Pachelbel Beyond the Page ~ Marylin Waupoose

Pachelbel Beyond the Page ~ Marylin Waupoose

Oct 5, 2022 | , , , ,

“The bride was grateful and happy with how the harp looks and sounds, and she loved that I played the Pachelbel. She said that I made her wedding magical.” ~ Marylin Waupoose

Want to take a familiar piece of music beyond the page? That’s what Marylin Waupoose did. Here she presents an improvisation on Pachelbel’s “Canon in D’ that was recently performed at a wedding, in which the bride said it was magical.

 

 

Marylin is one of the daring harpists who are challenging themselves to develop new ways of self-expression in Hip Harp Academy by combining the skills and tools of improv with each person’s natural abilities and passions – creating new hybrids of expression that expand what it means to be a harp player.

Harpists who Dare!

Are you ready to liberate yourself from the notes on the page?

$500 OFF when you join before Midnight Oct. 23, 2023

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[Updated by DHC 231019]

If you love the PROCESS of learning, like I do – make sure you read on.  Whenever a member of the Academy shares a project, I ask them to share their process as well, because that PROCESS creates a gift of illumination for all of us about how we can approach any creative project ourselves.

 

MARYLIN SAYS …

“The bride said I’m what made the wedding magical.”

The bride said I'm what made the wedding magical. Click To Tweet

1. Describe your final project.

This is my Final-Beginning Project of Pachelbel Canon in D. It’s Beyond the Page in the Academy but is not a part of Baroque Flamenco. It is just my closest class description options.

2. 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 off improvising on a different chord progression for the introduction as per the chat feedback tips, then went into improvising different ideas from the chat using Pachelbel Canon’s chord progression before I started playing some of the written version of it. The Catch Up Coaching was helpful on how to video. I hardly ever use the landscape and so this time I videoed in the landscape position.

I was given wonderful tips that give me freedom to improvise on this piece. Click To Tweet

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

I re-listened to the chat session of the half-baked feedback several times and practiced a lot to get grounded in it as much as I can for the wedding I’m playing at next Saturday September 17th.

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

I was given wonderful tips at the half-baked chat that gives me freedom to improvise on this piece. The hardest part is flowing from the ending of one progression round to the next one (where I’m going next). I had been videoing myself this last week at every practice and then deleting it afterwards. The day before of the video that I’m submitting I had recorded myself only to realize that my phone had stopped recording right when I started to play and it was telling me that I had no more memory left in my phone. I didn’t think that I was going to be able to submit a video because of this issue. I was so thankful to find out last night that you have to go into your photo app and delete the videos from the deleted file that saves them for 30 days. I’m so happy to have a lot more memory space back and was able to submit this.

It is so fulfilling emotionally, mentally, and physically to be a part of this academy. Click To Tweet

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

I don’t care for my facial expressions. I’m still working on relaxing and breathing.

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

It is so fulfilling emotionally, mentally, and physically to be a part of this academy. This community is so beautiful and a safe place to grow.

7. What were your personal “Ahas”?

My aha was when I had my practice play for the wedding last night (Saturday evening) at the location of the wedding. Which is about 3 miles from my house out in the woods amongst the trees. My nerves calmed down while I was setting up, so I could go into playing being centered and feeling like I can do this. I played better than what I have been during my practice times at home. The bride-to-be was very grateful and happy with how the harp looks and sounds and she loves that I’m playing Pachelbel Canon. She said that I’m what is making her wedding magical.

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

I’m outside by my house while playing. It was a little too windy though.

A NOTE TO THE READER FROM DHC

Hey, thanks for reading this example of what it’s like to go thru a course with me! Did you have Aha’s or revelations watching the video & reading the answers she wrote? Add your comments below. Please – no critiques – just share what you learned from someone courageously sharing a project that’s the BEGINNING of a lifelong learning journey.

Check out the beginning of a lifelong #harp learning journey Click To Tweet

Want to do some courageous learning yourself? Click here to check out Hip Harp Academy where daring harpists get their creative wings.

Jolijne Viergever “Wretched Blues”

Jolijne Viergever “Wretched Blues”

Oct 4, 2022 | , , , ,

“It has given me more tools in my toolbox, which builds to the performer I want to be.” ~ Jolijne Viergever

Travel to “JoJo’s Lounge,” where Jolijne Viergever performs her sultry “Wretched Blues.” Jolijne uses harp, voice, looper, improv and costume to create the atmosphere of an old-time nightclub.

