Describe your final project so I know exactly what you’re sending me.

New Blues Lite, from Blues by the dozen.

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

Learning rhythms in SHJ has really helped.  Feed back from my half-bake, that repeating the same pattern is OK, which I’ve used in the improv.  Even though this is different to my half-bake it is the same tuning and so I could use the same chords.

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

I couldn’t even figure this tune out last year, so being in the Academy another year has been helpful.  I’ve learnt so much more this time around.  I find doing the video gives me a better idea of how it is sounding.

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

I still have trouble maintaining the rhythm and not going faster throughout the tune.  The count in was something I’d struggled with before but with practice I found it worked.

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

Putting in an improv on the chords,  and doing the same pattern with my right hand.  I thought this might be boring but it seemed to work. 

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

The rhythms have been great, even walking out the rhythms as I walk around the farm. (Animals looked at me a bit funny!).  Hearing blues, jazz etc on the radio and understanding what they are playing.  Hearing the 12 bars, blues riffs, jazz arrangements & improv.

What were your personal “Ahas”?

The “count in”, it used to put me off and I would always play the wrong notes when I started.  It worked this time with some practice, and helped me “feel” the rhythm.   Also just getting the tune and working out how to play it.

Is there anything else you want people to know when they watch your video?

Hope they enjoy it and that I have done justice to this tune.  I loved the cascading notes, the tuning, chords and rhythm.

Ma voie_voix texte

Describe your final project so I know exactly what you’re sending me.

This song is an answer on Who are you at the harp? It is not THE answer, it is the answer that is the closest to who I am at the harp in this moment…. As life moves on, with its changes, reflexions, growth, …. so will this song…. 

Attach your homework in PDF or JPEG format here:

Ma voie_voix texte.pdf

Describe your written materials – if there’s anything in particular you want to say about it to help people know what they’re looking at, add that here.

I’ve put the text of my song with a translation…. not sure it is the best translation…. but it allows to get a sense of what it is about….

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

Who are you at the harp??? This was the big question of my summer…. I couldn’t answer it at first, I felt lost… but thanks to the chats and this beautiful course, I found a way back to myself…

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

After not being able to answer the question, I couldn’t create my own thing… so I played with the videos of the course, tried out a lot of things DHC advised, enjoyed a lot the chats and the musics, creativity, thoughts of the group… Then suddenly it just came….. in the beginning slowly then bit by bit faster…..

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

I realized I was very scared to use my voice while playing…. in front of other people…

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

In the beginning I hated listing to myself singing… But I am so convinced that our voice is a way to show us the way to go….. I tried to understand why I hated it…. this was a nice journey, but not an easy one…..

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

All parts…. Who are you at the harp? can become who are you in all other parts of your life….. What is the difference between who you truly are in the deepest of your soul and what do people expect you to be….. It helped me to recenter myself in a very nice, warm, positive way

What were your personal “Ahas”?

Keep in touch with your soul, your deepest self! Something I actually knew already, but sometimes I get caught up in life and forget it…..  
This was the perfect moment to get a reminder….

Is there anything else you want people to know when they watch your video?

My dream was to be able to make the video in the woods on a path, reflecting the path or way we are walking on in this life…… I also wanted to have microphones, etc… to have a better sound….one day this video will come……

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

I used the principles of: 1) getting to know I song I “don’t like”; 2) Red River Valley is a 1, 6, 2, 5, 1 progression.  I used DHC’s jazz harp warm up exercises in modulation to explore this tune more.

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

I have never liked this tune before..at all.   But when I researched it’s history and learned more about the tune, I came to respect it, which helped me think more about it and from there I got a feeling about it.

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

The fact that Red River Valley was based on the first progression we ever learned and have played before, was very helpful.  That progression is in my head, heart and fingers. I struggled with how I was going to get the jazz harp warmup into the tune because I just love that warm up.  I connected with using substitution chords.  I really enjoyed that and resolving them as well.

