Author Archives: Jen

Harpa 2021 – HARPAntics in Western North Carolina!

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Harpa have been having a fantastic time visiting Western North Carolina!  This year, Harpa is Donna Bowers Bennett, Martha Hill, Therese Honey, Sue Richards and me.  We have been delighted to share in three concerts and a church service at First Presbyterian Hickory.  We have one more concert coming up but right now we’re enjoying a little down time.  We’ve been sharing tunes, laughing, seeing sites and creating.  This week on the blog, we’ll be light on words but photos instead! I, as usual, don’t even remember that I have a camera in my hand.  All these photos are graciously shared by Donna Bennett,Therese Honey, and Martha Hill.  Here we go:

We gathered and immediately started talking as well as planning what we would play!  This, of course, lead to rehearsals and related down time.  Our first concert was at the Ashe County Civic Center to a great audience…and an awesome green room!  We had a blast and an excellent start to our tour.

Fixing to go onstage, we have time for a selfie! Therese is an excellent selfie-starter!

Sound check was quick and smooth with Mike the sound guy. No one ever thanks the sound guy enough.

We stopped for dinner somewhere that had Cow Tails – well known to Marylanders (and former residents) but new to some.  We marveled at the wording of the ingredients – they are highly refined, just like we are!

The next day we were in Black Mountain to play at the Black Mountain Arts Center, sponsored by the Arts Center – another lovely facility with a really warm audience. We spent the day enjoying the town of Black Mountain but we didn’t collect photos.  Everyone was being like me, in the moment, not in the lens!

That evening the weather changed and we had a lovely wind symphony…all night long.  However, the best thing about changeable weather is: rainbows and Donna capturing harps in nature:

A rainbow is always a good sign (at a minimum it means we’re not moving harps in the rain!)

Preparing in First Presbyterian Church in Hickory NC

So, Sunday dawned glorious and we headed to First Presbyterian Church of Hickory where we played the Gathering, Prelude, some of the hymns, and Postlude.  There were a delightful group.  Here we were preparing and warming up while the choir also made ready. After a bit of lunch we headed to the SALT Block Auditorium in Hickory to play a fundraiser in support of and sponsored by the Western Piedmont Symphony.  Another excellent facility and audience.

We really enjoyed playing in Drendel Auditorium

We have one more concert at Morning Star Lutheran Chapel in Matthews, sponsored by Morning Star Lutheran Church Wednesday evening.  If you’re in the area – come out! 

I always have so much fun on our Harpa trips – playing and having shared time, missing our Harpaniks that haven’t been able to come this time…and planning our next outing!  Where will go next?  Remains to be seen.  There is a video of us playing in Hickory and as soon as I have a link, I’ll share it!

Travel on my mind

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Since we celebrated World Tourism Day before, travel has been on my mind.  Ok, that’s not entirely true, because travel is         a-l-w-a-y-s on my mind!  I should have a little framed cross stitch like this:

But anyway.  While traveling is always fun – especially if you are not one of those passengers who scream at Flight Attendants, Gate Agents, or other passengers – traveling with your harp does have some challenges.  I talked about some of those here and here.  Those have to do with the transport of your harp.  This week, let’s talk about when you get there.

Because while 99.999% of the 7 billion people on the earth l-o-v-e the harp, the remaining 0.001% will be booked into the room next to yours.  Never fails.

I should start by pointing out that I have played on the balcony of my hotel and thereby met new, interesting and interested people.  Just like if you’re playing at home, few things draw people to you like playing your instrument and sharing your music. 

However….and I learned this the hard way, sometimes people are not so happy to learn you play an instrument.  Once, I was in Memphis TN (yes, known as a music city) with that powerful sound generator, my Harpsicle – when someone called the front desk to complain.  Yup, it happened.  Funnier – someone else was practicing the bagpipes in that same hotel…some people’s kids.

So, keep in mind that quiet and discretion are important while staying in accommodations like hotels, motels, and B&Bs.  But how do you get quiet and still get to practice or play?  Here are a few ideas:

The first is a physical intervention. Weave a scarf or tie between the strings. Push it close to the soundboard.  This acts as a muffle and therefore makes your playing quieter.  Don’t put off selecting your scarf for the last minute – the scarf (or tie) needs to be long enough to run the length of the strings.  It also needs to be narrow enough (for a scarf) or thin enough (if you use a tie) so that it doesn’t bunch up (which results in too much “thup-i-ness” that I find distracting). This is not as easy as using your hat to muffle your trumpet, but it is infinitely better for the harp (after all, we’re not playing the trumpet and I’ve tried waving my hat in front of the harp, but it didn’t make it any quieter!).  I wish I could tell you I thought up this tip but I learned it from Therese Honey.

