your practice time - because sometimes you only need 10 minutes of clarity from a coach to break through - and sometimes you need more. This program allows you to do that.
You're Immersed in the World of a Successful Creative Entrepreneur
One of the most valuable parts of seeing the day-to-day life of a professional artist is the chance to see how that actually works! Depending on how long your study-project is, you also have the option to be involved in some of the projects I'm working on - so you get to see the life and business-side of a creative entrepreneur in ways you simply can't from the outside.
You Get to Truly FOCUS
And whether you take part in some of my own creative projects or not, you get away from the distractions of your life and focus like you've always wanted to. When you email, let me know the approximate dates you're interested in and the area(s) of study you most want to focus on.
LEVEL: Advanced, Professionals or those ready to fully commit to a Next Level Shift in their creative lives
LENGTH: 3-6 Months
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
These are the basic descriptions of the workshops I offer at harp festivals - they're not available individually. This list is for harp festival presenters considering which workshops will be best for their students.
To ask for more information on booking these workshops use DHC's "Ask a Question" form
Where Passion Meets Performance
If you want to perform, you DO want to play with fire! Regardless of whether you’re a Fledgling or a Professional, jumpstart your own path to playing with greater passion with this workshop from the fiery harp diva herself.
Using her dramatic harp showpiece “Baroque Flamenco,” DHC will show you how to go from just "learning the notes" and “counting it out” to finding the core of a melody and playing it with a grace that transcends playing ability, then expand it as your skills increase.
She’ll show you how your body can lead you to the 'character' that brings the music alive. This workshop will totally energize your morning and have you tapping in rhythm the rest of the day!
LEVEL: For hands-on Adv. Beginners to Professional
Auditors also welcome
LENGTH: 90 minute hands-on presentation with or without harps
Recent presentations include:
World Harp Congress 2014 (Sydney, Australia)
SouthEastern Harp Weekend 2014
Somerset Harp Festival 2015
Intro to Blues Harp-Style
Do you long to have fun and jam with other musicians! To hear people say to you "Wow, I never knew you could play THAT on a harp!" If so, then take this workshop! You'll learn the 3 essential musical roles in the Blues--and how to play them with only 2 hands! Learn one of the coolest, and most useful bass techniques at YOUR level of technical ability--a technique that's not just great for the Blues, but for lots of rhythmic music. Learn the wickedly simple harmonic structure of the 12-Bar Blues and why that simplicity is such a rich field for creative expression. Get the ultra-fun swing rhythm at the heart of the Blues-- it's already deep inside your body.
LEVEL: Adv. Beginners to Professional
LENGTH: 90 minute hands-on presentation with instruments (harps and/or other instruments)
This can also be expanded to a half-day or full-day workshop
Recent presentations include:
Somerset Harp Festival 2015
Pacific Harps 2015
SouthEastern Harp Weekend 2014
Blues Harp-Style Full-Day Intensive
How can Blues musicians just sit down and play together? How do people create Blues solos out of thin air? Are they just more 'creative' than others ... or do they have skills that anyone could learn?
The Blues is one of the simplest musical structures in the world – and one of the richest and most expressive. And yes – anyone can learn – and it’s incredibly fun on the harp!
You start with three simple chords, and once you know exactly where to play them, the sky is the limit.
Imagine how much fun you’d have if someone said, “Wanna Jam?” and you said, “Sure! How about a Blues in D?”
Imagine knowing exactly how to set your levers and how to play a Blues melody that’s easy to play and sounds great on the harp. Then imagine bending notes and playing riffs, licks, basslines and comping (and even knowing exactly what those words meant!)
That’s what you’ll do in Blues Harp-Style Live Full-Day Immersion!
You’ll learn to play a solo Blues, and how to play Blues with a band by shifting between the 3 roles: Bass, comping and melody.
It starts with learning the rhythm and getting it deep into your body
Next you’ll learn the structure of the 12-Bar Blues so you know which chords go where
Next, I show you what to do with your left hand and what to do with your right hand.
Then we start adding a sense of style and put on our sunglasses (oops – you’ll have to bring those yourself).
And from there ... it's all about letting go and having fun. I’ll show you how to count the band in, how to ‘fake’ it if you get lost and how to create the mind-blowing “Kerfuffle” ending that looks hard, but is so, so easy!
The Blues is a cumulative form, so you once you know the basic structure you can keep it simple as long as you want - or you can layer, embellish and expand forever. That’s what makes it possible for players of different levels to play together and have fun.
And in the afternoon that’s exactly what we’ll do: we’ll split into Trios and take turns shifting between bass, comping and “blowing” so you’ll know exactly what to do when you sit down to play Blues with other people.
Learn the Blues and you’ll have a musical playground that you can explore for the rest of your life.
