How to enjoy these wonderful video shares:

Enjoy the creativity and the willingness to share. Think about the fact that each of these videos is a unique creation – none of these musicians are playing written sheet music – they’ve created these arrangements by learning the fundamentals of arrangement and improvisation and putting them into play – literally – in their own creations. And notice how different each video and each project is from the others … and yet they were all taking the exact same class.

This is the power of learning the tools of self-expression and creativity. 

“Final-Beginning” is a term we use remind ourselves that these are not meant to be “Final” projects. If we worry about making them ‘FINAL’, we’d never share!  Instead, we learn to embody a moment of completion as a new beginning: to acknowledge an accomplishment as something that opens up a new door, a new place to stand in, a new level of confidence – not the FINAL – it’s not the END … but the new BEGINNING.

So think about that as you watch them and read their own account of their personal creative journey in creating each video by clicking the toggle beneath each video – and I encourage you to do that if you really want to be inspired.

Some of the players have played for years, and even decades – some have come to the harp as adults – some even as a retirement gift for themselves.   We’re a community connected by a commitment to creative expression. Every week we meet for masterclasses and training, and during the week we practice the new ideas and the willingness to be vulnerable, authentic and self-expressed with our instruments, our voices and ourSELVES.

So be inspired by that commitment, let it infuse your own life – and if you play the harp, come join us at Hip Harp Academy.

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

I’m playing my own piece of music with aerial footage of the Wairau River where I live in NZ.
The video was taken using a drone to get the feeling  of a bird flying over the river.

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 started this quarter with a splotch drawing and started to see patterns created by the paint. From that experience I created patterns in music.  I used the 5 part arrangement,  and improv with chords.   Ideas from snippets,  clusters and a bridge, and repeated phrases.    I have the lower octaves  in A harmonic minor,  (G# )and the higher octaves in A minor.

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

I started with  a melody with Am and Em, then a bridge using Dm, Am, Em.  I just played with ideas without any purpose, more like a child having fun.  I was so surprised when it came together and sounded like music.

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

Having the structure of the 5 part arrangement and repeating phrases and patterns gave me the freedom to just have fun and explore . I didn’t have any expectations of being able to complete a piece of music, so it was a surprise when it sounded OK.

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

I’ve called the piece “A Moment in Time” as I realised as we get so busy in our lives it’s hard to take a moment in time to see what is around us. It has given me more appreciation of the beauty that is around me.

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

I wouldn’t have achieved this project without being in the Academy.  Looking at music in a different way, all from the splotch drawing. Connecting my feelings with the music and  images of the river, like a bird flying.

What were your personal “Ahas”?

Gosh!  I can actually create my own music.  That’s amazing to me.

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

I want to make a suite of 3 pieces with the same theme and I already have a poem to go with music and images for the next piece.  I’ve never written poetry before but this is what happens in the Academy, all kinds of creative ideas start to emerge.

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

Kyrie Orbis Factor (Gregorian Chant)  [My Youtube name is Terra Bay]
This is a slideshow with solo harp audio.
[Please note:  I cannot attend Monday Chats this quarter, but would appreciate feedback, and will watch on the Replay]

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’ve tried to stay focused on keeping things simple, not worrying about what I can’t do or don’t feel great about, and working on staying present with the music while playing it, whatever happens.

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

1.  Recognizing that I really know and love this music.  2.  Doing both the technical and emotional work to keep recording and really listening and making changes till it sounded closer to what I want it to sound like.  
   3.  Making the scary leap to share this with others.  

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

Connected my head and heart about having sung this music for decades, and maybe I DO know this music well enough to transfer it to the harp and to share this outside a group/choir performance.

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

Switching back and forth from playing & managing recording is a challenge to stay focused on the music and not get frustrated by recording snafus.

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

Finding time to do the recording when the rest of the household and community sounds (ex., neighbor’s heating unit regularly cycling on and off) don’t end up on the recording.  

What were your personal “Ahas”?

Take a break from always pushing myself to keep practicing music that is on the leading (bleeding) edges of my abilities, and take more time to enjoy what you can already play well technically and with feeling.

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

Thank you all for your half-bake feedback on this piece.  It meant a lot to me, and supported me to take the next steps to turn this into a video and share it outside the Academy.

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

My goal was to use my looper pedal in my Project. I took a Celtic melody, Arran Boat Song, started with a drum rhythm, and put in four tracks from different parts of the harp to enhance the melody. My family comes from Scotland and this tune is my husband’s favorite Celtic tune. 

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 the Strings of Passion helped me develop an action plan to complete this project. They are a guiding structure in itself.

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

I was introduced to the looper pedal in this class and was intrigued. I then researched the different styles, picked one, and learned how to use it. I enjoyed experimenting.

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

I felt I had more freedom to play while using the looper pedal, as I didn’t need to play everything at once. When I had recorded each track, I could forget about it and add other tracks on top until there was a full sound.

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

My biggest challenge was learning how to use the looper pedal. The directions were not clear, but by watching a few YouTube tutorials on my specific model and asking AI questions that weren’t covered, I was able to figure it out. It was also a challenge to record using two cameras and putting them into iMovie. 

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

Life lesson-Somethings feel overwhelming at first, but if you deconstruct, breaking them down into manageable parts, you find they become doable. 

What were your personal “Ahas”?