The second method is to use a musical technique. This one seems to be tricky – just play more quietly!  You might have seen this marking before –

pppp

But have you ever tried using it?  Ok, now I’m being a bit snide.  Dynamics are a thing… and you can use them in your practice.  You could play as pianississimo as possible and see what happens to your playing.  You can also do this at home, no need to wait to be booked into a hotel.  There are some things that happen when you play quietly.  You will be able to play slightly faster (yup).  You may be more accurate – because you’re being careful.  You may find that you even have time now to close (whodathunk?).  And because of all that you might find that, overall, you’re just playing better.  In addition, learning to control your volume will make you a better musician.

Both of those work well for practicing or playing for enjoyment.  This last suggestion is really for practicing rather than playing for enjoyment – you can “placeplay”.  I do this with my students (and I’m pretty sure they hate it, but it works!).  “Placeplaying” is moving through the finger shapes of the tune.  Place the first shape, then close the fingers (don’t play, just close) and place the second shape.  Remember that between these is actually another shape where the shapes overlap which is its own separate shape.  Keep going: place – close – place – close – place – close – place – etc. through to the end of the tune.  Keep placing but do not play.  I love this because you learn things about the tune while you’re doing it.  You can develop a new appreciation for the tune through this – you see shapes you missed, musical ideas you can see but not hear and you learn to think about the tune on a different level (like how although auditorily a “musical idea” is finished, on a physical level you’re actually in the middle of the idea).  This is also an excellent way to learn a new tune – because you have to break it down and really look at it.

So, there you have it – three ways to play your harp in a hotel room and not bother other guests.  Have you found other ways to coexist with other travelers?  Hope you’ll share in the comments!

Have Harpa, Will Travel!

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HARPA is touring again!  After two years of waiting we’re going to be on this side of the Atlantic in Western North Carolina! This year Harpa are Donna Bowers Bennett, Martha Geouge Hill, Therese Honey, Jen Narkevicius, and Sue Richards. We’d be delighted to have you join us for one of these concerts!

Harpa LogoOctober 15 – Ashe County Civic Center, sponsored by Ashe County Arts Council – Ticket Link

October 16 – Black Mountain Arts Center, sponsored by the Arts Center – Ticket Link

October 17 – SALT Block Auditorium in Hickory, sponsored by the Western Piedmont Symphony *

October 20 – Morning Star Lutheran Chapel in Matthews, sponsored by Morning Star Lutheran Church *

Harpa 2019 Glenfiddich Distillery

We’re excited to be coming to North Carolina this year!

If Harpa is new to you, here’s a little bit of history: Harpa is an idea, a cultural exchange tour inaugurated by Beth Kolle in 2006.  Since then, Harpa have traveled to Norway, Sweden, and Scotland.  Biennially, we have traveled with our instruments, played concerts in large cities and small towns, encouraged audience members to try the harp, and jammed with local musicians.  Over time Harpa has continued to thrive and grow and these trips provide the opportunity to learn about the places visited while demonstrating the beauty and versatility of the harp and its ability to transcend cultural differences.  We’ve met with people from all walks of life through the universal medium of music.  The musicians may change but the song remains the same!

One thing we all share is a profound love of the harp and especially of the Celtic and Scandinavian music.  The current five members of the group hail from across the United States and represent a wide range of musical backgrounds and experiences. Their love of playing together and sharing their music is a very special and unique treat for audiences everywhere.

We’ll, of course, be populating our Facebook page where you can also see a video of our last trip where we played at the Glenfiddich Distillery. 

If you’re in the area, hope you’ll come out and see us – we’d love to play for you!

 

* I’ll add ticket links when available

World Tourism Day

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It’s World Tourism Day!  Of course, it’s difficult to celebrate since there are still travel bans and restrictions in place all over the world.  But all that will pass soon enough.  Not soon enough for me, but in the grand scheme of things, soon enough.

World Tourism DayTravel is exciting and fun.  It tops the bucket lists of many, many people.  And very fortunate people have the opportunity to travel frequently. 

Travel with your harp is thrilling and exciting (and occasionally heart-stopping) but so worth it.  Having a harp with you can be a solace (especially in long waits, jet-lagged nights or trying times of travel).  It can also be a real bridge builder.  If gives strangers an opening to interact.  It gives you a way to chat when you don’t even speak the language!  I’ve met some really delightful people because I was playing my harp.