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

I have changed the arrangement from the half-baked.  I have started in BFlat and modulated to E flat, where in the beginning I did the opposite.  This is because I took DHC’s advice to heart and played a simple melody of the tune (there are many slightly different Red Rives out there) and I wanted that in BFlat because I wanted the more lush sound of EFlat to go out on. Switching the orientation was difficult for me.

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

I have become more accepting of myself, where I am in my playing, and as a result, I could do the recording in one take and not worry about its “quality”, or mistakes.  I can play while neighbors are walking by and not get frazzled by it. More importantly, I get the sense that I am headed somewhere…..

What were your personal “Ahas”?

My personal AHA is don’t dismiss any tune.  To do so…may mean you are missing out.

Is there anything else you want people to know when they watch your video?

I felt bad at the half-baked when I could not share what I was doing because I didn’t know!  With this recording, I start the tune in BFlat and move through with the straight 1, 6, 2, 5 using 7th chords.  The second round (this tune is A and chorus and that’s it), I pretty much stay with that but sometimes use substitutions chords, but it is direct and very simple.  In moving to the EFlat key, I created a theme (of that the three note “sound” that DHC has in the warm up) and then moved from the G7 to e7 back to G with the 7th, the F to get into the DHC warm up moving me to EFlat.  When I get to EFlat, I just play the B which is the set up for the melody in E Flat and then get going in E Flat.  I use more substitutions in EFlat and eventually the G chord which needs a resolution of the BFlat to B natural.  This got rather loud in the video so it is easy to spot!  To close, I keep using DHC’s jazz warm up as a theme and move from vi to IV to ii and then to I and out.

Describe your final project so I know exactly what you’re sending me.

Animal Harp Blues – a Mucking Out Song

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

Learning the basic form of the blues, rhythm, slap bass and stride bass.

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

At first it took lots of repetition, thinking and counting out loud to get into the rhythm until it suddenly internalized.

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

I struggled a lot with the singing. I felt blocked to just let it go. Trying to make it comical and funny gave me more freedom to play around with the piece.

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

A challenge was to cut and edit the video. This was a complete new field for me and I only had one day time to do it.

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

When listening to blues or jazz in the radio or elsewhere I now suddenly realize the patterns in it. 

What were your personal “Ahas”?

Things go easier when having fun with it. Playing around leads to more creativity.

Is there anything else you want people to know when they watch your video?

Watch the video to the very end. –> Lift-off!

Describe your final project so I know exactly what you’re sending me.

Carol still trying to find her groove.  This video was a total spur of the moment thing.  I was completely frustrated with something unrelated, and decided to take a break and play around with my groove video.  It turned out a little long, so you will see some edit cuts.
 I tried to do a more polished version, but lost the spontaneity each time I tried.  

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

I tried to put what I’ve learned into the video by describing what I was doing.  There is a lot missing — like changing the chords in the right place and making it 12 bars long.  I figure that will be my task for next year.

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

No issues logistically.  Emotionally, I was able to do a spontaneous video pretty easily.  the big challenge for me is being able to do a more polished version while keeping the spontaneity!  How does one do that?

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

I loved just sitting down at the harp and going with the flow.  The big challenge was trying to make it better and still sound natural.

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

I don’t think I met the challenge of improving the video while maintaining freedom of expression.  

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

I am just feeling more and more that my harp and I can work together as a team.

What were your personal “Ahas”?

My “aha” was that I could actually turn my half baked into a beginning final project.  Thank you, Deborah, for suggesting singing.  The singing was definitely not my best, but I sure had fun — especially with the do dah part.

Is there anything else you want people to know when they watch your video?

Probably rubbing your nose in the middle of a video is not the best thing to do, But I didn’t want to put in any more jerky edits than I already had. 

Describe your final project so I know exactly what you’re sending me.

Based on the “Orpheus” road map, I play once through the progression while my daughter improvises a recorder solo.  (There are no vocals and no use of previously copyrighted material.)

