WOOOHOOO! YOU DID IT!!
If you completed the challenge – CONGRATULATIONS!
If you didn’t complete the challenge – or you’re just joining us for the first time – feel free to jump in! We’ll keep this training open until Oct. 23. Even though all the prize winners have been selected, you can still post your answers to the Challenge Questions on the “Harpists Who Dare” Facebook Page and enjoy reading others’ comments. ENJOY!
Welcome to the 2023 “5-Day HARP IMPROV Challenge”!
Oct. 9 – 13, 2023
Mon-Fri: Daily Trainings & Daily Prize Posting
Sat/Sun: Oct. 14 & 15: Catch-Up Time & GRAND PRIZE Posting
Mon. Oct 16: Grand Prize Celebration
Tue-Wed-Thu: Kick-Start Week: Open House Classes at Hip Harp Academy
This CHALLENGE LEARNING HUB holds all the trainings, replays and links for the 5-Day Harp Improv Challenge! Each day during the Challenge, a new video lesson is enabled. To see it, REFRESH YOUR SCREEN each day with the button below.
Make sure you get the Challenge Emails (Click Here for How To)
While I can’t guarantee that my email server and yours will always play nice together, here are 3 things you can do ot help make sure you get my emails.
- Add me – info@HipHarp.com – to your address book. This saves my email address as a contact in your email system and makes it less likely it’ll mark my messages as spam. You should be able to do that from any of the emails you do get.
- If you see a button or link that says “confirm your email address” in an email I send, click it to confirm your address.
- “White-list” the email address info@hipharp.com – here are the white-listing instructions
INVITE YOUR FRIENDS
Give your friends this link to invite them to join the challenge: https://www.hipharp.com/5dhic-challenge
CHALLENGE TIMELINE
Oct. 9 – 13, 2023
- MON. SEPT. 25 – SUN. OCT. 8: PRE-CHALLENGE BONUS!! Take “Creating Conducive Conditions” class AND share your findings to be eligible for the Bonus Pre-Challenge Drawing!
- MON OCT 9 – FRI. OCT. 13 – THE CHALLENGE! Each day at 12:01 (and sometimes earlier) we’ll release a new challenge. Watch the video, try it out & share your answers to the challenge questions on the Daily Thread in the “Harpists Who Dare” Facebook Page.
- SAT & SUN OCT 14 & 15 – GRAND PRIZE CHALLENGE & CATCH-UP – You get the whole weekend to catch-up on posts you missed and complete the Grand Prize posting.
Put these LIVE EVENTS on your Calendar Now!
- THU, OCT. 12 – 3:30 PM EST – SPECIAL LIVE Q & A (use Zoom link below)
- SAT, OCT. 14 – 3:30 PM EST – SPECIAL LIVE Q & A (use Zoom link below)
- MON, OCT 16 at 2:30 PM EST – GRAND PRIZE DRAWING & CELEBRATION (use Zoom link below)
- TUE-WED-THU, OCT 17, 18 & 19 – HIP HARP ACADEMY “KICK-START WEEK” OPEN HOUSE CLASSES (use Zoom link below)
HOW THE CHALLENGE WORKS:
Watch my welcome video to hear how it works.
How it works, in a nutshell …
- Each day you get a short video training – you can watch it any time – I will try to have it posted by Midnight EST the night before so no matter where you are in the world, you will have time to watch and take part in the challenge.
- Each video will show up in a new ‘toggle’ below – but you will need to ‘refresh’ this web page each day to see each new toggle. To do that, use the button just below the image at the very top of this page.
- I’ll send out an email about 3AM EST to remind you about the challenge, and with a link back to this page and to where you post your answewrs – so everyone will have plenty of time to watch, try it out and post your answers
- Each day you’ll post your answers to the challenge questions by Midnight PST in the Facebook group in the special post thread for that day (you’ll get the link to that thread along with the video)
- The next day we choose a winner at random from the people who posted by the deadline
- On the weekend you’ll get to catch up and answer the final “Grand Prize” challenge – and the following Monday we’ll choose the Grand Prize Winner at a live online Wrap Up Session.
- YOU’RE IMPROVISING!!!
