Author Archives: Jen

My new favorite thing

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My new favorite thing

Having a seat at just the right height is so important to being able to play comfortably, healthfully, and safely.  But it is equally important that the seat be comfortable enough to sit for as long as you need to be sitting at your harp.  And you need to be the right distance from the ground so that your legs and knees are comfortable at 90o angles.  You also need to have a seat that is lightweight enough to move, not only around the space behind the harp but also into and out of the car and wherever else you need to bring your harp and play. 

That’s kind of a tall order.  I have had an X bench since I started playing but they don’t seem to make that anymore.  It is perfect – the right height, relatively light weight and I have a carrying case so it’s easy to bring to gigs and workshops.

But when I have a lot of stuff to carry (like when I go to Ohio Scottish Arts School) it becomes a little bit of a liability.  A lot of other people have a bench that looks like mine so it could be easy to lose.  And it isn’t small (even when collapsed).  And if I have to carry my harp around the building (to move from room to room to teach or to join a session) then the bench is harder to bring along (and requires multiple trips).

So, as perfect as the bench is, it started to be not quite as perfect as I would like.  I was looking for another solution that was easier to carry and provided more flexible seat heights.

I found one! (yea amazon) I found a collapsible camping stool that can go from 2.3  to 17.75 inches high, weighs a little more than 2½ pounds, supports up to 400 pounds, comes in colors, and is less than $30.  When fully collapsed, it fits in the pocket of my harp case.  You can even get a cushion.  I sit on mine for a long time on teaching days and while you won’t find them in luxury seating, they do the trick and are relatively comfortable for gigs or competitions – or even long teaching days.   There are many versions available, but this is the one I got (I can’t vouch for the others):

https://www.amazon.com/Boreeman-Upgraded-Lightweight-Collapsible-Retractable/dp/B083945P76?pd_rd_w=HqvBr&content-id=amzn1.sym.c15e5526-d433-4ac0-a393-a3f3f7218fab&pf_rd_p=c15e5526-d433-4ac0-a393-a3f3f7218fab&pf_rd_r=RRPFB98B0MEEH0G6K87Y&pd_rd_wg=kYTWQ&pd_rd_r=1be9a080-1a1d-4e1c-bc30-94e7818abcb1&ref_=pd_bap_d_grid_rp_0_116_t&th=1

(Because someplaces have laws: Nope, no affiliate link, just a link. I’m sharing what I know.  This is my opinion; I’m not compensated for sharing it. But I did want you to know what I found). 

If you get one, let me know what you think – I’d love to hear about your experience!

How long should it take?

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How long should it take?

I’m sure you’ve heard (or said), “How long should it take to learn this tune?”  It reminds me of a joke my dad used to tell –

How far does a bear go into the woods?

Halfway, then it’s going out again.

Because each tune takes exactly as long to learn as it needs, and no more.  After that, you’re building and polishing and performing. 

Of course, the other answer is that a tune is never learned because the more you play it, the more you find in it.  And the more you find in it, the more you need to adjust.  It’s always evolving and never finished.

Either way, there is no pat answer:

Some tunes are harder to work than others. Some tunes just fit in your hands. 

Some tunes go right in your ears and settle in (like a dog turning around and then plopping down on the rug) while others are twisty-turny and hearing the patterns escapes you the first 1000 times you listen to them.

Some tunes grab you by the shoulders and demand you play them while others are “nice” (read – meh).   

So, if you think you should have already learned the tune – what’s really driving that question?

  • Are you comparing yourself to someone else?  Only you can be you, and you’ll get it when you get it.
  • Are you pretending to practice (or lying to yourself about how much you’re actually practicing)? Each tune needs to have its own fullness – again some will be easy and leap right into your hands.  Others will fight you at every turn but only spending time with them (practice) will get them in you.
  • Are you expecting the tune to just leap into you? No tune will do that (some will seem like they do, but that’s just an illusion).
  • Are you not allowing yourself to learn the tune? We are always in such a rush to play the tunes that we don’t always give ourselves enough time to actually learn the tune before we start trying to mash a harmony in while also jumping up the tempo.  Slow and steady wins the (non-existent) race so take your time, actually learn the tune so that it won’t fall apart when you add the harmony.  And be honest – if the melody crumbles when you introduce harmony, it’s too soon!  And it doesn’t matter who you are, if you’re not ready to play the tune, you’re not ready.  NEVER FORGET THE MELODY IS WHAT MATTERS!  The harmony is always second (comparatively).
  • Are you sure you have actually spent a lot of time on the tune already?  I often find that I think I’ve been working f-o-r-e-v-e-r but when I check my practice journal, I find that usually it’s only been a day! It just feels like it’s been forever, but I haven’t even scratched the surface yet – talk about unreasonable!

So, the next time you find yourself thinking “I should have learned this already” – just stop.  Pay attention to why you feel that way.  Recalibrate yourself…and go work on it some more!  You will get it – eventually.  In your own time.

Do you find yourself thinking that you should have already learned your music?  Do you do this occasionally or with every tune?  Do any of these suggestions help?  Let me know in the comments!

OSAS 45th Anniversary

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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

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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

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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?

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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!

Remember

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Remember

This week we observe Memorial Day and honor those who have died in the nation’s wars.  These fallen have given all to preserve our way of life.  Those of whom can be said, “Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue”.  This Uncommon Valor has afforded the rest of us the privilege of playing the music we love in relative safety and security.  Please remember them with gratitude as you play and practice this week.

