Final-Beginning Collection 2025 Q2 – Part 3 [Member Spotlight]

This is the next part of the story of the little harp, this time the little harp is visiting a workshop together with the e harp

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 chord progression of the giggling cats and dogs

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

This time I struggled with both a lot of stress at work so hadn’t as much time as I would have liked to and with lots of technical problems as I tried to use videos from the workshop in Germany and then played along with my different harps

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

For me this experience of being individually and still becoming one was so dominant at the workshop that I wanted to honour it in a story, now it feels like I couldn’t get it through somehow.

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

When I finally knew what I wanted to do, I struggled with a lack of technical knowledge and finally when I had it all worked out the c string of the pedal harp snapped and I couldn’t get a replacement in time as there are some difficulties with getting strings in Germany at the moment, so finally I just included it into the story.

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

Enjoy individuality

What were your personal “Ahas”?

I need to give it time and let it ripen, then can get something done even when I feel completely not up to it.

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

I finally gave up at the point of getting the different harps rhythmically precisely together as I lacked the technical ability to get this working, so finally decided that it is good enough the way it is as with the resources I have at the moment I can’t do it better

This is my version of the Nataliana using the Score and Nataliana lead sheet in Eb with the B levers raised.

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 grounded expansion for this quarter was on the Nataliana melody and the sections that tied it together. I used the Nataliana beyond the page and other videos of others performing it and their coaching videos.

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

This quarter I worked on locating all the videos pertaining to Nataliana and took all the various ideas to take the Nataliana score and lead sheet and making a simplified version that I could play. This took splitting apart the different sections and working on fingering and then simplifying again for what i could do. This took patience and acceptance for what I could do.

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

I struggled with being patient, repetition, and perseverance. .

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

I worked on harmonics, arpeggios, fingering, and 6ths.

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

Learning that patience requires giving up self-criticism and letting go.

What were your personal “Ahas”?

That I can take a score that is hard, simplify it and still come up with something wonderful at my level.

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

Reaching out for coaching on the different sections and feeling comfortable with the feedback of others to apply to making my product better.

Here is the beginning of my story telling
First I Introduce my harp : Aurore
Then the street where the performance will take place : “Rue des orteaux : street of garden”, and the name of the Theatre :  Theatre of Echo.
At the end, I introduce the character I will play : Daphné.
I’am working on : how to ground me for the beginning of the performance.
I will show you next monday the beginning in the theatre with my ” costume”..
(NB : The video has been taken by my son Enzo, 11 years old, with a little bit of fantasy.)
It’s possible to listen to the 1st 90 s., and the last 90 s.
I have worked on grounding me : it is the direct continuation of our first encountering in zoom in may and I have worked on using glissando.

Attach your homework in PDF or JPEG format here:

Prelude-anglais-francais.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.

Here is the text the prelude of the story telling in french and in english.

The video is this prelude : ” a Aurore”
(Aurore is my harp)

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?

How to ground me.
How to feel the support chords represents ( not in the video I have sent now but in other moments of my work).
To become part of Hip harp academy helps me to go on ( “avancer”) in my project.

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

I am stressed by the performance for next thursday.
I have taken the custom ( from school, long time ago ), not to breath and to be straightened in my body, but at the same time I have been practicing for many years aikido and I know myself.
So this evening, my son wanted to see a film of louis de Funes, and I was watching it with him with my harp  and with my  text.
My son was laughing a lot during the film : it helps me to relax. And I was happy that he was ok to make the video for me.

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

The freedom of letting the harp singing, of doing a glissando like a gesture
I have spoken of the blocks before

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

Now my challenge is to do it Thursday with the audience and then keep following with the entire piece.
In this piece, I am speaking of my search for music, my search for the harp to be myself.
The story is the tale of Daphné : Daphne is my name in greek langage : Laure. Through her proofs, I am speaking about my own proofs

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

The performance I will play on thursday is impacted by what i learned in this class regarding the harp : to discover freedom with the instrument.
My private life is impacted too:
I am in a kind of moment of metamorphosis like the chrysalid. I have taken some radical decision because of the need of time to create: distance with my boyfriend  in that moment to be clear with myself and my need/ desire of music to become a way of life and proximity with my son.

What were your personal “Ahas”?

Ahas : it means : surprised ?satisfied
I am daring!
When I met with Deborah in France, I felt that I had to connect with her to awaken in me this audacity.

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

It’s the beginning of the beginning!
Next monday the video on stage
And It will continue

This is another piece that I improvised and recorded at the flute retreat in Los Angeles last month. It was performed in a chapel with natural reverb, so it felt like the sound was floating in the air, and seemed meditative. I added more photos that I took during my trip, as well as some taken locally and at home. The opening photo is of a wall fountain.

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?

Connection — not perfection: I did not have a plan when performing this, other than just trying to connect with the music myself, float with the sound, and to create something listeners could connect with.

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

I jumped in head first, eager to take advantage of having another opportunity to be professionally recorded. I tried to just get absorbed in the music.

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

It is always a struggle with two things — perfectionism, and being self-conscious on video.

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

I challenged myself to get out of my comfort zones — to be uncomfortable in order to accomplish something and move forward.

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

I feel like once you challenge yourself to do uncomfortable things, you move forward with more ease.

What were your personal “Ahas”?

The music does not have to be planned or fancy.

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

I am just learning more and more techniques and applications in video editing. This project was made by converting my video to audio, and pulling it into iMovie on the iPad. I am not comfortable with iMovie yet, but pushing through to learn more.

The very, very roughest final beginning, played on tongue drum, to which I’d like to add harp and crystal songing bowl.

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?

Repetitition and simplicity.

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 finalize decisions between versions! I also had to accept this stage of total imperfection in order to progress to a higher state of imperfection eventually.

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

I had to take my project to the garage to feel relaxed enough and less time-restrained, because the house has a very short and unpredictable timeframe of quietude. So, I expanded my workspace and timeframe in which I can focus.

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

The struggle to remain focused amid various time constraints.

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

I was reminded to place my own projects at the top of the totem pole, so I’d say that I was reminded to practice self respect.

What were your personal “Ahas”?

Be stubborn and stay true to my musical projects when others want my attention.

A final beginning project/homework piece

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?

Watching everyone’s projects in the chats and getting new ideas and different things I wanted to try. Also the snippet with the E and G chord

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

Setting a side time to play. Between my family and myself it’s been crazy busy. Emotionally remembering it’s ok to take time for myself. Prioritizing what I need to do and what isn’t as important.

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

Blocks – trying to find time for myself and to not feel guilty about taking time for myself. Freedoms – realizing I owe it to myself to take time for physical and mental/emotional health. If I don’t I’m not going to be worth anything to anyone else.

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

Challenges – being incredibly tired. Overextended and trying to entertain family for a week while facing health setbacks. Trying to find time for myself. Freedoms- Remembering how much I enjoy playing the harp.

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

Knowing it’s okay to be where I’m at now – not where I was 2 years or 20 years ago, or where I might be in the future. It applies to my playing as well as accepting my own current limitations and discovering my strengths.

What were your personal “Ahas”?

Playing makes me happy! I’m not alone with my feelings of not being enough. I’m part of a community and not alone. I don’t need to play everything perfectly note for note. Feelings and connections are important.  Not only connecting to others but also included  connecting to myself.

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

There was a time if someone asked me to play I drew a blank unless I had been practicing and had the music in front of me. In this video I just sat down and played bits and pieces I sort of remembered. I strung different pieces together ( not always as successful as I’d like)to make a complete piece,