Aug 7, 2012 | *RockHarp Diaries*, Coaching, Teaching, Students & Learning |
It’s the eve of the last week of rehearsals before tour with Steve Vai. I’ve spent the last six weeks working on the music in a kind of frenzied preparation, rapids between islands of intense focus. It’s all still so new, some of the techniques are...
Jul 14, 2012 | Random Thoughts |
In the war between inertia and endeavor … Inertia claims: “I’m hot and tired and therefore should do NOTHING.” Endeavor says: “If I can just find that mic I really think I can make the audio in my course videos way better … if I can find the mic.” It...
Jul 13, 2012 | *RockHarp Diaries* |
Here’s a preview of my new bio for the Steve Vai STORY OF LIGHT program book: When Deborah Henson-Conant (aka ‘DHC’) slings her signature carbon fibre electric harp, she defies definition and shatters convention. She’s a multi-talented GRAMMY®-Nominated...
Jul 7, 2012 | Coaching, Teaching, Students & Learning |
I just started teaching my first online course and found myself writing to a student to explain what I meant, in our first module, by the ‘shape’ of the music. Here’s what I wrote her (with a few changes): I often think of what would a deaf person...
Jul 6, 2012 | *RockHarp Diaries*, Audience Feedback |
I’m about to submit my bio for the Steve Vai “Story of Light” Tour Program book. Wanna give me some 11-th hour feedback? Does it describe the me you know (assuming you’ve seen my shows)? Is it fun to read? Do you get a picture of what I do...
Jul 4, 2012 | Coaching, Teaching, Students & Learning, Random Thoughts |
“It’s amazing to realize that you can have a profound effect on yourself.” Jeweler and singer Cherie Magnello said that to me about 20 years ago. She was talking about a change she’d made in her own life. It’s one of those moments that...
Jul 4, 2012 | Random Thoughts |
I was going to say that I’m torn between an idea and a feeling, but it’s really an idea and a state of mind. And it’s not so much an idea as a … well, I don’t know what it is. The state of mind is “hot and tired” and the idea is: “can I make the audio quality in my...
Jun 22, 2012 | Random Thoughts |
My teaching partner, Karen Montanaro, a solo performer who does with dance-and-mime what I do with music-and-theater, sent me this email today: “I got the most amazing group of letters-from-students (fifth graders) the other day. One kid wrote: ‘You also taught us...
Jun 21, 2012 | *RockHarp Diaries*, Coaching, Teaching, Students & Learning |
As I prepare for touring as the electric harpist in Steve Vai’s “Story of Light” tour, I’m in a time machine. One minute I’m back at U.C. Berkeley, throwing myself on the floor during a practice session and sobbing “Why do I always have to work twice...
Jun 8, 2012 | *RockHarp Diaries*, Events |
For those who haven’t been following my “Rock Harp Diaries,” I’ve joined a rock band with the legendary guitarist Steve Vai’s album for his “Story of Light” album tour in Fall of 2012. There are 5 musicians in the band,...