The looper pedal expands what I can play.

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

I appreciate the many ideas coming from everyone in the class. I believe this process makes all of us richer.

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.

This is the song I started for my half-bake. I finished it, but I have bronchitis right now (Friday) so I can’t record it. In the meantime, I’m including the lyrics and chords.

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 wanted to include a gliss. I played with doing the whole bridge as glisses, but decided one introductory measure was better. I also super simplified the climbing and falling inversions to be on the octave and NOT inversions.

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

Well, for the half-bake I was still quite sad, I’m hoping when I record the whole song after I’m better, I can find places to smile. (un-inverting the inversions helped, too!)

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

I wanted to described EVERYTHING about Amanda, but there is too much for one song. I had to let go of that notion because the song is enough as it is. It evokes her and people can fill in their own memories of what was important about her (I did include things other people have said about her – just not EVERYTHING)

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

see the last answer

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

I already knew that writing songs is cathartic for me when I’m upset, but I saw that it helped others in my chorus as well (I sent out the 1/2 bake)

What were your personal “Ahas”?

see the last answer

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

hoping to get the video up before all the 1/2 bakes are shown….maybe I’ll have sometheing to say about it once I film it….

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

Musical Meaning
This is a video I made a couple weeks ago and shared with all my Episcopal clergy colleagues.  (I got permission from Elizabeth Louise to use her harp arrangement of the hymn, “Here I Am, Lord”):
I am sharing it with you all because in the midst of what is happening in the United States, I am asking:  “what can I do?”  Playing this particular music is giving me an anchor.
It is the lyrics of this hymn that moved me to create the video (and a sermon* I preached):
I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry,
All who dwell in dark and sin my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night. I will make the darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?  Whom shall I send
Here I am, Lord.  Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.

*Based on Isaiah 6:1-13

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 to heart Deborah’s invitation to reflect on meaning.

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

This video speaks to where my head is right now.

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

I felt that doing this video was a way to share my thoughts and feelings with others in this crazy time in the USA — through music.

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

It was freeing to do this video.

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

the importance of meaningful expression

What were your personal “Ahas”?

using music to communicate — an important channel for communication

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

Creative Resonance Final Project

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?

Imperfection is allowed and encouraged, Keep patterns simple. Notice shapes and create shapes for simplicity and recall.
The five part structure of creating a musical piece.

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

Every time I played the song, I needed to change something, didn’t like the way it sounded. 
Kept wanting to make it better. Became so complicated! Remembered to deconstruct and simplify. 

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

The end of the piece was improvised, did not follow the notes I had written. Was surprised it didn’t sound off. 

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

My own freedom of expression does not take into account the playability regarding sound and structure.

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

Love the word used by Deborah, Imperfection.
Everything does not have to be perfect. As a perfectionist, I’m still working on this concept. 

What were your personal “Ahas”?

The freedom of adding my improvised ending to my song. To notice shapes instead of names of notes. Simplify and play at your own ability.

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

I’m looking so serious, Tried a previous video where I looked up and half smiled, it was a little peculiar looking. My song has a repetitive pattern, not sure if the five part structure is defined enough. 

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

I wanted to develop a song for my friends to show appreciation for their friendship. I also wanted to sing with my project.

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?

Keeping it simple and focusing on what I wanted the message to be rather than trying to develop something that was technically intricate.

The class on Creating Meaningful Music really helped me alot as well as a session on office hours.

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

Follow my heart and trust whatever showed itself instead of trying to be analytical.

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

Feeling like I am enough and focusing on what my skill set was rather than trying to be something I’m notl

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

Accepting where I am with my harp skills.

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

I feel more confident in following my intuitive sense of what I want to communicate.

What were your personal “Ahas”?

I am Enough!

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

My inspiration came from knowing that my daughter, who lives alone, has warm supportive friends who have helped her through some difficult times and I know she has helped them through theirs as well.

Share the link to your video here:

https://youtu.be/h_CRDTVf0uw?si=Us4PoY9kY4nB2Mb4

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

A song – one of my goals set this quarter to learn two songs up to performance level. This is one! 
My Shining Star by Sandy Wright. 

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?

One if the chats lead to us making a commitment to a goal – mine was to get two songs onto my harp. I allowed my impulse to lead me to this piece – one I’ve listened to for some time and wanted to learn – I realised I had enough skill (using what I can do already, not what I dream of being able to do in a perfect world) to do a simple version of this lovely song. 

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

We have discussed in the classes the need to connect with what we are playing and to trust that our connection will transmit to those listening, so playing and singing this piece is all about that connection. This piece carries meaning – for me personally and also I hope for listeners.

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

Of course, as usual, I wanted it to be perfect. My recording isn’t, but it’s good enough.

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

I had to struggle a little to learn the words of the song – fighting to remember the words, and remember the chord progression sometimes got in the way of really expressing the meaning in the song; I wanted to get it to a point where the words came easily so the meaning could be fully expressed. Practicing it over and over helped. 

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

I haven’t had much time for the academy work and have missed a lot but I delivered on my goal, so I’m pleased enough with that. I’m pleased I showed up sufficiently to learn this song.

What were your personal “Ahas”?

I can learn words to a new song! (Even if it’s harder than it used to be)

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

The song is composed piece by a third party so copyright of Sandy Wrght.