LEVEL: Intermediate to Professional
LENGTH: Full day (with breaks each 90-120 minutes)
Recent presentations include:
SouthEastern Harp Weekend 2015
Muse to Marketplace
Here's an incredible professional development opportunity to learn the secrets of a brilliant musician who's also a successful creative entrepreneur. DHC will outline the steps to create a music business infrastructure that can support and promote your work as a musician, steps that will help you make the leap from being “a” good harpist to being “the” one-and-only you – and share that with the world. Learn to create a "business" side that can truly support your muse! This is about learning to tell your own story in the marketplace.
LEVEL: NA
LENGTH: 90-120 minute lecture-type presentation
WHO IS THIS FOR? Music professionals, creative entrepreneurs or artists on a professional track who want to know the basics of creative entrepreneurship strategy and mindset. Note that at 90-120 minutes this is really just a quick overview of a huge subject.
Recent presentations include:
Somerset Harp Festival 2015
Boston Conservatory Harp Festival 2010
“Arrange Yourself”
Wish you could just sit down with a melody, and chords, and create a whole arrangements? Using simple holiday tunes (that you can use this December!) you’ll learn the five top secrets of my 7-week online course “Hip Harp Toolkit!”
You’ll learn a basic 5-part arrangement form you can use over and over again, you’ll learn the three musical roles you have to play (and how to play them with two hands), you’ll learn my favorite left hand bass pattern and my favorite trick for enhancing melodies and you’ll be playing your own arrangement by the end of the class!
LEVEL: Adv. Beginner to Professional
LENGTH: 90 minute hands-on presentation with instruments (harps and/or other instruments)
This can also be expanded to a half-day or full-day workshop
Recent presentations include:
Somerset Harp Festival 2015
Pacific Harps 2015
SouthEastern Harp Weekend 2014
Improv Immersion Experience
How are some musicians able to just sit down
and start improvising music 'out of thin air'?
How do others take a simple tune and spin it into an entire piece?
Are they just more 'creative' than others? Or do they have skills that anyone could learn?
This full-day workshop will help you take the techniques and skills that you already have right now, at this moment, and turn them into something that lets you truly express yourself ... spontaneously through the use of improvisation.
In this Full-Day Workshop You’ll Learn:
5 ways to enhance each piece you’re already playing – right now - without having to improve your harp technique
The 4 essential tools you need to create a convincing solo improvisation on any simple melody without doing any preparation in advance
3 fun, simple musical jams you can use when someone says “Let’s Jam” (or when you start saying it!)
How to modulate from one tune (and key) to another – and how to use that modulation as a moment of creative expression
How the basic principles of Music, Theater & Movement Improv can work together to broaden your expressive range no matter what your technical level is so you can be more expressive with the music you already play by engaging your body, and truly listening to what you’re playing learn skills
How to take your musicality and performance ability to a whole new level without having to ‘get better at the harp’
This workshop is for you if you want to:
Know how to break away from the written page
Know how to be more responsive musically to any situation you’re in – from a Blues Jam to a bedside in hospice
Know how to break out if you’re feeling stuck
Experience the freedom of simply sitting down and playing without having to ‘worry’ about the notes
Know how to communicate a sense of relaxation (even if your stomach is churning and your hands shaking!). Audiences in concerts and care settings NEED to feel this first to truly hear your music. And more importantly by doing this you will be able to hear and play your music better too!
Express your musical story without having to learn anything new on the harp. We spend so much time working on finger technique, speed, coordination and agility – but or bodies and voices need the same attention. Using techniques learned in movement and theater improvisation we’ll learn to express more before even touching our first note on harp.
Learn the power of theatrical communication when the space before your piece begins and when your piece ends is just as important as the space in a melody is to the notes.
LEVEL: Adv. Beginner to Professional
LENGTH: Full day (9:30 AM - 4:30 pm)
Recent presentations include:
Somerset Harp Festival 2015
Strings of Passion
A "Speak from the Harp" Presentation
for General Audiences & Arts Audiences
Music, Ideas & Humor in Concert
"Strings of Passion" is a concert of music, ideas & humor featuring solo artist Deborah Henson-Conant, a Grammy-Nominated recording artist and the world's premiere electric harpist. She plays an instrument invented specifically for her by the CAMAC Harp Company: a 32-string electric harness-harp that straps on like an electric guitar. She plays in genres from Blues to Flamenco.
Here's what Henson-Conant says about "Strings of Passion":
"Strings of Passion" plays out 7 principles, string by string, using the unusual instrument that was invented for me – a 32-strings electric harness harp - to show how they resonate and harmonize with each other: These principles include invention, collaboration, leadership, structure, character, exploration -- and lift-off, as an idea becomes reality.
In this performance, the harp – with its 32 strings – represents the resonance of different ideas in our lives – with the understanding that we don't play every string in every song - but it is the resonance of the strings we don't play that gives the strings we do play their richness.