Jolijne is one of the daring harpists who are challenging themselves to develop new ways of self-expression in Hip Harp Academy by combining the skills and tools of improv with each person’s natural abilities and passions – creating new hybrids of expression that expand what it means to be a harp player.

Harpists who Dare!

Are you ready to liberate yourself from the notes on the page?

$500 OFF when you join before Midnight Oct. 23, 2023

>> REGISTER NOW <<

 

[Updated by DHC 231019]

If you love the PROCESS of learning, like I do – make sure you read on.  Whenever a member of the Academy shares a project, I ask them to share their process as well, because that PROCESS creates a gift of illumination for all of us about how we can approach any creative project ourselves.

 

JOLIJNE SAYS …

“As always, I’m very aware of myself on video, but decided to embrace it this time and show all of myself, which I used in the song.”

I'm very away of myself on video, but decided to embrace 
it this time and show all of myself. Click To Tweet

1. Describe your final project.

This is the final beginning of my ‘Wretched Blues, live recorded in Jojo’s Lounge…

2. 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 several vamps and some blues principles like bending notes and embellishments. Also, the key in which to play; setting the harp in C, play in D. Some things we talked about in the chat, attitude, presence, I happened to be working on and I used it in the song.

Playing and singing at the same time while connecting with ‘an audience’ is definitely something I want to work on and develop. Click To Tweet

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

Emotionally I had to overcome my reservations to play my DHC and use a looper. Logistically it took quite some time and help from my son to stage ‘Jojo’s Lounge’, which has led to some plans to change my music room to accommodate things in future.

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

As always, I’m very aware of myself on video, but decided to embrace it this time and show all of myself, which I used in the song.

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

Playing and singing at the same time while connecting with ‘an audience’ is definitely something I want to work on and develop. Also I videoed this in the evening because I wanted to set the sphere, but I realized that I’m not at my best playing at evenings.

I’m wearing my mum’s dress… when I was little, I thought she looked like a princess in it. Click To Tweet

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

It has given me more tools in my toolbox, which builds to the performer I want to be.

7. What were your personal “Ahas”?

I’m going to make some logistic changes to make the creating process easiest for myself and therefor more fun. I really liked creating the story, setting the stage behind the song.

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

I’m wearing my mum’s dress… when I was little, I thought she looked like a princess in it 💕

A NOTE TO THE READER FROM DHC

Hey, thanks for reading this example of what it’s like to go thru a course with me! Did you have Aha’s or revelations watching the video & reading the answers she wrote? Add your comments below. Please – no critiques – just share what you learned from someone courageously sharing a project that’s the BEGINNING of a lifelong learning journey.

Check out the beginning of a lifelong #harp learning journey Click To Tweet

Want to do some courageous learning yourself? Click here to check out Hip Harp Academy where daring harpists get their creative wings.

Carol Henley’s Sleep Guide (for “mature” audiences)

Carol Henley’s Sleep Guide (for “mature” audiences)

Oct 3, 2022 | , , , ,

“Before being in the Academy, my harp and I were at odds. I was trying to master it, conquer it. Now I see the harp as an extension of myself” ~ Carol Henley

Having trouble falling asleep? Carol Henley offers this humorous tutorial for ‘mature” audiences. Carol combines her passion for harp and storytelling with a media presentation featuring sheep.

 

 

Carol is one of the daring harpists who are challenging themselves to develop new ways of self-expression in Hip Harp Academy by combining the skills and tools of improv with each person’s natural abilities and passions – creating new hybrids of expression that expand what it means to be a harp player.

Harpists who Dare!

Are you ready to liberate yourself from the notes on the page?

$500 OFF when you join before Midnight Oct. 23, 2023

>> REGISTER NOW <<

 

[Updated by DHC 231019]

If you love the PROCESS of learning, like I do – make sure you read on.  Whenever a member of the Academy shares a project, I ask them to share their process as well, because that PROCESS creates a gift of illumination for all of us about how we can approach any creative project ourselves.

 

CAROL SAYS …

“Before being in the Academy, my harp and i were at odds.  I was trying to master it, conquer it.  Now, I see the harp as an extension of myself.”

Now I see the harp as an extension of myself. Click To Tweet

1. Describe your final project.

My final project is a “how to get to sleep” video, with harp, sheep pictures, and my narrative.

2. 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 guiding principle for me is “be yourself”.  Before being in the Academy, my harp and i were at odds.  I was trying to master it, conquer it.  Now, I see the harp as an extension of myself.