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

This was the most spontaneous final-beginning project I have done.  I played in a location (a local beach park) where I’ve never recorded before; and I have a guest artist (my daughter) improvising on recorder with me, which I didn’t know would happen until we got to the park.  This video was just our second take (in the first take I forgot my hat).  Lots of Academy learning is incorporated here: the idea of roles (harp leaves room for the solo recorder), keeping a steady groove while playing with a partner, accepting imperfections, not playing more but hiding less, and embracing the unplanned opportunity while using the skills I currently have.

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

Lots of practice and experiences made this possible.  I had played and sung the piece many times on my own, to the point that I was reasonably comfortable with it and had a basic plan for what to do in my 3-minute allotment.  I severely modified my plan when my daughter agreed to play with me in the video, but at least I knew I had some elements to incorporate and I knew the approximate duration of the song.  Also, because she and I have done a lot of musical practice together before, I knew we would be able to stay together and read each other’s cues well enough.  While we were in the park but before we recorded, we got a nice emotional boost from a curious child (“Where did you get that?  How do you play it?  Can you play actual songs on it?), so I felt mostly relaxed and happy.  Logistics-wise, I am so happy I have a harp cart, because it is a long walk from the car to the beach area and I wanted to play on my 35 pound (16 kg) harp..

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

Any time I play when others can hear me, I have a bit of a struggle with my natural inclination to hide.  I don’t think that struggle will ever go away entirely.  But on the other hand, when I can convince myself to dive in and act like I’ll manage just fine (that part has gotten easier over the years), then I can relax and have fun.  I find it really uplifting to interact with the curious youngsters, who just want to know about what there is in this world and don’t have expectations of perfection.

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

I found it a challenge, as usual, to keep the video short.  I had to decide what aspects I wanted to focus on.  That’s always a good exercise in any project.  In this case, I decided to focus on the steady progression of the tune (just one time through the chord changes), setting up the mood, and supporting my musical partner.

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

I am generally getting more comfortable playing in front of people even if I don’t have a firm plan.  I think that confidence extends a bit to other areas beyond music.

What were your personal “Ahas”?

I love my daughter and the fun we have making music together.  I already knew that, but it’s still an “aha.”  Apart from that, I have learned that frustration often means that I am near to a breakthrough.  In this case, my breakthrough was in remembering the chord progression and being able to play it with different finger patterns.

Is there anything else you want people to know when they watch your video?

The song we’re playing is based on the “Orpheus” road map.  Although I do like to sing the song, this video is purely instrumental.  Kalinda is improvising on the recorder never having seen the road map and never having played through this song with me before.  Can we say “proud Mom”?

Describe your final project so I know exactly what you’re sending me.

My biggest discovery from this summer. I’ve learned I like jazz, blues is cool and improvisation is fun. But mostly I learned it’s okay to be me.

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

I learned to enjoy playing again – the ideas and techniques were great, but the sharing and feedback really made an impact on me.

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

Learning to let go, strive for expression and not perfection. Learning to be okay with how I look and sound and perform – just as I am at this moment int time.

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

I really struggled with taping myself, trying to make something as perfect as I could. I realize that that wasn’t the main purpose of doing homework, but I had it stuck in my mind.

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

Talking and speaking in front of people, actually singing – that was a real challenge for me. 

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

Learning to express myself, and that’s okay to be me. A million years ago I played something for the Reverend of my church and the assistant. Instead of playing the simple arrangement that was written out,  played arpeggios as the accompaniment. The Reverend remarked, “She’s really good!” To which the assistant replied, “no, she’s just running chords.” I almost stopped playing immediately- I didn’t but it affected my view of playing for more than 59 years.

What were your personal “Ahas”?

I am okay as I am – how I play, how I look and that it’s okay to play for me and music is fun. I don’t need to be a concert harpist, or even stuck in a Celtic rut because that’s what people expect when they see my harp.

Is there anything else you want people to know when they watch your video?

This is not the direction I had originally planned for my final beginning project. I sat down and taped once and expressed my feelings. Hopefully they are clear (I did add one special effect.) Getting to this point for me is a major move toward continuing to be myself.

Describe your final project so I know exactly what you’re sending me.