I’ve spent the past 2 decades reinventing my instrument, developing new shows, even writing full orchestra scores so I could explore how this new instrument interacts with symphonies. While I was focused on exploring this new instrument, and what it could do — what I learned was not only how to play it, how to write orchestra scores, how to film a PBS music special — but how ideas resonate through people, how groups collaborate, how leadership takes many different shapes. These understandings are what “Strings of Passion” is all about – described in words and music - speaking from the harp.
LEVEL: NA (this is for general audiences or arts-focused audiences)
LENGTH: Full day (9:30 AM - 4:30 pm)
Recent presentations include:
American Harp Conference 2014
Boston Harp Festival 2010
Hands on Harmony
Did you know that the harp – lever or pedal – is THE PERFECT INSTRUMENT for learning harmony at any level? Harp is the ONLY instrument that actually shifts from key to key, so unlike any other instrument the harp puts a visual, physical metaphor for harmony literally into your hands.
Seriously! Literally … in your hands! And I’ll show you how to reach out and grasp that harmony!
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE WORKSHOP?
We start at the very beginning, learning how chords are built and you practice everything on your harp as we go along.
From basic chord building, I show you a few simple chord VOICINGS to use and then we start right in playing PROGRESSIONS, or short series of chords. From there we start EXTENDING the chords – so you can build 9th and 11th chords and ALTERING chords so you can play chords like G7(b9) or Bm7(b5).
By the end of the day you’ll know how to MODULATE from key to key (using my really fun trick of “Diversion”), how to create simple chord SUBSTITUTIONS and how to shift in and out of the RELATIVE MINOR.
You’ll get a sample LEAD SHEET and learn to PSYCH IT OUT so you’ll know where you actually need to change levers/pedals and where you can kick back with the settings you already have. You also get some stress-saving techniques for avoiding pedals/levers when you’re just not sure whether you should change them or not!
WHAT PEOPLE SAID ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
“This is a BLAST! I thought I knew this but you make it more user-friendly.”Carolyn Deal
“I have been asking people how to noodle for years, but this is the first time anyone broke it down to a place to start” Joyce Kraut
“Wow – this is fun! Using the slap bass, just got a whole new groove going! A new song idea was just born!” Kate Kunkel
“Love how the harp shifts into the key, patterns remain the same, you don’t have to think about altering fingering!” Sally Walstrum
HERE'S WHAT WE COVER:
How to build and extend chords (to play 7ths and 9ths)
Learning the ‘Families’ of chords (like the Family of C Major) and what chords are native to that tuning
The basics of noodling, voicing and reading basic chord symbols
How to use harmonic Fenceposts to improvise basslines and melodies
The basics of Modulation
And we do a LOT of playing so that you get it immediately into your hands
And in the extended sessions:
How to Alter chords – like, how to get a G7(b9) or a Bm7(b5)
EARLY AFTERNOON: 1PM – 3PM EDT – A Longer Progression … and a trip to the mysterious relative minor
LATE AFTERNOON: 3:30 – 5:30 PM EDT – We’ll put the harmony we learned into context in an actual piece of music – and if there’s time, I’ll show you how to psyche out a jazz chart by sleuthing out all the modulations (so bring your detective hat!)
LEVEL: Intermediate to Advanced.
LENGTH: Full day workshop
Recent presentations include:
SouthEastern Harp Festival 2014
DHC Online Academy
Fireworks for the Creative Spirit
A Hands-On Workshop Version of "Strings of Passion"
[Connect to the original info page for the debut of this program here]
How
do great artists
continue to
create in the
face of challenges,
rejection,
fear, and doubt?
What tools
do they use?
What skills
do they develop?
What keeps
them going,
and what keeps
them from giving
up or giving
in? How do
they create
authentic work?
These are some
of the concepts
Deborah will
share with
you from her
own life.
Watch Deborah's Welcome Video from the Debut of "Fireworks..." in July 2011. (If you notice the video's a little out-of-sync - don't worry, it's the video, not you!
There
are many ways
to be creative.
To be heard.
You
don't have
to
go the standard
route. Join
this GRAMMY®-Nominated
artist who
has
taken an
unlikely
instrument
and
turned it
into the
story of
her life.
Come see
what is
possible
if you follow
your
own personal
passion.
Learn
the concepts
behind her
work
and bring
them to your
own
life. You
can be uniquely
creative
at
any moment
... no matter
what
you start
with!
All
Levels Welcome
The
basic principles
of play and
performance
are the same
whether
you're a
beginner
or professional.
For this
event,
your technical
level or
expertise
is far less
important
than the
depth of
commitment
to your own
artistic
growth. This
event will
help you
uncover these
fundamental
artistic
principles and
practice
them
in your own life!