The guide principle for me is to be yourself. Click To Tweet

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

Emotionally, this video was a challenge, as I couldn’t hide behind harp playing.  There is so much more than harp playing in this video.  Logistically, the mechanics of putting all the elements together was a challenge.

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

Freedoms:  as far as the harp playing goes, I stuck with simple chords to accompany the melodies, so I was not glued to any particular written arrangements.  I love that freedom!  What I struggled with was wanting to make this a perfect video, where all the pieces fit together seamlessly.  That was hard to deal with.

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

Challenge was to just go for it!

My aha was realizing how much I love doing videos with a theme and finding tunes to fit. Click To Tweet

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

The sharing and acceptance in the HHA community constantly impacts my life.

7. What were your personal “Ahas”?

My “aha” was realizing how much I love doing videos with a theme and finding tunes to fit.  Next goal:  to create my own tunes.

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

I don’t think this video will help you get to sleep.  False advertising on my part?  Oh, my!

A NOTE TO THE READER FROM DHC

Hey, thanks for reading this example of what it’s like to go thru a course with me! Did you have Aha’s or revelations watching the video & reading the answers she wrote? Add your comments below. Please – no critiques – just share what you learned from someone courageously sharing a project that’s the BEGINNING of a lifelong learning journey.

Check out the beginning of a lifelong #harp learning journey Click To Tweet

Want to do some courageous learning yourself? Click here to check out Hip Harp Academy where daring harpists get their creative wings. 

Bluesy Meditation ~ Cherrie Mooney’s Calming Blues

Bluesy Meditation ~ Cherrie Mooney’s Calming Blues

Oct 2, 2022 | , , , ,

“I learned that there is a difference between playing the Blues and playing with a Bluesy feel. I tried to incorporate both in this piece.” ~ Cherrie Mooney

Ever consider playing the Blues as a meditation? That’s what Cherrie Mooney did. She took her harp out to Lake Huron and created a calming, meditative Blues, complete with the sounds of nature acting in harmony with the relaxing music.

 

 

Cherrie is one of the daring harpists who are challenging themselves to develop new ways of self-expression in Hip Harp Academy by combining the skills and tools of improv with each person’s natural abilities and passions – creating new hybrids of expression that expand what it means to be a harp player.

Harpists who Dare!

Are you ready to liberate yourself from the notes on the page?

$500 OFF when you join before Midnight Oct. 23, 2023

>> REGISTER NOW <<

 

[Updated by DHC 231019]

If you love the PROCESS of learning, like I do – make sure you read on.  Whenever a member of the Academy shares a project, I ask them to share their process as well, because that PROCESS creates a gift of illumination for all of us about how we can approach any creative project ourselves.

 

CHERRIE SAYS …

“I learned that there is a difference between playing the Blues and playing with a Bluesy feel. I tried to incorporate both in this piece.”

I learned that there 
is a difference between playing 
the blues and playing with 
a bluesy feel. I tried to 
incorporate both in this piece. Click To Tweet

1. Describe your final project.

My goal was to develop a blues/bluesy meditation. There is an intro, 12-bar blues pattern, intro repeated, and then a 12-bar blues with Boogie Woogie.

2. 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 12-bar blues pattern, boogie woogie, and chords from the Blues for Meditation webinar. I learned that there is a difference between playing the blues and playing with a bluesy feel. I tried to incorporate both in this piece.

Due to the calming nature of meditations, I was able to relax while I played. Click To Tweet

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

Playing outdoors was a challenge, due to the loud water and figuring out where and how to set up.

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

Due to the calming nature of meditations, I was able to relax while I played.

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

Playing slow was harder than anticipated. I needed to get comfortable with open spaces.

Don’t be afraid to try new things. It expands your horizons. Click To Tweet

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

Don’t be afraid to try new things. It expands your horizons.

7. What were your personal “Ahas”?

I learned that by playing slowly, with open spaces, I was able to play more musically.

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

This video was recorded by Lake Huron in Michigan on a windy day.

A NOTE TO THE READER FROM DHC

Hey, thanks for reading this example of what it’s like to go thru a course with me! Did you have Aha’s or revelations watching the video & reading the answers she wrote? Add your comments below. Please – no critiques – just share what you learned from someone courageously sharing a project that’s the BEGINNING of a lifelong learning journey.