I wrote a melody, The Untethered Harpist, and submitted it for the Half-Bake. I have tried to incorporate requested feedback from DHC that essentially was to include some improv noodling with C and F chords. I am still working on this piece, but made a video to submit tonight as I received a message to, indicating a time extension.

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

Using an adaptation of the 5-Part Form, I had an intro, a melody, an improv, and then went into a shortened melody and ending. Total time: 3:16. I made a video trying to incorporate some left hand notes and some right hand noodling, and accepted some notes that differed from the page, esp. after the improv, thus combining some melody and ending notes, not at all what I had intended. LOL! 

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

Essentially, I had to accept that I was “off-script” and punt in areas that I kind of lost track of the melody line. This got worse as I neared the ending, and I just wanted to keep going, rather than redo it.

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

I had to let go of any predetermined ideas of getting it right before submitting the video.

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

The biggest challenge has been to get the video uploaded – AGAIN!  I also am challenged getting the left hand added to the melody line and getting the melody into correct notation with timing, etc. Mostly because it just takes so long, but also problems with a notation program that ultimately should save time. 

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

It just takes me so much time to try to upload the video and to fill out these forms, after trying whatever I can manage to do before recording. It impacts my life in shortening the time I can spend on other things I need to do. Every now and then, everything goes well, and even the upload goes amazingly well! I am aiming for more times like that!

What were your personal “Ahas”?

I am getting better at continuing to play without grimacing at every mistake, though I feel kind of thrown still when I realize I have lost track of the right note or timing and then trying to figure out what to do to carry on.

Is there anything else you want people to know when they watch your video?

It’s definitely a work in progress!

Describe your final project so I know exactly what you’re sending me.

I tried to make a kind of blues out of this 12 bares with singing – the First time! – and music. I know not at all perfect,  but i like to try out things.
Help: i made 12 bares plus a 4 Bar repetitive part. Is this working? What to do to make it more “spicy’ more blusy ? Any further Inputs are welcome! Thank you

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

Well only the 12 bares accords as i only Partizipation the last 3 weeks.

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

Logistically: to think over what i want to to. Then to realize that i am not able to to it in one take, therefore i made two films one with bass and accompany and the other with singing and impro.
Emotionally: shall i sing, my english and my voice does not sound blusy, i should try it louder, more freely, but my neighbours, aso.

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

Just go one, accept my imperfection, do the best out of it and have fun learing and doing

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

I dont kwow if i understand the question right?
I have an idea in my mind, this inspires me, i try to realize it, unfortunately it is never as good or at least different, than i wanted, and then go on with that.

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

I hade a funny evening with a friend, because we were discussion about what is blues and how to come into that feeling.

What were your personal “Ahas”?

Just go on, relax while playing the blues but know the Form.

Describe your final project so I know exactly what you’re sending me.

“Blues Before Sunrise” 
Intro, Melody sung, 3 choruses, Melody sung, Ending 

I transposed this so I was able to sing it in my range. 

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

Enjoy the process! 
Do what you are comfortable doing.
Feedback was very important and helpful.
Follow the given structure, or not.

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

Blues music was new to me. In addition to the lesson modules, I listened to different artists on YouTube to understand Blues more deeply. 

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

I pushed myself to sing. This was very hard for me, but the more I practiced, the easier it became. I needed to loosen up.

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

I’m used to being optimistic and positive, not quite a Pollyanna though. It was hard to sing sadly.

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

Don’t get down on yourself when you make mistakes in anything you do.

What were your personal “Ahas”?

Blues music is actually easier to play, due to the specific structure and repetitions. Singing, not so much. Sung notes and rhythms seem to not have a pattern, or maybe that is the pattern.

Describe your final project so I know exactly what you’re sending me.

My work in progress on this progression – Fly Me To The Moon

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

Principles applied were mainly breaking down the chords of this progression into the simplest forms and patterns, finding the roles – accompaniment vs melody, and improvisation. They will continue to play a role in my process as I work toward mastering this tune.