And you get plenty of exercise!  You never realize how heavy your harp really is, or how large an airport is, until you’ve carried it through one!

While the pandemic continues, tourism continues to be significantly impacted.  To put this into perspective, according to the United Nations, 10% of the world’s population work in tourism and have been sidelined by the loss of travels.  That’s nearly 800 million people all waiting for things to get back to normal.

You might (or might not) know that I started this blog in 2009 to promote the Harp the Highlands and Islands trips.  I was (and still am) so excited by the chance to travel with harp friends to a place I love to visit.

I conceived of the whole shebang at the Ohio Scottish Arts School the summer before.  I dreamed of playing the tunes we learned in the places they were inspired by.  What could be cooler, I reasoned, than sitting at the Soldier’s Leap on the River Garry and playing Killiecrankie?  Or to be on the Isle of Skye  playing Morag of Dunvegan, or Mrs. McLeod of Raasay, or MacDonnald, Lord of the Isles, or any of the other gazillions of tunes from Skye!?  Or to sit just about anywhere and play a tune tied to that place?

But it was a later, chance conversation with my Partner-in-Crime David (who had begun working as a tour guide) that added the secret sauce to make it all happen.  I mentioned that thought and he made it a reality!  And so, the trip was born.  He plans and leads delicious and delightful travel experiences and I put together tunes referencing places, people, history, and emotion that stitch it all together.  We share the tunes and everyone has a blast!

What could be better than travel to a place that calls to you, with people you enjoy, to share music and laughter and fun?  If you said, “Pretty much nothing could be better!” you are right!  And if you didn’t say that, you should probably come along with us – then you’d see what I mean!

We were bummed when we had to postpone the 2020 trip.  And we were dismayed when we, understandably, had to postpone again to 2022.  We’re hoping against hope that we’ll be good to go next summer.  Because…Scotland! (voted the most beautiful country in the world)  Because…harp! (the original traditional instrument of Scotland)  Because…music! (do I really to have to say anything pithy here? I didn’t think so.)

Until we can travel as we once did, we’ll have to content ourselves with celebrating World Tourism Day with the rest of the world from our own homes.  We’ll eagerly await our trips.  Until then, you can still go places.  Local travel and tourism will scratch the itch for a while.  Bring your harp along to add a delight element to your trip.

If you’d like to come on a trip with us – let me know.  Want more info? It’s here on the website.  Best bit, you don’t have to carry your harp, it’ll be there for you!

How are you going to celebrate World Tourism Day?  Where are you going to take your harp next?  If you haven’t traveled with your harp before – by car, by bus, by subway, by train, by plane – and wonder if it’s as difficult as it looks, ask your questions!  I’d love to hear what you’d like to know.

Ides of September….

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The Ides of September are here.  Temperatures are beginning to dip, the sun is setting sooner.  Yep, autumn is in the air.

What could be better than apple picking (or picking apples at the market, if you don’t live in apple region), pumpkin carving, or selecting the right layer that will keep you warm in the morning but help you not sweat in the afternoon.  All the good things.

Of course, that’s right now.  But right ‘round the corner are the holidays.  And then, no matter your level of play, people are going to ask you to play. The question isn’t whether they’ll ask, the question is –

WILL YOU BE READY?

The upside of the holidays is that the music doesn’t change much, so each year you can refresh tunes you have played in previous years and add a couple of new ones to broaden your repertoire. 

The downside (especially if you are less experienced or don’t often perform) is that people know all those tunes, so you might feel more stressed about making a mistake while playing.

That stress doesn’t make it easier to get through the season.  What will help is to give yourself time to get ready and to have a plan so you make the most of your practice time.

Are you sitting there secure that this won’t apply to you?  Consider this – playing for your family and/or your friends makes a lovely caring gift that they are sure to enjoy and cherish, so keep reading!