Check out the beginning of a lifelong #harp learning journey Click To Tweet

Want to do some courageous learning yourself? Click here to check out Hip Harp Academy where daring harpists get their creative wings. 

Anthropomorphic Blues ~ Diane Giorgi finds her Character(s) in the 12-Bar Blues

Anthropomorphic Blues ~ Diane Giorgi finds her Character(s) in the 12-Bar Blues

Oct 1, 2022 | , , , ,

“Being in character helps diffuse some of the self-consciousness and angst of playing before a camera.” ~ Diane Giorgi

Have you ever wondered what it might look like if every 12 measures of music wore a different costume?  Diane Giorgi did!  But she didn’t stop there! She created this video so we can see what that might look – and sound – like!

 

Diane is one of the daring harpists who are challenging themselves to develop new ways of self-expression in Hip Harp Academy by combining the skills and tools of improv with each person’s natural abilities and passions – creating new hybrids of expression that expand what it means to be a harp player.

Harpists who Dare!

Are you ready to liberate yourself from the notes on the page?

$500 OFF when you join before Midnight Oct. 23, 2023

>> REGISTER NOW <<

 

[Updated by DHC 231019]

If you love the PROCESS of learning, like I do – make sure you read on.  Whenever a member of the Academy shares a project, I ask them to share their process as well, because that PROCESS creates a gift of illumination for all of us about how we can approach any creative project ourselves.

 

CONNELLY-Cath-exportDIANE SAYS …

“Being in character helps diffuse some of the self-consciousness and angst of playing before a camera.”  

Being in character helps diffuse 
some of the self-consciousness 
& angst of playing before a camera. Click To Tweet

1. Describe your final project.

Anthropomorphizing the components of the Blues

2. 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 DHC’s suggestion to “get into bodily” the components of the blues and combined that with the parodying of 50’s coffee house music that I would do in my youth to amuse my younger brother, who will be the first recipient of the video.

It definitely boosted my self-confidence and has stimulated so many creative ideas for the future. Click To Tweet

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

Without realizing it I absorbed so much from the chats, that I was able to use things that helped vary the written music.

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

Being in character helped diffuse some of the self-consciousness and angst of playing before a camera.
I wish that I could have technically played better, but on the whole consider it a personal milestone on many levels

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

The challenge to overcome my self-consciousness to bring a vision to reality. The freedom to play the notes that pleased me however dissonant.
The challenge of using iMovie, which I’ve never done before and while the video results didn’t totally match my vision, I have the basis to improve on future videos

I can embrace imperfection without making it the main focus and appreciate the accomplishment. Click To Tweet

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

It definitely boosted my self-confidence and has stimulated so many creative ideas for the future.

7. What were your personal “Ahas”?

I can embrace imperfection without making it the main focus and appreciate the accomplishment.

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

This video is for my brother, who appreciated and encouraged the wackiness!

A NOTE TO THE READER FROM DHC

Hey, thanks for reading this example of what it’s like to go thru a course with me! Did you have Aha’s or revelations watching the video & reading the answers she wrote? Add your comments below. Please – no critiques – just share what you learned from someone courageously sharing a project that’s the BEGINNING of a lifelong learning journey.

Check out the beginning of a lifelong #harp learning journey Click To Tweet

Want to do some courageous learning yourself? Click here to check out Hip Harp Academy where daring harpists get their creative wings. 

ELDERKIN – Charlene (USA) “The Crazy Co-op Customer Blues” (BHS3)

ELDERKIN – Charlene (USA) “The Crazy Co-op Customer Blues” (BHS3)

Sep 2, 2022 | , , , ,

One thing I love about teaching at Hip Harp Academy is getting to see the “Final Beginning Projects” that each student does. This is a culmination of Charlene Elderkin’s experience in the Blues Harp-Style class – and this is just the beginning!

This post is from a series that shares the “Final BEGINNING Projects” from my winter 2015 “Blues HarpStyle” online course for harp players. students created short videos based on what they learned in the course, and answered 5 questions about what they got from the challenge of this project.

 

Harpists who Dare!

Are you ready to liberate yourself from the notes on the page?

$500 OFF when you join before Midnight Oct. 23, 2023

>> REGISTER NOW <<

 

[Updated by DHC 231019]

ELDERKIN-Charlene-exportCHARLENE SAYS …

1. Give a short description of what it took for you to get to the place of being able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally

I’m grateful for snow in Boston, because I needed the extra week to get this together.  I kept simplifying the  blues arrangement, as coordinating all the different aspects – the lyrics, the slap bass with the vocals, etc. was a little beyond me.