Thanks, Bunches

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Thanks, Bunches

“Your underwear only bunches when you’re on your way to the bench.”

And it’s true, isn’t it.  It’s only when you’re on your way to the bench that you notice it.  In the short walk that takes you to the bench (and takes forever (cut to bad old movie footage of a hallway progressively lengthening as you walk)), that is when the riot happens in your brain.  You’ve been complete calm, comfortable, and bunch-free…right up until that point.  AND THEN YOU FEEL IT.

And you can think of nothing else. Every neuron in your brain, no, in your body, is reporting that on this phenomenon.  It is all you can think about.  You certainly can no longer hear the tune in your head.  It’s drowned out by the freight train of fearsome awareness.

There is no escape.  No matter how well prepared you felt.  No matter how long you have been playing.  No matter how politely the cat and the curtains applaud your efforts.  No matter how many seats in the theatre.  This is the end.  And you can barely walk for the bunching.

But that’s not true, is it? 

When you begin to breathe again and stop hyperventilating, when your muscles relax and release, you realize the freight train is not running on a different track and the danger has passed.  And when the noise abates, the riot calms, and you can begin to hear the strains of the tune once more.  Without the clenching of your teeth and other muscles, you let go of the bunching, and you become more comfortable…as you settle on the bench.

I’d be bunches of happy to hear what you think! Let me know in the comments.

This bit of wisdom comes courtesy of my dear friend Kris.  We were planning our Moving Forward weekend (formerly known as Harp Quest, but we felt like we wanted to leave that sitting there for a bit and focus more on Moving Forward) and we found this statement – in multiple places – in our assembled history (which includes student feedback, our own feedback when we’re still sweaty and exhausted from teaching, and our musings after a good meal and a glass of wine).  It really is our collected wisdom to date, and we review it to launch our planning to…you guessed it…Move Forward!

We are offering Moving Forward to our students this summer.  The first weekend (25 – 27 August) is for less experienced harpers – you are early in your learning and still getting a handle on playing and are looking to learn, laugh, and meet other harpers like you.  The second weekend (8 – 10 September) is for more experienced harpers.  You are intermediate or advanced and are looking for a challenge as well laughing, learning, and hanging out with other harpers like you.  For either weekend you are interested, engaged, excited and enthusiastic while not judging, pulling back, or withdrawing.  Enrollment in each weekend is limited because we are going to be very focused and have group and one-on-one time.   If you have worked with me in regular lessons, irregular lessons, or in coaching you are invited.  If you’re interested in being part of this or in getting more details, let me know – in the comments!

 

 

Prepping your practice

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Prepping your practice 

If you’ve spent even a little time in the socials you have probably not been able to escape seeing loads about Meal Prepping. 

If you haven’t, Meal Prep is an approach to helping you get dinner on the table so that mealtime is not a zoo.  All the cool kids are doing it, apparently.

There’s no magic to meal prep.  It’s a fairly easy process to follow.  And it’s smart because it saves time, money, angst, and the “hangries”.

While seeing that stuff again, it got me thinking* – could we “prep” our practice so that practice time isn’t a zoo?  Why not! 

So, if we were going to Practice Prep, what would we need to do?

We need to understand that practice prep isn’t a “hack” (remember, we talked about that before!).

We need to understand that, no matter how many well-meaning people make cute memes on the socials telling us what to do, our practice prep needs to be our own and that every suggestion is just that, a suggestion.  We can look at, evaluate (maybe even test drive) and decide to keep or toss each one as needed to fit ourselves.

We need to understand that it can be as simple or as complex as we need it to be. Meal prep can be simple (make extra to have leftovers later) or complex (make an entire week’s worth of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners).  Likewise, our practice prep can be as simple or complex as we need (and it can vary from week to week).

So, like meal prep, Practice Prep is based on identifying some important things like – what do we want to get done over the week? What are the steps to get there?  What is missing that we need to build to make progress?

How do we identify these things? There are a few places to start depending on where you are in your harp life. 

The easiest way is to read your lesson notes to find what you have learned and what your teacher is expecting you to accomplish between lessons so that you can continue to progress. You may get very good direction on exactly what you should do.  But frankly, that’s likely only if you are a child or have just started lessons (while your teacher helps you learn how to practice).  You are told what do to and how “on track” is defined.  That’s fairly easy (as long as you do it).

If you are more advanced or if you are self-directed, you have the same information available, you just have to dig a little to find it.  What is your overall goal?  What are the precise steps to get there?  Have you further identified the substeps (iterated to the smallest steps) so that you can work on specific things to move you forward? (NB these will likely change frequently as the steps at the beginning of a tune will look different than the steps when you’re polishing).  Have you noted those steps so that you can 1. remember them and 2. verify that you have completed them (successfully)?  Have you defined your criteria for “good enough” or “done”?  Have you marked your progress (good and not as good) so you know where to start next and what needs more focus?

Now you can organize your time.  That includes doing any prep work needed (pencils sharpened? music ready? distractions put away?) so that you are ready to practice and make the most of it.

Finally, you need to be consistent – doing this one week will be helpful but won’t significantly move you forward unless you continue to build week on week.  No matter how much we try to pretend otherwise, the tortoise always wins the race!

What do you think?  Is my meal prep analagy too much of a stretch? Or am I on the money here?  Let me know in the comments!

 

* you caught me surfing rather than practicing!