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

This performance is a rough diamond but I am determined to know this progression inside out. Yet the many times of having worked through it, singing or not, I still don’t know it. I needed to submit something and this is surely a work in progress not unlike Autumn Leaves which I continue to work on and discover. I do think I perform this piece better in front of an audience than doing a video. ENgaging an audience fuels me to play with lots of feeling and as much finesse I can muster. It is a high that invigorates and inspires. I believe I do better with that kind of condition rather than in front of my computer. I might make a vow to do a video a week to get over my phobia!

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

Not knowing the progression by heart is a blockage to a smooth flow in the presentation. This song I continue to study and take apart and put back together. When I’m doing a video I have trouble with flow – I have trouble ignoring the production aspects and details. It is a definite block for me.

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

The very issue of not feeling the free flow. I dread self- video performances and repeatedly put it off to the very last minute.

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

I play music for parties, events, and performance presentations for senior living, assisted living and memory care. This class – all the classes and jams – keep me open to new perspectives of playing this instrument. I am a better singer than a harp player. Both disciplines require intense concentration while in performance and still making it look easy and fun. (I always ask myself “are you having fun?”) I work hard at the harp trying to keep it simple for my voice. However, I love improvising on the harp and want to play jazz as well as sing jazz. New career, ambition, reinvention and lots of work!

What were your personal “Ahas”?

I need to know this progression better especially to sing with it. And try to play it slow, leave space, and abandon what is hard.

Harp to Heart Concert Program

Describe your final project so I know exactly what you’re sending me.

Clips from my recent concert and identifying the HHA classes they were inspired by.

Attach your homework in PDF or JPEG format here:

Harp to Heart Concert Program.docx

Describe your written materials – if there’s anything in particular you want to say about it to help people know what they’re looking at, add that here.

Concert program

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

The Strings of Passion were prominent in my mind when preparing for the show, especially Roles (when playing with others), character (what to embody in each piece), and putting it all aside on the day of the concert and just go for the lift off!

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

Lots of logistics for playing with others! Emotionally I started to panic 2 months before the concert date realizing what i had taken on. 

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

Four main fears:

What if it’s really hot?
What if a string breaks?
What if I don’t feel well?
What if it rains.

They all showed up.

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

Sound rehearsal was done in 94 degree weather, was not a problem.

A string broke the week before the concert, for the first time i changed it with ease so no more fear.

I didn’t feel well the entire week before the concert, wasn’t able to practice much. I saved my energy for the concert and went through things in my mind.

Big rainstorms the day before, with flash floods and roads closed. Skies cleared and we decided to proceed. For the concert, the weather was perfect!

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

Trust. Big lesson in trusting myself and my inner guidance, especially as i recently retired and face a new chapter in my life.

What were your personal “Ahas”?

I LOVE performing with others! It’s been hard to do that during this time, but i really want to collaborate more with others.

Is there anything else you want people to know when they watch your video?

The complete concert is on my YouTube channel, Char on the Harp

Here is the playlist link:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkuMs_ZgJhSr6wssKj1dyva4R1XG81KJc

Describe your final project so I know exactly what you’re sending me.

This video is a shortened version of a whimsical song I wrote several years ago during a solo bicycle trip through the mountains.
I called it ” Rolling Down the Road Bicycle Blues.”
At that time, I had no real knowledge of a ’12 Bar Blues’ format. I was just making up a tune in my head that I thought sounded like a blues.

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

I thought the tune fit into an approximate 12 bar blues format. Although fairly simplified, I tried to incorporate a slap bass and chord accompaniment to the harmony of my voice. There is a little embellishment with flattening a few notes for fun and a blues flavour.

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

Well, first of all, I had to remember how the tune went and figure out the key and chords to use on the harp! I practised it in its longest form several times.
Then I decided to shorten it to one verse and two choruses just to make it easier on the viewers/ listeners in the Academy!
Finally I had to figure out the logistics of the video’s visual presentation and, after a few tries chose a casual sporty look and background to go with the nature of the song.
Emotionally, it kept taking me back to that special time long ago when the spirit moved me to Write the lyrics, sitting in a field by a country road, bike propped up against a tree.