I’ve gotten more relaxed about making these videos, less worried about perfection, but I did want the video to fairly represent where I’m at. I was able to find a spot in the house less cluttered and more visually appealing, and my staff tee shirt became my costume. I didn’t do a half baked because I didn’t have the lyrics together, but in retrospect I wish I would have, because once I sat down with my partially completed lyrics and played, the rest started coming.

I've gotten more relaxed about making these videos, less worried about perfection Click To Tweet

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

The lyrics were my biggest hang up. I knew that I would have to get the words in order to do the song, and without them I was only half-baked in my practice. Once I started working with the lyrics, it was hard getting the slap bass in the right place, which surprised me. I tried many times to put a non-rhythmical intro to it, but then I couldn’t seem to come in on the downbeat with the slap bass and the lyrics. So I cut the intro, went with a chord and a short vamp  so I could get the groove. I also had trouble keeping an even, slow tempo. The walking bass kept running away with me!

3. What challenges did you meet to connect with your own freedom of expression in this project?

I really like to be expressive in my singing, to embody a song, but I’m not competent enough on the harp to do both – yet. The D key was a little high for my voice, but not impossible. I’ll have to learn the C blues and work with that. I have ideas for a whole lot of verses for this song, it’s meant to be funny, and I’d like to collaborate with my fellow employees to really let this song “whine.”

4. What were your personal “Ahas”?

So many! A big one for me is that as a harpist, I have a lot of versatility when it comes to playing with other instruments. I may not be able to coordinate all the aspects, but I could handle one of the roles (bass, comping, melody) at a time and it would be great fun. I love having all the reference material for blues in other keys, and knowing the basic structure now, I can pick it out when I hear a song. I’ll be doing more play-alongs with recorded music just for the fun of it.

5. Is there anything else you´d like to tell people who are watching your video?

I’d like to thank everyone who shared videos, because I learned so much from watching them. Deborah has given us so much content in a short while, and I can feel intimidated as I haven’t been playing that long. But the way each of you were willing to post your imperfect completions and ask questions, get Deborah’s feedback, really brought the material home for me. I could also experience a much wider interpretation, seeing how each person interprets the blues in their own unique way.

Thank you Deborah for your talent and enthusiasm, for modeling imperfect completion Click To Tweet

Thank you Deborah for your talent and enthusiasm, for modeling imperfect completion, for all the years gathering this material and your willingness to share it and create a truly collaborative learning experience. [DHC says – you are so, so welcome, Charlene. If only you saw how I sit here grinning as aI watch and read all of these!]

 

A NOTE TO THE READER FROM DHC

Hey, thanks for reading this example of what it’s like to go thru a course with me! Did you have A-ha’s or revelations watching the video & reading the answers she wrote? Add your comments below. Please – no critiques – just share what you learned from someone courageously sharing a project that’s the BEGINNING of a lifelong learning journey.

Check out the beginning of a lifelong #harp learning journey Click To Tweet

Want to do some courageous learning yourself? Click here to check out my next online course especially for harp players.

GOODIN – Karen (USA) “Tolly’s Winter Blues” (BHS3)

GOODIN – Karen (USA) “Tolly’s Winter Blues” (BHS3)

Aug 30, 2022 | , , , ,

One thing I love about teaching at Hip Harp Academy is getting to see the “Final Beginning Projects” that each student does. This is a culmination of Karen Goodin’s experience in the Blues Harp-Style class – and this is just the beginning!

This post is from a series that shares the “Final BEGINNING Projects” from my winter 2015 “Blues HarpStyle” online course for harp players. students created short videos based on what they learned in the course, and answered 5 questions about what they got from the challenge of this project.

Harpists who Dare!

Are you ready to liberate yourself from the notes on the page?

$500 OFF when you join before Midnight Oct. 23, 2023

>> REGISTER NOW <<

 

[Updated by DHC 231019]

GOODIN-Karen-exportKAREN SAYS …

1. Give a short description of what it took for you to get to the place of being able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally

I found it interesting from my half-baked tune that people (not me so much) heard a Scottish/Celtic voice. After many years working on Scottish music I guess I actually absorbed something. Not what I wanted here, really, though. I changed the scale I used for melody to one that might be somewhat more bluesy — D, F, G, A, C.