Here are a few ideas to help you prepare:

  • Take stock. Make a list of the tunes you want to play.  Try to make the list broad – some carols, some popular tunes.  Include those tunes that are essential to you for the holidays – those ones that give you a warm fuzzy feeling that it’s really here.  Then include the chestnuts and crowd pleasers and you’ll have a good list going.  Keep in mind that there are a lot of holidays in a few calendar weeks, so include music for those if you may have the opportunity to share.
  • Once you’ve listed those tunes, separate them into the ones you have played before and the ones you would like to learn for this year.  Don’t go crazy with adding new tunes – the point is to be successful, not to be made insane!
  • Make a Schedule. “The Holidays” seem to start earlier each year.  Early November is the new mid-December.  If you’re not gigging per se, you may have a couple of months to prepare, but if you aim to be ready by Halloween, you will have wiggle room if something doesn’t come easily.  You will definitely want to be comfortable by Thanksgiving.
  • Make a practice plan. Now that you have your list of tunes and a schedule, figure out when you’re going to practice what.  Mix up old and new tunes so you’re gaining breadth while also polishing the rusty things.  Be realistic about how many tunes you can learn and how long it will take to polish up tunes you already know.  Using your schedule and your list, plan time to polish and time to learn.  I like to write it on a calendar so i am very aware of how far along I am in preparing and how much time is remaining.  Also be ready to modify – if things are going poorly, reevaluate your list.  If things are going swimmingly, what else should you add?
  • Keep the other stuff going too. While everyone enjoys holiday music, we also also get saturated at some point.  So it’s a good idea to include a couple of non-holiday tunes as well.  This will also help keep your regular repertoire in your mind and hands – because you’ll need them as soon as the holidays are over!

We are watching September slide by, the Ides of September are going past us.  But with just a little bit of organization and focus, you will be able to be comfortably prepared for the entire holiday season with less stress.  And you’ll probably enjoy it more too! 

Have you been asked to play yet? What are you planning to play this holiday season?  Have you started yet?  Let me know (I might want to learn it!).

Do You Count? 

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I often think about tunes in “layers”.  All the layers are important, but some are easier to master than others.  The layers include the notes, the fingering, the phrases.  And then there’s the counting.  There are loads of elements that define the music, but time might be the most challenging to really get learned and honed – to get right. 

Do you Count?

When you get to brass tacks, music is really a sequence of sounds and not-sounds (rests) over time.  And so, to be true to the melody, share the message, and communicate with our listeners, we have to keep the count.  

Sometimes, as harp players, we become inured to the silence – we get so little of it with our wonderful resonant instruments. Harps love to keep on playing and that lovely sound “hanging around” may make us lazy – it may feel like it will be easy to get away with not counting.  But that is an illusion.

Counting can be a challenge when you first begin to learn a tune.  There is so much to learn and all of it important.  We have to keep the important stuff in mind – actively use it.  Time is challenging but it can be so rewarding!  It will help your audience follow your message, it will make playing with other musicians a greater joy, and it will help ensure your tune is what the original composer meant it to be.

Previously, I have said that I don’t advocate rigid adherence to the beat.  That wasn’t really accurate.  Rather, it is essential to know that timing of the piece and work within that.  With poignant airs you might bend the time to build the expression, but that works best by manipulating the times. Laments need to be sorrowful, but it should never be lamentable!  But the difference will be in how you deal with the time. 

It is essential that you learn to count.  Ok, I know you can already count.  You have to learn to count while you’re playing…and keep counting, maintaining your counting throughout your playing. Only when you have mastered this tool of communication can you begin to modify its application as appropriate to tell your story.  I know counting can be hard – it’s one more thing to do while you’re also trying to remember what notes come next, which fingers to use, that you need to breathe, etc.  Pesky layers!

So how do you add counting to that task?  Carefully.

First, start slowly.  This really is another task you will have to perform while also doing all the other things you have learn. Counting is another thing you have to think about as you bring the tune together – make sure you go slowly enough that your brain can keep up!

Second, practice.  Counting while you’re playing takes practice.  You want to practice counting enough that it becomes automatic – no matter what you’re playing or where you are in learning it (just starting, polishing, anywhere in between!).  One method I suggest is to include this in your practice away from the harp.  An easy way to practice is while you’re walking or running.  This gives you a physical beat to follow so you can work on counting.

Third, be consistent.  You can’t practice counting the tune once and be done!  Make practicing counting a regular part of your practice.  If you really are not counting at all – start with simple tunes you already know.  As it gets easier, move on to more challenging tunes and tunes you are learning.  You will get better!

Finally, always be working on it.  Once you can consistently and accurately count, start making things more complicated and related to other music.  Remember to count to the smallest note value (e.g., the eighth notes if they’re present or 16ths – you will have to do some analysis).  Use whatever counting device works for you – vocables, fruits and veg – whatever works!

Of course, there’s (always) more to the story, so send me your questions and share your insights in the comments.  In the meantime, stand up for your music – make sure you count!

September is Baby Safety Month – is your baby safe?