Beyond
"Hands-On"
To
connect with
your instrument
or your art,
you can start
with
your inner
world, through
your connection
with your own
body, along
with some basic
concepts. The
only instrument
you need
to bring
is the one
you live inside.
Because
this is
an exploration
of your
inner
world, your instrument
will wait
at home
for your
inspired return.
Who
should attend
You
are a
committed
creative
artist at
any level
of expertise
You
are looking
for inspiration
and creative
focus
You
want to lead
a more creative
life
You
want to know
how better
to develop
your own creative
ideas
You
want to
develop
the performance
aspect
of
your work
What
will this workshop
give you?
Principles
and exercises
for turning
your
passion
into art
Ways
to address
your doubts
Insight
into what's
in your
way, and how
to get
around
it
A
safe place
to
explore
your
own
creative
inner
world
Specific
tools,
exercises,
approaches
and concept
to help
you when
you're
stuck,
when you
don't know
where to
start,
or when
you need
to pull
a vague
artistic
concept
into focus
Greater
ability
to let
yourself
and others
see who
you really
are
What
you can expect
Direct
contact
with
an out-of-the-box
master performer,
who has been
at the top
and bottom
of success,
who has invented
her own instrument
and her own
style of
performance
- and who
continues
to
meet challenges
in her work
-- and is
willing to
share both
those challenges
and their
solutions
with you
An
approach
that goes
beyond 'hands-on'
to 'body-on'
Concept-to-focus
on what we are, what
we can do, and what
each person's unique
artistic voice is, rather
than pointing
out what we're
doing wrong,
or providing
techniques
to help us
create or
perform like
others
We'll
learn how
to enjoy
our own work
and others'
without denigrating
either ourselves
or the other
In-the-moment
improvisation
of content and
delivery
Creative
interaction
with other workshop
participants
Authenticity,
honesty,
exploration
of freedom,
empowerment
- and an
honest discussion
of the real
challenges
of being
an artist
and musician
A
completely
open Question
& Answer
period, when
you will
be able to
ask Deborah literally
anything about
her life
and work
"I
experienced a workshop, discussion,
interaction and concert all in
one evening! It seemed perfect
for everyone present, and there
were a variety of age groups,
skill levels, harp people of
various styles, yet we were all
focused and excited to be there
..." Miriam
Brown
"The
main thing that keeps rolling
around in my head is just
to embrace exactly what and
who
you are in that moment, and
have that be enough." Josh
Fitzgerald
What
to
bring
(just yourself!)
No
gear, no
packing
- just
commitment
to your
art and
an open
mind is
all you
need.
A
pillow
--
for the concert
portions,
you'll
be sitting,
standing
or lying
on the
floor,
up close
and personal
Comfortable
clothing,
including
socks if preferred--
you'll be
taking off
your shoes
and moving
around
You
can bring
cameras
and video
to take
social shots
before and
after the
event, but
you will
be asked
not to film
any portion
of the event;
Deborah's
performance
sections
will be
taped and
available
at a future
time.
Location & Directions
"Fireworks..."
is held
in a large
private
home or
other non-public
location.
Exact directions are provided after attendees sign up.
Sample
Workshop Timeline(PDF) - An
example of a rundown of workshop
events, timeline and notes on
how to prepare for the workshop
(from the 2005 St. Paul UCC Workshop
near St. Louis)
Get away from it all and focus on performance studies for a few months. 
If you want to perform, you DO want to play with fire! Regardless of whether you’re a Fledgling or a Professional, jumpstart your own path to playing with greater passion with this workshop from the fiery harp diva herself. 
Do you long to have fun and jam with other musicians! To hear people say to you "Wow, I never knew you could play THAT on a harp!" If so, then take this workshop! You'll learn the 3 essential musical roles in the Blues--and how to play them with only 2 hands! Learn one of the coolest, and most useful bass techniques at YOUR level of technical ability--a technique that's not just great for the Blues, but for lots of rhythmic music. Learn the wickedly simple harmonic structure of the 12-Bar Blues and why that simplicity is such a rich field for creative expression. Get the ultra-fun swing rhythm at the heart of the Blues-- it's already deep inside your body.
Wish you could just sit down with a melody, and chords, and create a whole arrangements? Using simple holiday tunes (that you can use this December!) you’ll learn the five top secrets of my 7-week online course “Hip Harp Toolkit!” 
This full-day workshop will help you take the techniques and skills that you already have right now, at this moment, and turn them into something that lets you truly express yourself ... spontaneously through the use of improvisation. 
"I
experienced a workshop, discussion,
interaction and concert all in
one evening! It seemed perfect
for everyone present, and there
were a variety of age groups,
skill levels, harp people of
various styles, yet we were all
focused and excited to be there
..." Miriam
Brown 