THE 5-DAY CHALLENGE SESSIONS
THE CHALLENGE WILL MAGICALLY APPEAR BELOW
Once the Challenge starts, a new training will appear each day below, each in a separate toggle. Click on each toggle and it will open up to reveal: the VIDEO TRAINING, CHALLENGE QUESTIONS and a link to the SHARING THREAD where you’ll share your answers. It also includes an alternate Sharing Form you can use if you can’t use Facebook
If you don’t see the new toggle for the day, click the “Refresh Your Page” button at the top of the page.
THE 5-DAY CHALLENGE SESSIONS
Below you’ll find the videos and challenge questions from the 5-Day Harp IMPROV Challenge. The official challenge is no longer running, but you can take the whole training plus additional Q&A and office hour sessions below!
BONUS PREP CLASS: Creating Conducive Conditions
You don’t have to wait to get started! The BONUS CLASS “Creating Conducive Conditions” is available as soon as you sign up.
- Watch the Bonus Class here: “Creating Conducive Conditions” BONUS TRAINING
- Share your takeaways in the “Creative Conducive Conditions” TAKEAWAYS THREAD (in the “Harpists Who DARE” Facebook Group.
DAY 1 - [MONDAY] Grounding the Power Progression
WELCOME TO DAY 1!
Add your answers to the challenge AS A COMMENT on the DAY 1 POSTING THREAD in the Harpists Who DARE Facebook group. (If you absolutely can’t use Facebook, you can share your answers with this form, but please only use this method if you have no access to Facebook)
- ARE YOU A CHALLENGE ALUMNI? If this is your 2nd (or 3rd!) time on this challenge – TAKE IT TO NEXT LEVEL! Here are some possibilities for creativity. Choose the one you like the best – or try them all!
- MODULATE! Play the power progression in the key of C … and then MODULATE to the key of F or G. Can you come up with a new sentence to help you remember the Power Progression in that key? Share it!
- SING WHILE YOU PLAY! Come up with some kind of song to sing along with the progression. Or MAKE UP A STORY you could tell while playing the Power Progression – try adding a new RHYTHM to progression. Record it with your harp and share it!
- WANT A SUPER BIG CHALLENGE? APPLY A DIFFERENT LEFT-HAND PATTERN from a different progression! This sheet of Left Hand patterns also use the 2, 5, 1 & 6 chords …. but in a different order! See if you can ignore the order on the page and apply the pattern to the Challenge Progression! Then share your results and how you figured it out.
Training Video: https://youtu.be/tomiwmL47TU
DAY 2 - [TUESDAY] Differentiating the Roles
Add your answers to the challenge AS A COMMENT on the DAY 2 Posting Thread in the Harpists Who DARE Facebook group. [The posting thread will be linked by midnight PST] (If you absolutely can’t use Facebook, you can share your answers with this form, but please only use this method if you have no access to Facebook)
- BONUS: (and earn extra points, now worth 5 gazillion dollars on Vogsphere)
- SUPER-BONUS: Give love to other challenge participants.
- ARE YOU A CHALLENGE ALUMNI? If this is your 2nd (or 3rd!) time on this challenge – TAKE IT TO NEXT LEVEL! Here are some possibilities for creativity. Choose the one you like the best – or try them all!
- MODULATE! Play the power progression in the key of C … and then MODULATE to the key of F or G. Can you come up with a new sentence to help you remember the Power Progression in that key? Share it!
- SING WHILE YOU PLAY! Come up with some kind of song to sing along with the progression. Or MAKE UP A STORY you could tell while playing the Power Progression – try adding a new RHYTHM to progression. Record it with your harp and share it!
- WANT A SUPER BIG CHALLENGE? APPLY A DIFFERENT LEFT-HAND PATTERN from a different progression! This sheet of Left Hand patterns also use the 2, 5, 1 & 6 chords …. but in a different order! See if you can ignore the order on the page and apply the pattern to the Challenge Progression! Then share your results and how you figured it out.
