Monthly Archives: July 2020

From Me to You –

Posted on by
4

It’s Summer – when we know we should practice but probably want to do anything else.  Lay in front of the air conditioner.  Drink iced tea.  Dream of cooler days.  None of that is very motivating.  Is your practice motivation suffering?

This week – from me to you, a free printable to add some structure to your day so you can focus your practice each day and feel like you have accomplished something.  And you’ll still have time for fun.

Download link for free summer practice guide Click on the button (above – get it? button) to download your free printable.  Post it near your harp so each day you’ll have something to look forward to!

Half the way there!

Posted on by
3

It’s mid-July and you know what that means?  Yup, we are just a little more than half the way through this year.

And, yes, it has been an epic year so far…I won’t enumerate – you’re living it with me, so you already know.  And I mean epic in the classical sense – a (typically long and possibly unending) story of the deeds and adventures of heroic people! 

And yes, we’re only half the way through it.  Ugh.

But being halfway through is a good time to stop, pick our collective heads up, take a deep breath, and look around.  How are we doing?   

But think back…in January, we didn’t know any of this was coming and we knew the year was full of promise.   And we talked about the 2020 vision we’d have this year.  You might remember that we talked about this here.I suggested you take a smarter path that started with examining your life (your whole life!) and finding the balance for your harp within that.

And of course, I exhorted you to practice.  And then I gave you a long list of things to practice.  I also pointed out that you would do exactly as much work as you fit in and encouraged you to form goals that would be do-able.

So, half the year has gone by.  Do you remember your goals (because I am confident you wrote them down as I suggested)?  How are you coming?

Did you, at any time throughout the current upheaval we are all experiencing, modify those goals?  Did you look at your world and how the world outside you is impacting your world, and modify what you expected to accomplish as a harper this year? 

Gosh, I sure hope so!  Because this has been a doozy of a year!  We certainly didn’t see it coming.  And all of us have been impacted in one way or another (or by a number of ways, in quick succession, in a seemingly coordinated attack!).  And we have all had varying levels of success with coping, adapting, and overcoming everything. 

I’d like to encourage you to revisit the things you set out to do for yourself.  Then do the following:

  1. Bring out a big marker (or eraser) and (at least mentally) cross off those things that just are not going to serve you in the six months or so we have remaining in 2020.
  2. Sift through your goals and keep the ones that still make sense…and are do-able.
  3. Capture, but hold for later, those that are still important to you but are not currently realistic – especially since we don’t know when things will revert to what we were expecting.   And
  4. Boldly, ceremoniously and with a great deal of fanfare, toss the ones that just are not serving you!  (yes, you can do that!).

There’s one more thing you need to do and that is to note all the things you have done so far this year.  Especially the ones you never even imaged!  Things that come to mind:

  • Learning to play to your computer
  • Learning to not play for other people (!)
  • Learning where to look so you look like you’re looking at the other person (and dealing with not being able to see them so that you look like you can).
  • Figuring out new software to have lessons or harp circles or play dates
  • Learning that you really do have to wait for the other person to finish – and wait your turn.
  • Learning to deal with the fatigue which seems to be unique to spending all day on your computer, even if previously you thought you spent all day on your computer!
  • Coping in the face of unending uncertainty (and helping others do the same)

So, on balance, you’re probably having a good and productive year.  Let’s make sure your goals match and that you’re taking credit for what you have accomplished so far.  I’m sure there are even more things you have learned – both related and unrelated to playing the harp – share them in the comments.

 

Spruce up your practice space – 8 ways

Posted on by
1

We’ve been inside a lot already with winter, the spring that tried hard to not come and then the virus running roughshod over the earth.  And now it’s the height of summer and many of us are doing our best to stay in the air conditioning!

All that being inside may lead to ennui.  And that ennui may lead to your practice space needing a little sprucing.  Do you find that you’re not drawn to your practice space?  Are you just not sitting down to practice as much as you’d like?

Spruce up your spaceYou might need to spruce up your practice space!  Why might you want to do this?  Well, here are four reasons – I’m sure there are more, but ones that come to mind are:

  • It’s your space so it should reflect you!
  • You’re a creative and being creative in various ways boosts all your creativity.
  • You want to want to spend time your space so it should be attractive!
  • You want your space to meet your needs so you can actually use it.