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

Maybe more a problem of logistics, but I tried playing the melody in octaves, and just couldn’t get my LH to jump back and forth that much. I still have the left hand reaching up for the comping chorus, as well as for several lever slides. This is working out better than expected! I hope to be more successful with future pieces with lever changes, etc. Maybe I’m developing a new way of thinking about this, based more on the notes I want to hear, and less on what’s written down in my music. (Maybe someday I’ll be able to explain it, too!)

Maybe I'm developing a new way of thinking about this based more on the notes I want to hear Click To Tweet

I’d like to notate this for my own future reference, but I don’t have the skills for that yet. It would take me a lot longer to do that than it does to play, for sure.

I had to abandon my terror of seeing myself on video (mostly). Also, fear of “making a mistake”–most of what I do falls short of my hopes. It’s still so hard to transform what I can imagine into a reality.

3. What challenges did you meet to connect with your own freedom of expression in this project?

Keep making it simpler to get more success in turning thoughts into sound.

4.  What were your personal “Ahas”?

I’m starting to get some small understanding of how people can play in a group (without everything all written out a la chamber music or band). The three roles are important, and there is a planned harmonic structure. I realized that more is planned out than I thought. These people aren’t all super-geniuses who can magically play together–they probably have a lot of experience doing this _kind_ of thing, over and over. (Free jazz remains a big mystery!)

After a lifetime of playing “too slowly” I need to learn how to rest back into the groove and not rush things!

GOODIN – Karen (USA) “Tolly’s Winter Blues” (BHS3) Click To Tweet

5. Is there anything else you’d like to tell people who are watching your video?

I made a certain effort to “dress up” for the video. Not really something I’m good at; I could use an assistant to pick out clothes and work on my look, etc. (Ha!)

Rather than trying to get Tolly the cat to pose for the video, I stuck up her photo in the background. Too creepy? (She is understandably shy about participating in “cat videos” of any sort.)

Here’s the form I used:

  • Intro — count in
  • Head
  • Comping with integrated hands
  • Out-Head
  • Ending –D in 3rds up to E

 

A NOTE TO THE READER FROM DHC

Hey, thanks for reading this example of what it’s like to go thru a course with me! Did you have A-ha’s or revelations watching the video & reading the answers she wrote? Add your comments below. Please – no critiques – just share what you learned from someone courageously sharing a project that’s the BEGINNING of a lifelong learning journey.

Check out the beginning of a lifelong #harp learning journey Click To Tweet

Want to do some courageous learning yourself? Click here to check out my next online course especially for harp players.

KOLE – Annelies (Netherlands) “Clean Up Blues” (BHS3)

KOLE – Annelies (Netherlands) “Clean Up Blues” (BHS3)

Aug 25, 2022 | , , , ,

One thing I love about teaching at Hip Harp Academy is getting to see the “Final Beginning Projects” that each student does. This is a culmination of Annelies Kole’s experience in the Blues Harp-Style class – and this is just the beginning!

This post is from a series that shares the “Final BEGINNING Projects” from my winter 2015 “Blues HarpStyle” online course for harp players. students created short videos based on what they learned in the course, and answered 5 questions about what they got from the challenge of this project.

Harpists who Dare!

Are you ready to liberate yourself from the notes on the page?

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[Updated by DHC 231019]

KOLE-Annelies-exportANNELIES SAYS:

1. Give a short description of what it took for you to get to the place of being able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally

I had to practice a lot to feel the grove and to feel the 4 beats in a measure when I was improvising. But with the different lessons, I practiced almost every day half an hour.

My daughter is also very busy and didn’t want to practice as much as I did. But that was right for me.

The lessons of  ‘do what you can’ and ‘imperfect completion’ were also important lessons for me in how I treat my own daughters when making music.

And I knew having fun was the most important emotion we had to show on our video.

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

Freedom for me was: knowing that a few notes could be enough for playing nice riffs and improvisations. The groove is the most important thing that has to go on. That gave me the idea that I couldn’t make mistakes and I enjoyed playing the blues so much.

In the Blues - the groove is the most important thing that has to go on. Click To Tweet

My block was: my music has to be interesting, I have to be interesting. But soon I learned that it’s not important for making beautiful or nice music. And that was another freedom the course gave me.

3. What challenges did you meet to connect with your own freedom of expression in this project?

My big challenge is to stay in the 4 beats of each measure when I play little with my left hand. Still when I play with my metronome, so I can notice that I do, I lose one beat and mostly I play more beats and I’m to late for beat one of the next measure. I practiced a lot with this. But it didn’t help yet. Only when I count out loud the whole time. And when I sing, then I got the good feeling for those four beats. For my final I didn’t want to challenge this and I played in every measure a note with my left hand. That’s why I don’t play notes with my left hand in the melody. And I counted in my head (not all the time).