Training Video: https://youtu.be/X-wFzfXNnfw
DAY 3 - [WEDNESDAY] Playing 3 Roles ... with 2 Hands
Add your answers to the challenge AS A COMMENT on the DAY 3 Posting Thread in the Harpists Who DARE Facebook group. [NOTE: the posting thread won’t be linked until midnight EST] (If you absolutely can’t use Facebook, you can share your answers with this Google form, but please only use this method if you have no access to Facebook)
BONUS: (and earn extra points, worth a fortune in the Andromeda Galaxy)
SUPER-BONUS: Give love to other challenge participants.
ARE YOU A CHALLENGE ALUMNI? If this is your 2nd (or 3rd!) time on this challenge – TAKE IT TO NEXT LEVEL! Here are some possibilities for creativity. Choose the one you like the best – or try them all!
-
- MODULATE! Play the power progression in the key of C … and then MODULATE to the key of F or G. Can you come up with a new sentence to help you remember the Power Progression in that key? Share it!
- SING WHILE YOU PLAY! Come up with some kind of song to sing along with the progression. Or MAKE UP A STORY you could tell while playing the Power Progression – try adding a new RHYTHM to progression. Record it with your harp and share it!
- WANT A SUPER BIG CHALLENGE? APPLY A DIFFERENT LEFT-HAND PATTERN from a different progression! This sheet of Left Hand patterns also use the 2, 5, 1 & 6 chords …. but in a different order! See if you can ignore the order on the page and apply the pattern to the Challenge Progression! Then share your results and how you figured it out.
TRAINING VIDEO: https://youtu.be/SZLUbWyJQls
DAY 4 - [THURSDAY] Fencepost Noodling - a First Step to Melodic Improv
Add your answers to the challenge AS A COMMENT on the DAY 4 Posting Thread in the Harpists Who DARE Facebook group. [NOTE: the posting thread won’t be linked until midnight EST] (If you absolutely can’t use Facebook, you can share your answers with this form, but please only use this method if you have no access to Facebook)
-
- MODULATE! Play the power progression in the key of C … and then MODULATE to the key of F or G. Can you come up with a new sentence to help you remember the Power Progression in that key? Share it!
- SING WHILE YOU PLAY! Come up with some kind of song to sing along with the progression. Or MAKE UP A STORY you could tell while playing the Power Progression – try adding a new RHYTHM to progression. Record it with your harp and share it!
- WANT A SUPER BIG CHALLENGE? APPLY A DIFFERENT LEFT-HAND PATTERN from a different progression! This sheet of Left Hand patterns also use the 2, 5, 1 & 6 chords …. but in a different order! See if you can ignore the order on the page and apply the pattern to the Challenge Progression! Then share your results and how you figured it out.
Training Video: https://youtu.be/SNiyNXfiMpU
DAY 4 Q&A Session & Replay
You can attend the 2023 “5-Day HARP IMPROV Challenge” Q&A Sessions 2 ways:
- Via Zoom: Register at the link at the top of this page under “Live Challenge Events”
- Via Facebook Live: Just go to the “Harpists Who Dare” Facebook group and it ‘should’ appear (but you know about my personal technical challenges with apps like that, right?)
FOR THE REPLAY: Scroll down to the “More Videos from the Challenge” section on this page
DAY 5 - [FRIDAY] - Putting it all together - YOU'RE IMPROVISING!
Add your answers to the challenge AS A COMMENT on the DAY 5 Posting Thread in the Harpists Who DARE Facebook group. [NOTE: the posting thread won’t be linked until midnight EST] (If you absolutely can’t use Facebook, you can share your answers with this form, but please only use this method if you have no access to Facebook)
BONUS: If you want to really challenge yourself (and earn wooden gold doubloons worth a fortune in Atlantis!) create a short video of you playing the arrangement I outlined, using “Ode to Joy” or any other very short tune. Keep the video short, preferably under 90 seconds – and share it with your post.
SUPER-BONUS: Give love to other challenge participants and what they’ve shared
ARE YOU A CHALLENGE ALUMNI? If this is your 2nd (or 3rd!) time on this challenge – TAKE IT TO NEXT LEVEL! Here are some possibilities for creativity. Choose the one you like the best – or try them all!
-
- MODULATE! Play the power progression in the key of C … and then MODULATE to the key of F or G. Can you come up with a new sentence to help you remember the Power Progression in that key? Share it!