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

I felt a bit anxious about using and singing my own little tune and simplifying it even further for the video.
And, then using my own voice as the harmony.

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

Just trying to relax, get into the ‘groove’ mentally and physically and just have fun!
Oh yes, and trying to find the right hat.  Haha

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

I enjoyed feeling the beat and engaging with my harp with more physicality than I have in the past…….getting into a ‘groove’ with head, shoulders, feet.

What were your personal “Ahas”?

I was surprised how much fun it was to take one’s own material, no matter how short and simple, and give it a bluesy embellishment.

Is there anything else you want people to know when they watch your video?

Originally, a zillion years ago, I sang this song accompanying myself by strumming chords on a guitar. Using what I learned in your class I think I was able to enhance its Blues feel so much more.

Thanks Deborah and all my fellow classmates!

Describe your final project so I know exactly what you’re sending me.

This is a sampling of what I’ve been working on this Summer. I’ve been working with DHC & Verena to take DHC’s “Merceditas” that was scored for harp & orchestra and play it as harp solo. This is a short snippet of the piece that contains the two sections where the melody was originally played by the orchestra but adapted to be played on the harp (0:11 to 0:41 / 1:28 to 2:23).

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

I’m not sure I used principles from the specific summer classes though I did use principles I picked up from the Academy in general. Mainly, I tried to let go of my perfection obsession and accept imperfect completion. I can do that in a live performance but have a difficult time with that when recording.

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

I had to alter what was in the written score, which was difficult for me as a strict, classically trained player.

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

I’m not comfortable notating music and convinced myself that I could not possibly do it. However, I realized I needed to write down what I had played to perverse my adaptions. I forced myself to just sit down and notate my ideas. It was a struggle, but I managed to get something on paper.

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

I think the challenge was to take a written score yet put something of myself into it while still playing much of what was on the page. I’m very comfortable playing from a score but was able to move out of my comfort zone to adjust the harp part to play the melody where the ensemble originally had done so.

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

I’m realizing that I have something to share and am trying to cope with of my fear of doing so. I managed to record the entire movement in one take, which is difficult for me in a video since I keep wanting to stop and “fix” things. I was able to push through, accept the mistakes and make a completion.

What were your personal “Ahas”?

I can achieve much more than I think is possible.

Is there anything else you want people to know when they watch your video?

This is from a recording I made of the entire movement, which runs a tad over 8 minutes. I’m including a link for those interested in seeing this in its entirety. https://youtu.be/z80M_g2MgaE

I want to thank DHC for sharing this beautiful piece and working with me & Verena to adapt it to play as a solo.

Satie & Pachelbel’s Jazzy Love Child

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

I haven’t made it to many chats lately, but when I have I’ve been so inspired by the variety and originality in the videos shared.

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

Logistically I suddenly realised the first melody of Satie’s Gym 1 could be played over the Pachelbel’s Canon chord sequence. I’ve been improvising on that for some time with all the chords extended to 7ths, but in 4/4 not 3/4 as I’ve done here. Emotionally: the spontaneous decision to submit a project at the last minute felt cheeky!

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

I connected with my joy of creating 7th chords on lever harp and how free that feels. Block: I was planning on doing my arrangement of Over the Rainbow, brewing since mid-2020 and still not ready to unleash!

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

Mainly getting it done in time, but this is a great process in not being too precious about doing lots of takes etc.

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

I squeezed in making this vid among other pressing tasks, including the deadline for migrating my website as Adobe closes their hosting, and it felt goooood!

What were your personal “Ahas”?

It’s safe to experiment in HHA!  🙂

Is there anything else you want people to know when they watch your video?

That I’m very open to other ideas for whimsical musical hybrids.

Describe your final project so I know exactly what you’re sending me.

A sheep was dying, as i sat with them with one hand playing the harp and the other giving reiki, four notes came to me and I sang a universal mantra to the notes. When the sheep had died I continued to sit and play with the tempo changing. I also reflected on their cheeky nature. All three stages are in this piece using just the four notes. Living, dying and transcending! I start with Dying then go to Transcending with a cheeky life reflection thrown in. I respectfully share this simple ode in loving memory. I submit it because I don’t have to. Thank you.

