Monthly Archives: June 2023

OSAS 45th Anniversary

Posted on by
4

OSAS has started for the 45th year!  It’s a very exciting time and I’m thrilled some of you are here! It is such a pleasure to be teaching with Corrina Hewat, Haley Hewitt, and Allison Miller! And it might go without saying what a privilege it is to teach such fun, motivated, engaged and engaging students!

As usual, I have taken no photos, but Therese Honey has graciously shared some she took today.  Now to be fair, we’ve only been at it for one day, so maybe I’ll have more later.  But you know me – I’d rather be playing and laughing then taking pictures  – so maybe not.

Here are the classes – and we’re just getting started!

OSAS 2023 Novices

The Novices might be small, but they are mighty!

OSAS 2023 Apprentices

Apprentices take on the tunes…

OSAS 2023 Jounrneymen

Journeymen are expanding their horizons….and their repertoires.

 

OSAS 2023 Master Class

Masters are always ready to take on another tune!

OSAS 2023 Teahers

It is not possible to ask for a better group of people to teach with.

I am so very lucky to do this work.  If you are even slightly waffling about coming next year – just do! 

 

Keeping Track

Posted on by
8

I know you’ve all had “that week”. The one where a  seemingly small thing throws a gorilla wrench into the works.  I’d say monkey wrench,  but the outcome is outsized and puts a crimp in your plans.

So this week, although I had planned a lovely and informative discussion about thinking, my laptop died on me. And frankly, while I’m grateful you’re reading, I’m not inclined to write that many words from my phone. So, we’ll table that discussion for now and instead, I’ll pass along something I can easily do with my (opposable) thumbs!🫱🫲

It is now summer, officially.  We’ve passed meteorological summer, Memorial Day and here’s the Solstice.

I know summer is busy and fun and it’s easy to forget, “Did I practice today?” And in fact sometimes it becomes, “Did I touch my harp this week?”

So, my thumbs and I are pleased to present you with a fun Practice Tracker for the summer.  Just click on the picture below and print it. 

Each day you play or practice,  color in a leaf.  It’s that easy!

I hope this makes you smile, and leads you to intend to practice.  At the end of the summer, I hope you’ll have leafed through it and found success (get it?).

I’m planning to start at the bottom and as I get closer to autumn, I’ll let the leaves start to turn color.  Hope you’ll join me! Let me know in the comments.

When your enthusiasm runs away with your brain

Posted on by
5

When your enthusiasm runs away with your brain

One of the best things my students bring to our time together is enthusiasm. They clearly are interested and invested in making music.  They don’t all have the same motivations, but they each bring a big bucket of energy!

Let’s start by saying that I am supremely fortunate to be in that sweet spot of having a wide diversity of students – all of whom I really enjoy and look forward to seeing!  Not everyone (including me) gets that all the time.  It really does make teaching a joy and I am ever so grateful for it!

Energy is essential.  It is also necessary – but it is not sufficient!  To meet sufficiency, we have to add a little bit of focus.  And some fundamentals. *

I know you’re excited to play.  Of course you are – because – it’s a harp!  Who wouldn’t want to do that?!

But let’s look at that sentence – you want to play the harp.  Don’t be fooled by the word “play”, because while it’s fun and captivating, we know it’s not just play. We play based on our work on the fundamental elements of performing.

These basic elements of interacting with our instrument are so important not only for the music but also for ourselves.  Good technique means we will be able to play easily and pain-free for as long as we like.  Good musicianship means we will be able to participate in the music (and the wide world of music) comfortably and successfully. 

It all starts with technique and continues through listening, hearing, feedback, focus, and thinking.**  But the physical act of pulling sound from the harp starts with technique – learning the details of coaxing out music, not just noise.

I know you want to get straight to it.  I know you want to play.  I know you want to bring forth what’s in your head.  And the music in your heart.

But here’s what I want.  I want you to not struggle.  I want you to get where you have set your sights – and farther.  I want you to play forever (or at least as long as you want to).  I want you to succeed.

The shortest path to where you want to go is to get that stuff you need to know into your head, into your hands, into your heart.  Believe me – the music will be there when you’re ready.  And when you are ready, the music will flow.  Sadly, there are no shortcuts (don’t ask me how I know this). 

Your enthusiasm will certainly help you – but don’t let it run away with your brain.  First we work, then we play.

What do you think? Do you let your enthusiasm run away with you (and run from doing what needs to be done)?  Let me know in the comments!

* If you think I’m talking specifically about you – I’m not, but you should probably hear what I’m saying.

** Yes, of course there’s more but I’m trying to keep this short!

Do you HAVE TO practice?

Posted on by
6

Do you HAVE TO practice?

Nope, that’s not what I mean.  Of course you NEED TO practice to maintain your current level of play, to keep your tunes in your head and in your hands, and to continue to grow.  After all, playing an instrument is a complex task that requires a great deal of memory.  So, yes, you NEED TO practice.

But that’s not the question.  The question is, do you HAVE to practice?

And the answer to that is question is…

 no

You don’t HAVE TO practice.

You GET TO practice!

You have the rare privilege to have daily harp performances in your living room – DAILY!  And you don’t even have to buy a ticket! What a deal!

Yes, practicing is an obligation – but it’s an obligation you have set for yourself.  You have a block of time already set aside by you, for you.  A lot of people have the intention of doing something for themselves, but you have already made that commitment.  And each day that you practice, you GET TO benefit from that commitment.

And that GET TO probably leaves you grateful to yourself for making that time for you. 

GET TO is a choice that you make (just like HAVE TO is).  GET TO is a mindset you select.  Just like you select what to practice, you can select your mindset going in.  When you GET TO experience the practice you NEED, your growth will HAVE TO show! 

What is your mindset?  Do you define your time at the harp as something you GET TO do?  Or does it still feel like something you HAVE TO do? Let me know how you see it – in the comments!