- SING WHILE YOU PLAY! Come up with some kind of song to sing along with the progression. Or MAKE UP A STORY you could tell while playing the Power Progression – try adding a new RHYTHM to progression. Record it with your harp and share it!
- WANT A SUPER BIG CHALLENGE? APPLY A DIFFERENT LEFT-HAND PATTERN from a different progression! This sheet of Left Hand patterns also use the 2, 5, 1 & 6 chords …. but in a different order! See if you can ignore the order on the page and apply the pattern to the Challenge Progression! Then share your results and how you figured it out.
Get ready to learn what happens next!
Training Video: https://youtu.be/fEbt5P2YOds
Download the handout: 5-Day Harp IMPROV Challenge Takeaways & Handout
SATURDAY Q&A Session & Replay
You can attend the 2023 “5-Day HARP IMPROV Challenge” Q&A Sessions 2 ways:
- Via Zoom: Register at the link at the top of this page under “Live Challenge Events”
- Via Facebook Live: Just go to the “Harpists Who Dare” Facebook group and it ‘should’ appear (but you know about my personal technical challenges with apps like that, right?)
FOR THE REPLAY: Scroll down to the “More Videos from the Challenge” section on this page
THE GRAND PRIZE! (Deadline: Sunday at Midnight)
- Add your answers to the challenge AS A COMMENT on the GRAND PRIZE Posting Thread in the Harpists Who DARE Facebook group. [The posting thread will be linked when this toggle is opened] (If you absolutely can’t use Facebook, you can share your answers with this form, but please only use this method if you have no access to Facebook)
- The Grand Prize will be drawn at MONDAY’s Wrap-up Masterclass & Grand Prize Drawing. Register for that event the top of this page under LIVE Challenge Events (you don’t have to be present to win – you only have to complete all the requirements below)
Now you have a chance to complete anything you missed and the chance to win the Grand Prize!
—————————————
3-FULL MONTHS of HIP HARP ACADEMY MEMBERSHIP
+ Special Bonus Gift from the Hip Harp Extended Harp Family:
A PRIVATE 1-on-1 with the Legendary Sylvia Woods on Skype or Facetime
Total: $876+ Value
—————————————
The DEADLINE to post for the Grand Prize is SUNDAY, OCT. 15 at Midnight PST
TO QUALIFY for the GRAND PRIZE, here’s what you need to do:
(1) Make sure to post all 5 assignments (daily posts) from the challenge in the corresponding daily threads (make sure they are posted in the right place – you can link to the right threads in each section of this page).
AND…
(2) Comment on the GRAND PRIZE THREAD in our Facebook Group “Harpists Who DARE” with the answers to the following questions:
1) What are your 3 biggest takeaways from this challenge that will have an impact on your playing and creative life?
2) What was your favorite part about this challenge?
3) What would you say to a friend who’s considering participating in one of DHC’s challenges or classes?
(3) BONUS: If you want to get ONE EXTRA ENTRY for the drawing (optional) you can:
Share the challenge on YOUR Facebook profile. In your post, include:
- The biggest thing you learned
- What you loved most about the challenge
- Where people can sign up: https://www.hipharp.com/5dhic-challenge
Then share a link to that post in the GRAND PRIZE THREAD (that means you’ll have TWO comment/posts in the GRAND PRIZE THREAD – and TWO chances to win the Grand Prize). (The Deadline is above … in red – and the Grand Prize thread link is at the top of this toggle)
DON’T MISS OUR final LIVE MASTERCLASS & GRAND PRIZE CELEBRATION on MONDAY, OCT. 16 at 2:30 pm EST, where I share my biggest lessons, secrets and insights about improvisation, show you YOUR next steps – and how you can take everything you learned in this challenge apply it to your creative goals and dreams. Hold your place and put it on your calendar – use the link at the top of this Home page.
LIVE WRAP-UP, NEXT STEPS in your Creative Adventure & GRAND PRIZE DRAWING!
Register for this Session at the Live Challenge Events link at the top of the page
This is where I share my own biggest lessons, secrets and insights about improvisation, show you YOUR next steps – and how you can take everything you learned in this challenge apply it to your creative goals and dreams. Hold your place and put it on your calendar.