4. What were your personal “Ahas”?

My personal Aha is that everybody can join in and play the blues. You only have to give them a few and clear possibilities they can use. That’s so great. And I really want to play the blues with other people.

My personal Aha is that everybody can join in and play the blues! Click To Tweet

5. Is there anything else you´d like to tell people who are watching your video?

I love my daughter for wanting to sing the blues with me. It’ not a teenage style of music. And I want to thank her for her patience when I was losing the 4 beats and she just started one count later, although I know she had heard it, because she is good in this. She can feel the timing.

A NOTE TO THE READER FROM DHC

Hey, thanks for reading this example of what it’s like to go thru a course with me! Did you have A-ha’s or revelations watching the video & reading the answers she wrote? Add your comments below. Please – no critiques – just share what you learned from someone courageously sharing a project that’s the BEGINNING of a lifelong learning journey.

Check out the beginning of a lifelong #harp learning journey Click To Tweet

Want to do some courageous learning yourself? Click here to register for my next Free Online Training and check out my next online course especially for harp players.

BARNABY – Jade (Australia) “Storage Room Blues” (BHS3)

BARNABY – Jade (Australia) “Storage Room Blues” (BHS3)

Aug 17, 2022 | , , ,

One thing I love about teaching at Hip Harp Academy is getting to see the “Final Beginning Projects” that each student does. This is a culmination of Jade Barnaby’s experience in the Blues Harp-Style class – and this is just the beginning!

This post is from a series that shares the “Final BEGINNING Projects” from my winter 2015 “Blues HarpStyle” online course for harp players. students created short videos based on what they learned in the course, and answered 5 questions about what they got from the challenge of this project.

Harpists who Dare!

Are you ready to liberate yourself from the notes on the page?

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[Updated by DHC 231019]

BARNABY-Jade-export2JADE SAYS:

1. Give a short description of what it took for you to get to the place of being able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally

Emotionally, attempting and having confidence to create my own piece of work and not read music note-for-note was excruciatingly hard. Logistically organising to play with another musician in a relatively short period of time was also very difficult. The week we recorded it had been stifling hot – it had been 36 C or 97 Fahrenheit all week! It was humid and we were trying to sneak down to the Storage Room during work, between meetings, to record. Kirsten had to run to catch the train after our last attempt!

In some ways the Storage Room was the perfect place as it was secure and offered us a lot of privacy to practice safely without disruptions and distractions, I highly recommend it! But in other ways it wasn’t an ideal environment and timing.  In the end both emotionally and logistically, I just had to let it go and accept that I wouldn’t in the first instance create exactly what I had in envisioned in my mind…  and that’s okay, and in the end some things I actually liked better than what I had in mind.

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

The blocks were starting and resigning that I had to do something more simply first.  Having structural limitations, such as the actual structure of the 12 bars became a freedom as it helped me focus on what I could do within that space, versus  having the perceived freedom to do everything, which does the opposite to me-blockage.

The 12-bar structure became a freedom as it helped me focus on what I could do within that space Click To Tweet

3. What challenges did you meet to connect with your own freedom of expression in this project?

In the past I have struggled with ‘the harp’s’ identity and my personal artistic direction as I would love to play the harp in a style that relates more to the average person, not the stereotypical,  angelic harp in an orchestra, rather music that is accessible and fun!  Going through this project process helped me to realise that I can create this sort of music on the harp.  Realising that a piece doesn’t have to be perfect or completely prescribed note-for-note on the page was a challenging to accept but once I did the process became easier.

4. What were your personal “Ahas”?

A) Just playing around helped me connect to the fun side of my brain, enabled more creativity and I believe a better piece of music.

Just playing around helped me connect to the fun side of my brain Click To Tweet

B) Also, realising I could play with another musician when the piece or I was not 100% ready or perfect is not only fine but actually a good thing. Kirsten’s suggestions were so helpful and added much more to the piece than I could have created on my own. It was much more fun to go through the process of creating something with another person than me on my own, tearing my hair out! It was certainly encouraging to actually perform or play with other musicians even before I felt ready.  This also lead to me realising that:

C) It confirmed that sometimes you should just act and do things before you feel ready… as you may never feel 100% prepared when you actually already do have the capabilities to do those things you’ve been thinking about doing for so long.

