DHC Ezine dated Tue., May 19, 2026
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- LIVE CONCERT in Los Angeles – Thu. Jun. 4th: Tickets here
- NEW CLASS! “Six tunes in Six Weeks”: Register here
- NEW Social Media Highlights: Check here
Have you ever declared that something is important to you … and then suddenly realized you’re not actually living that way?
In my last email, I talked about how important creative engagement is in everything I do. On stage, I’m creatively engaging in the moment — with my instrument, with the music, with the audience. When I’m composing, I’m creating vehicles for others to be creatively engaged. And when I’m teaching, I’m guiding people to discover their own ways of being creatively engaged.
And then there are times — like my TEDx talk — when I’m doing two at once. Or my “Seven Strings” musical keynote, where I’m doing all three at once.
But then I realized… I was being completely UNcreatively engaged with social media. Instead, I’d quietly slipped into trying to do it “correctly.” Which led to a very strange conversation with myself:
“But come on, DHC,” I said to myself, “if you can be creatively engaged with burnt food, what’s stopping you on social media?” (If you don’t know about the Burnt Food Museum, it’s one of my accidentally creative endeavors.)
“Well,” says I to me, “the great thing about burnt food is there’s no way to get it right. No algorithms. No best practices.”
…which is true.
But still, I decided to recommit to using social media as a place for exploration, conversation, curiosity and connection instead of trying to “do it right.”
And honestly? I’ve been having a lot more fun.
Here are some things I posted this week that I want to share with you:
SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
Jung at Harp Episode #215: Composing vs Improvising?
Normally on Friday mornings at 9:15-ish am, Jungian Psychoanalyst Kathleen Wiley and I record our podcast Jung at Harp. But when Kathleen is away like she was last week, I try to still hold the space.
You know I love questions, right? So when a new acquaintance on LinkedIn asked me which is easier: composing or improvising, I thought “Aha! That’s the question I’ll explore this week.”
I’m not entirely sure I answered his question… but it led into one of those wonderfully twisty conversations about creativity, psychology, storytelling and the strange ways music moves through us – which is exactly what Jung at Harp is supposed to be about.
Mother’s Day Special Livestream
On Mother’s Day, I did a livestream exploring how my mother shaped me as a composer, performer and educator in ways I hadn’t fully understood before.
Not just musically — but by showing me, from the very beginning, that combining storytelling, teaching and performing was simply a natural way to be human and self-expressed.
That realization opened up some fascinating memories and connections I’d never quite seen so clearly before.
LIVE ONSTAGE
Thu. June 4, 8PM PDT Los Angeles
DHC Live at the New Harp Center LA
“Dazzling harp playing, gorgeous jazz/pop singing, comic timing and impressive songwriting.” (Austin American-Statesman)
A stunning, intimate SOLO SHOW with Electric Harp, Voice, Stories & Humor. With music that blends influences from jazz, blues, Latin, flamenco, and musical theater.
Bring a friend. One of the best parts of a live show is who you experience it with.
- Get your tickets here
- $45 General Admission
- $35 Early-bird Price (until May 26)
- Use code CIRCLE (all caps) at checkout for extra $5 discount — because you ARE my inner circle!
NEW CLASS FOR HARPISTS
HARPISTS: Six Tunes in Six Weeks (using the Improv Rondo Method)
“This has helped me build up my repertoire so quickly and easily.” — Cherie Maffey
In six weeks, you’ll have six new tunes in your repertoire through the magic of “Improv Rondo”. It doesn’t require genius or virtuosity — or even an ability to read music well – but it will build both your creativity and your repertoire in 6 weeks.
On Stage
- Live in Concert in Los Angeles, CA
Thu. Jun. 4th: Tickets here - “My Life with Jean-Jacques Rousseau: A Musical Love Story” – Wed. Jul. 29, 2026 – Toronto, Canada: Save the date. (More info soon!)
In the Media
- All About Jazz Interview – Read here
- Authority Magazine Interview – Read here
- More Interviews – photos and stories
In the World
- Legacy Project coming soon: “Soñando en Español” and “Modal Improv Magic”
- Stay tuned and learn more
For Learning
- NEW LIVE 6-Week Class!
- “6 Tunes in 6 Weeks”: Improv Rondo Class
Runs Mon. May 11 – June 15
- “6 Tunes in 6 Weeks”: Improv Rondo Class
DEBORAH HENSON-CONANT
Composer · Performer · Harp Mentor
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