==================================
Date: Mon. Oct. 16
Time: 2:30 pm EST. (time conversion tool: https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/ )
Use the link at the top of the page to link to the Zoom Room.
==================================
Make sure to clear your calendar and attend this 90-minute live call … there may not be a replay.
THE PRIZES: 2023 Harp Improv Challenge
- DAY 1: WINNER LISA DANOVICH – CONGRATULATIONS! You won a $50 Gift Certificate to Sylvia Woods HarpCenter.com
- PLUS Sylvia has a special gift for EVERYONE! You can get 15% off all Sylvia’s DISNEY books PLUS her original “Gecko Tails” book thru Oct. 31, 2023 – just enter the code “Disney” in the “Enter Promo Code” box on your shopping cart page and click “Enter Code” (ends October 31, 2023). Hear this personal message Sylvia made to tell you all about it!
- DAY 2: WINNER Rebecca Blakeney – CONGRATULATIONS! You won DHC’s “Tell Your Story with Music” Workshop Replay (from Somerset 2023) from SomersetHarpFest.com – this was a really great LIVE workshop – and YOU get the instant replay to watch again and again!
- PLUS Somerset Harp Festival has a special gift for EVERYONE! Get 10% off the Early Bird Ticket to Somerset Harp Festival 2024! Use the discount code Q3786QWE (This special link and code Somerset gave us lets YOU sign up before anyone else! We tried the code to make sure it works and it does!)
- DAY 3: WINNER ROBERT BUCHANAN – CONGRATULATIONS! You won a gift from Fairplay Harp School: Create your own Harp Ensemble with the 4-Book Bundle of Shelly Fairplay’s Harp Ensemble arrangements – valued at over $60.
- PLUS FairPlay Harp School has a special gift for EVERYONE! Make Your Own Harp Crown (great for children or just for fun) AND by special request (from me!) Shelley’s “First Steps in Harp Technique” poster
- DAY 4: WINNER ROMANA BUAISCIA – CONGRATULATIONS! You won a $50 Gift Certificate to PacificHarps.com
- DAY 5: WINNER IRIS JACOB-MIKOLEIT – CONGRATULATIONS! You won a $50 Gift Certificate to HipHarp.com – Digital Catalog (Sheet Music & Recordings)
GRAND PRIZE: 2023 Harp Improv Challenge
Congratulations Julie Lynn Parsell!
- 3-FULL MONTHS of HIP HARP ACADEMY MEMBERSHIP
- Special Bonus Gift from our Hip Harp Extended Harp Family: A PRIVATE 1-on-1 with the Legendary Sylvia Woods on Skype or Facetime
A note from our friend Sylvia Woods about her special BONUS gift to the Grand Prize Winner.
(See the Full Video Here)
More Videos from The Challenge
Q&A SESSION REPLAY (Thu. Oct. 12, 2023 – 3:30 pm)
[The video should show up just below, but sometimes it takes a little while to load]
In this video, I answered questions that came up from the challenge, and reminded everyone that Hip Harp Academy is now open for FALL REGISTRATION! This quarter we’ll be working on Hip Harp Toolkit: the flagship class of the Academy, which gives you a framework and tools to create your own spontaneous arrangements of any simple tune.
It’s THE most powerful class you can take heading into the Holiday season because it teaches you to quickly build a repertoire (imagine what it would be like to be able to easily improvise a whole Holiday repertoire).
Classes begin Oct. 16 and Academy Registration is going up Oct. 23 — so join us now to take what you’ve learned in the challenge to the next level at Hip Harp Academy and save $500 before the price goes up.
Q&A SESSION REPLAY (Sat. Oct. 14, 2023 – 3:30 pm)
[The video should show up just below, but sometimes it takes a little while to load]
This was our second Live Q & A Session for the 5 day Harp Improv Challenge.
Classes begin Oct. 16 and Academy Registration is going up Oct. 23 — so join us now to take what you’ve learned in the challenge to the next level at Hip Harp Academy and save $500 before the price goes up.
GRAND PRIZE DRAW & WRAP-UP REPLAY (Mon. Oct. 16, 2023 – 2:30 pm)
[The video should show up just below, but sometimes it takes a little while to load]