5. Is there anything else you´d like to tell people who are watching your video?

There are elements of the half-baked submission I liked more than my ‘final’ but that’s fine. This  final project helped me achieve my main objective of this course, that was to feel greater confidence to play the Blues (and other forms of music) with other musicians I wanted to allow myself the freedom to go with the flow and play with others and not beat myself up because what I’m playing doesn’t sound perfect or polished.

My main objective of this course, that was to feel greater confidence to play the Blues with other musicians Click To Tweet

Thanks to DHC and fellow students that have been informative, encouraging and supportive throughout the journey.

A NOTE TO THE READER FROM DHC

Hey, thanks for reading this example of what it’s like to go thru a course with me! Did you have A-ha’s or revelations watching the video & reading the answers she wrote? Add your comments below. Please – no critiques – just share what you learned from someone courageously sharing a project that’s the BEGINNING of a lifelong learning journey.

Check out the beginning of a lifelong #harp learning journey Click To Tweet

Want to do some courageous learning yourself? Click here to register for my next Free Online Training and check out my next online course especially for harp players.

INVITATION to the Merceditas “First Players” Project

INVITATION to the Merceditas “First Players” Project

Aug 14, 2022 | , , , ,

When you look at the orchestra the harpist is in the BACK, right?  Well, I’m out to change that and I’m inviting YOU to be part of it.

When I started playing the harp in my early 20’s all I could find to play was tinkly music – but I I’m a composer as well as a harpist  — I made a commitment to create the passionate exciting music for the harp that I wanted to play. Music that would bring the harp out from the background and put it front and center. And that’s how I created my own career, I got to tour the world, play my own music with major symphony orchestras, and got a Grammy Nomination – even got to be part of inventing a new harp.

Now I’m in a position to put that powerful, expressive music I created that built my own career into the hands of other harpists who want to step out of the background.

That’s why I’m now publishing all the music I’ve created – one piece at a time. And a TEAM of harp players is helping me do that.  

For the last 6 months I worked with this small team – Verena Jochum, Sally Walstrum, Heleen Vandeputte, Jason McKinney, Tammy Halun and Mary Robinson – to prepare just ONE of these pieces –  a piece called “Merceditas.”

Now I’m inviting YOU to EXPAND that team by being one of the first harp players to PLAY this piece.  

Join the “Merceditas” First Players Project and share a TINY VIDEO of any small part of the piece with me by midnight Aug. 22, 2022.

‘Til 3 weeks ago, the only way to play Merceditas was if you had a PEDAL HARP and  SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

We’ve just published two versions: SOLO Pedal Harp and SOLO Lever Harp and I’m inviting every harpist who wants to step out of the BACKGROUND of their life to be one of the first players of this piece and to send me a tiny video of just one little part of the piece you can play so I can see the first moments of this piece coming alive in your hands.

It can be the first 2 simple measures – it can be the cadenza – OR WHATEVER SMALL part is easy and fun for YOU to play – just 15 – 30 seconds at any speed, at any level.

I’m not trying to make a complex compilation I just want to see those first moments of those notes coming alive in your hands – and I’ll put them all together in a totally random order so we’ll just hear pieces of the piece popping up, some slow, some fast. 

It’s all about connection – not perfection.

If you’re ready to join me, just jump right in! If you want to know more …. read on!

This project is called “The First 50 Players”. In fact, more than 50 people quickly signed up – so we opened it up to any harpist who wants to join by Aug. 22 because I want to make sure I get AT LEAST 50 tiny videos I can create a celebration video with.

The full piece is for Intermediate to Advanced players but there are sections of it that can be played by ANY player.

Here’s how it works:  When you join me, you sign up – then download the piece – and you pay whatever price works for you –  find just one part you love – that’s easy for YOU to play — and create a video 15 – 30 seconds long. Then you get that to me – there’s a bunch of ways to do that and we’ll tell you what they are before the deadline.  

And that’s it. You’ll be part of this piece’s entree into the world!

SO … Do you know a harp player who is daring to step out of the background? Is that you? Join me in the MERCEDITAS “FIRST PLAYERS PROJECT”.

I can’t wait to see this music come alive in YOUR hands.

Harpists who Dare!

Are you ready to liberate yourself from the notes on the page?

$500 OFF when you join before Midnight Oct. 23, 2023

>> REGISTER NOW <<

 

[Updated by DHC 231019]

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