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

I chose to keep within the four notes I was given and expanded on them very simply. The left hand provided a home base. The right expressed the emotion. I played with a few of the course suggestions: both hands playing together; one hand then the other; providing a little right hand run; singing and playing; acknowledging the audience by looking up; keeping it within my comfort zone. 

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

I had to be able to get past my critical mind which kept stopping me from having a go. I had to try to put the music together so I used my memory to reconnect with the sheep.

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

I had to get past the memory and fear of humiliation of not being good enough. I had to show myself and not mind if I am not liked for not being good enough. I gave an avenue to my child and adult to simply be. To share me.

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

Challenges:
how  to put my expression together musically.

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

All areas, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual have been affected by doing this project. I have tried to show this in the music. 

What were your personal “Ahas”?

I can do this, I am not a fraud, I can express and share through the medium of music.

Is there anything else you want people to know when they watch your video?

I prefer the rounds to be repeated more times to create more expression from the chanting. I shortened it for this exercise. I look forward to seeing what else I can do with this or to create a follow up piece from it.

Describe your final project so I know exactly what you’re sending me.

A brief harp intro to a short, spoken story that explains the significance of the song that follows.

Describe your written materials – if there’s anything in particular you want to say about it to help people know what they’re looking at, add that here.

A sketch drawing of the little church in Leet’s Vale where the family reunion takes place.

A photo of me with my baby grandson, as I explain to him that he is the next generation to “Keep the River Flowing” 

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

Prioritising CONNECTION over perfection
Just do something – SIMPLIFY what you are playing until you can do it smoothly and keep the flow going- maintaining the rhythm is very important
Telling a story alongside music
Being willing to be vulnerable
Transposing into another key.
Not playing the melody if you are going to sing the melody.

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

Be vulnerable and simplify.

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

This was an extremely emotional song for me to do.  It took me all day.  Initially I was playing something much more complex, in a different key and I wasn’t singing.

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

Emotional challenges.  Overcoming my desire to want this submission to be better than my last … it really isn’t (unless you consider more vulnerability and being real to be “better”)

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

I missed going to the beach with my family so I could stay home and do this. I felt like playing this song was something I needed to do, to honour the family tradition that I was grieving the loss of (the loss is greater than I mention in the video because my father is no longer with us).

What were your personal “Ahas”?

I have huge resistance to submitting something that I feel is “under par” technically.  This would be so much better if I could do videoing editing.

Is there anything else you want people to know when they watch your video?

Maybe by submitting this, someone who is resisting to post something (because they think it is not “good enough”), will go ahead and submit anyway.

Are you OK with me sharing your final project & answers to the 6 questions on my blog (or just sharing your answers to the 6 questions if you didn’t submit a final-beginning project)?

Yes – and you’re welcome to use my full name

Describe your final project so I know exactly what you’re sending me.

I tried to play with harp and shakuhachi a jazzy  piece from Libanese origine. Shortened the first head to give space for the blown part.

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

The principles from inside jazz tunes. It was a challenge to find out which chords suited best. 

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

I had to keep to the chords together and the harp as quiet and steady as I could to give space for the flute. My lack of technique asked for some hard study on the harp and improvisation on the flute to cover up mistakes. 

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

My struggle to stay together with the harp, resulted in not giving enough attention at playing the notes on the shakuhachi in the correct western temperated pitch. 

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

I think I need to repeat this much more, then I now had time for, before I really can feel myself expressing freely in this piece. Playing together with your recorded self is a kind of static.

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

I got more free in adapting music along the way to suite me better

What were your personal “Ahas”?

Shakuhachi being a flute where you have to actively make your pitch perfect (like a violin has to), means I can’t quit dedicating ongoing time on pitch-control.

Is there anything else you want people to know when they watch your video?

This rendition is far from perfect, it for me really is a beginning. A starting point to try to implement all the great suggestions Deborah came up with.

