Hip Harp Academy Weekly: When Coyotes Meet Syncopation

Today’s window into the Academy is from one of the Monday Chats. Each week in the Academy there are five live events, along with the many classes people can take. Note that the names of members have been changed … just for fun.

Talk about a musical safari! This week’s Hip Harp masterclass zigzagged between rhythmic revelations and wildlife encounters that had everyone wondering if we should be practicing with bear spray.

DHC demonstrated syncopation techniques that initially had members looking like deer caught in headlights. “I can’t coordinate my hands!” someone lamented, until DHC simplified the chord structures and suddenly harp players all around the globe were syncopating like they’d been born on the off-beat.

Maryanne’s quest for improvisation advice led to DHC’s perfect prescription: “Alternate between structure and chaos”—which coincidentally describes most Academy members’ practice rooms.

The looper pedal discussion revealed Lena’s concern about balancing sound levels on an RC-20, with DHC offering the (possibly questionable) zen-like wisdom to “stop worrying about perfect balance,” causing several members to have existential realizations about their entire approach to life.

Just when things couldn’t get more unexpected, the session morphed into “National Geographic: Harp Edition” with Reiko and Maureen swapping coyote horror stories from their backyards. Tammy one-upped everyone with bighorn sheep photos, while others debated the intelligence of turkeys versus prairie chickens—with prairie chickens unanimously voted “more stupid.”

Only at Hip Harp Academy could you learn syncopation techniques, looper pedal mastery, AND discover why you should never turn your back on a turkey.

P.S. In all fairness, the entire wildlife discussion took place after DHC left the chat, waving with her signature farewell “Go forth and harp on the good things in life”

Harpists Who Dare

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