How might you go about this sprucing?  Well, you can go all out and paint, get new flooring, and completely redecorate.  But that’s a big project!  You might need a little less than that – how about contenting yourself with a little reorganizing?  What might that include?  Here are eight things you might try:

  1. Rearrange the furniture.  You might be surprised how much simply moving your harp (even just turning it around) could change how you use your space.  Yes, it could be that simple!
  2. Does your sheet music storage make it easy to use?  I have come up with a way to organize individual tunes – I have them in dividers, alphabetical by the title I think of the tune by.  And yes, that means that some tunes are filed by their title in English and others are sorted by their Gaelic title…but it doesn’t matter….as long as I can find what I’m looking for.  There is no “optimal” organization – only a system that will work for you.  My books are a hopeless mess – I haven’t figured that one out yet!
  3. Do you have enough lighting?  I added a lamp which surprisingly made a huge difference in my already-brightly-lit room.
  4. Is your space neat enough?  That is, neat enough for you – it only has to work for you.  But make sure it actually is neat enough for you…or develop a way to keep it to the level that allows you to be comfortable (or you’ll avoid the space and not play as much as you’d like).  If you have to, re-home tchotchkes, get organizational stuff (boxes? files? bins? baskets? Whatever you will use), add (or remove) furniture) so that you have a level of neat you can live with.
  5. Are your tools close to hand?  You know there are things you need frequently – tuning wrench, tuner, pencils, etc. – are they were you can easily reach them, or do you need a place to put them?
  6. Does your space serve your learning process? Do you have a place to put things you’re going to learn, are learning, have learned, are polishing, are refreshing?  One that helps you keep those sorted and in work?  I’ve suggested a couple of options – from file folders to recipe cards – just something that helps you “move” tunes through their development and into your repertoire.
  7. You want to spend time there so make sure you like it – do you have art you like to look at? A comfy chair if you have room? (hey, you need to listen to music too!).  Do you have a plant?  Make sure you are enjoying the aesthetic you set!
  8. Does your space serve more than one function?  Do you have the luxury of a harp room or do you have a harp corner?  Either way, make sure you organize in a way that not only assures you have a place to play but also protects the harp when you’re not playing.  For instance, if your guest bedroom is also your harp room, what do you do with your harp when you have company?

Remember, your space has to work for you – in your life and your practice.  There is no “right” answer – only the answer that allows you to practice and to enjoy your harp.  And don’t shy away from making changes if you find that you “just don’t feel like being there” or you find that you go into your space, but you don’t stay long.  That just lets you know you might need make some changes!

Spruce up your practice space so you actually practice!  What will you do for your space?

Now go outside and play – No excuses

Posted on by
1

OSAS is finished – but boy oh boy was it a blast!  We had a great group of harpers who were wonderful.  They learned so much, including loads of harp music and how to zoom for hours on end.  And we met new people and saw old friends.  We had students from all over including Ohio and Maine and Oregon and Virginia and Maryland and Washington and Michigan and Italy!!  We expended loads of energy together and I can’t wait until the next time!  We have to wait a whole year.

OSAS Harp ZoomAnd after a week of sitting on my bench, in an artificially lighted, air conditioned studio (to make our zoom meetings work), I almost forgot that it’s summer.   

But it is definitely summer.  So why not go outside and play?

While we all continue to limit going out and we all keep working on our social distancing, we could have an opportunity to bring a little of the enjoyment of being with other people into our lives.

Go outside and play! 

Go outside and playPlay for your neighbors and just connect in that way music does.  But also – remember that you play the harp and you will make more than music – you’ll be making HARP music.  And your neighbors will come out to be connected and to hear your beautiful music.

I hear some of you – you already have excuses.  Just stop. 

  • You don’t have a huge repertoire yet? That’s ok, you don’t have to play long sets.
  • You don’t have time?  That’s ok, you don’t have to play every day.
  • You don’t have any neighbors?  That’s ok, you can go to a park or your local library or your grocery store.
  • You’re not good enough? That’s ok, please be convinced that people will be grateful for your gift, no matter how polished or rough. (And I really wish you’d believe me that most audience members are in awe of you!  They can’t do what you’re doing…and they know it).

I have been playing for my neighbors once a week (almost every week – I’ve missed a couple) since the lockdown began. I made it easy for everyone – I only play for about 30 minutes, so it’s not a long commitment for them (as listeners) or me (as a performer).  I mostly play what I know – whatever comes to mind.  Sometimes I add in something I’m working on (bonus – I get a low stress environment to find if it’s ready).

And I’ve been delighted by a couple of things.  First – they came!  I really wondered if anyone would be bothered to come out at all (remember there’s a plague upon the earth?).  Second – they’ve kept coming!  Not all of them every time, but there has been a consistent audience and I’m happy to have them.  Third – I have gotten some incredible and gracious emails from my neighbors which is flattering, but more importantly, it’s gratifying. 

So, go outside and play. Lift your bushel basket and stop hiding under it.  Share your gift.  Be like the summer flowers – out there where everyone can enjoy.   But don’t delay – summer doesn’t last that long!  What will you do with your summer?  Let me know in the chat!