Describe your final project so I know exactly what you’re sending me.

Autumn Leaves sung and played

Describe your written materials – if there’s anything in particular you want to say about it to help people know what they’re looking at, add that here.

I sing it in English and accompany myself with the harp. then a do a short comping section where I incorporate a rhythmic idea that DHC gave me in the last Monday chat. then I sing the chorus in French.

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

Noodling in the right hand over the chord progression: learning to improvise. 

Morphed the bossa beat into something else that worked for me: simplifying

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

The deadlines of the half baked and final projects got me to practice. Finding the right time of day in my yard to video. Owning up to feelings of love and loss in my life. Sharing myself with others.

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

I’m no good at rhythm on the harp. I cant play jazz.
I cant sing jazz.  It helped to receive encouragement after half baked to own what I CAN do and send it forth.

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

Embarrassed to show my feelings of loss and love.

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

The joy and freedom of being able to put a little groove into harp playing and share it. I want more!

What were your personal “Ahas”?

Maybe I can do this.

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

Get in a blues groove and keep working on it
Modules one and two can serve me for the rest if my life
Seeing other peoples’ work was encouraging 
I love the pentatonic scale form that you showed us.  I plan on using it foot

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

Logistically Will and I were in different physical spaces from time to time; he in the desert and me by the ocean which are 2 1/2 hours apart.  He is in the desert because his mother has come to live with us and her doctors are in the desert.
(We are blessed to have two homes and live in the best of both worlds).

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

Will was looking mad in the videos so I suggested that he get in character and the hat and the sunglasses did it!  He was groin”

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

I kept struggling with the notes and my fingers and tensed up instead of relaxing.

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

Will and I have decided to practice/play the blues together every day and continue to improve.  I told him the family that plays together stays together, and he agrees

What were your personal “Ahas”?

I can actually sit down and play with just a few clues, not the whole paper.  I have the riffs on a cheat sheet, and I can put them on my phone so if I want to play but am nervous that I will forget something I will feel confident since I have the riffs.  I have memorized the Melody and walking and slap bases and the chord progression so that is not a problem

Is there anything else you want people to know when they watch your video?

Will and I had fun.  What a blessing to have a man that enjoys music so much and will have fun and play with me.  We will continue to grow our blues piece together.  He does some guitar ballads with singing (he has a wonderful voice) and we are going to see where a harp can fit in.

Describe your final project so I know exactly what you’re sending me.

My final project did not get recorded. I am answering the seven questions below.

What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

I took the Hands on Harmony, Jazz warmups, Inside Jazz tunes course and learned how to play contemplative jazz chords. My goal was to learn the Bossa Nova  nova rhythm and play Black Orpheus. The roadmap helped but I will have to practice a lot more to get the Bossa Nova  rhythms. I listened to a lot of music to learn this but it will take persistence to learn it.

Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

I felt frustrated because I had physical obstacles from vaccine n chemo side effects that caused pain in my hands, so I was not able to do what I set out to do. It will take patience and persistence to get the Jazz chords at a decent speed so I can play for people and not put them to sleep.

Also, I can hear the magic in this song, spent time seeing the movie and even listened to Perry Como’s version, but I am not yet advanced enough to arrange the elements to convey the essence of the song: a heart’s wish for a true love at Carnival time, a wish that was granted yet turned tragic. I just did not have the skills to do the song justice.

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

The freedom comes from knowing that I do believe I can learn how to advance the arc of this song through practice and that it is a process. To give it time. Taking time to play and listen to the Bossa Nova rhythm. How to take a song with magic that turns tragic interesting without turning it into a dirge.

What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

Again, it was frustrating to aim high and come up short but it is truly a final beginning and I know what I must do.

What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

I listened to famous jazz artist Bill Evans and his trio and would love to be able to connect with the music like he did. It was inspiring and opened Nee opportunities to connect with other jazz artists.

What were your personal “Ahas”?

That all the research and time that I put in will come back to me and that my aural imagination has expanded.

Is there anything else you want people to know when they watch your video?

No video yet.