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I don’t know a single harp player who doesn’t, in one way or another, think of their harp as their “baby”.  Little girls, big burly men, people entering degree programs, middle aged beginners, pint sized masters – they all have that sense of their instrument being extremely special to them.  They may or may not name their harp.  And they may not all be vociferous about expressing the sentiment, but you can still sense it. 

And since September is Baby Safety Month, let’s review some important aspects of keeping your baby safe!  There aren’t a lot of things to keep in mind, but they are fairly important to assure your baby is taken care of.

In the Home:

1. Protective Posture.  Think about where your harp sits in the room.  While you want it to be accessible (because we all know that if you have to move your harp to play it, you’re not going to play as much) you also want it to be protected – from sunny windows and blow-y air vents and traffic in the room as well as from Fluffy and Fido, and small hands.  If you have the option, you can keep your harp in a corner or more protected part of the room.  No one wants to hear that gut-wrenching sound of a harp hitting the floor!    

2.  Dis the Dust.  No matter which harp you play – even if you play a Dusty Strings (full disclosure – I’m a fan!) – you don’t really want your soundboard to be covered in dust!  Use a soft, clean (duh) dry cotton or microfiber cloth.  If you’re particularly particular you can also use a soft makeup brush to dust the levers and pins (or so I’ve heard, I’m not that particular!).

3. Time to Tune.  Do I really need to tell you this?  The more you tune, the less you need to…

4. Even Keel.  Keep the temperature and the humidity comfortable.  If you are comfortable, your harp will be fairly happy as well.  Too warm, too cold, too dry – your harp won’t enjoy it either.

5. Zip It.  Close the case when you’re not using it.  Ok, this is probably just a preference, but I find that keeping the case zipped up between uses helps it hold its shape (which makes putting the harp in the case easier).  And it ensures that any cat/dog/rabbit/fish hair that might be floating around your house stays on the outside.

In the Car

1. Treat your baby like a baby.  This might be the best piece of advice I got when I first started playing.  Whenever you wouldn’t leave a baby in the car, don’t leave your harp.  Don’t forget that a closed car will be much warmer than the outside air when parked in the sun.  Remember that the glue may soften in the heat which would weaken the strength of the harp.  Park in the shade if you can.  Of course, too cold can also be a problem, potentially ruining the finish, or worse.

2. Watch the Windows.  For short journeys this might not be important, but longer trips are different.  Try to keep in mind where the sun will be – when the sun beats on the window it gets hot so if you harp is in that window, it will get hot.  If you’re able, put your harp on the other side of the car.  If you don’t have that choice, consider blocking the sun with a sunshade (or a t shirt) – just like you would for a baby!

3. Belted or Bedded.  Hopefully you have carefully selected your harpmobile either to carry your harp “belted” or “bedded”.  When it’s belted your harp is on it’s back through a split seat or across the backseat (and you can actually use the seat belt to help hold it in place!).  If you’re not interested in carrying it that way or your car isn’t shaped for that, you can lay it on its side in the trunk or hatch (assuming a large enough back).  If you decide to “Bed” it, make sure you keep it levers side up and that the surface it’s lying on is level.  Conveniently, a lot of cases have the pocket on the lever side, so as long as you keep the pocket up, you will be ok.

4.  Zip Zip.  Since you have a lovely case – use the case!  Whenever possible put your harp in the case when you put it in the car to help protect it.  And put the levers down to protect them from breaking while in the case.

All the time

Ensure you’re Insured.  No matter it’s age or size, a harp is an investment.  Protect it!  I’m horrified by the number of people I’ve talked to who have not insured their harp!  Just do it.  Call your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance carrier and get a valuable personal property or musical instrument rider.  You will probably have to provide a statement of the value of the harp (like the bill of sale or a letter from a seller stating its value).  If you are making money from your harp (gigging) you may need to buy separate insurance which will be available via an organization (such as International Society of Folk Harpers and Craftsman (ISFHC) or American Harp Society (AHS)).  Don’t dither over the price – buy the insurance!

Keep your baby safe and protected.  Are there any other things you do to care for yours?  Let me know in the comments!

 

 

It helps to have a plan

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What are you going to do this week?  It’s a fairly innocuous question.  But it has the potential to be a very good week.

But a little bit of preparation can ensure that it is a very good week.  All you’ll need is about 15 minutes and some paper. You can do this on whichever day is your night before your week begins.   You know that writing it down helps bring the thoughts out and makes them real. 

So, what should you capture there before you start your week?  Here are some ideas:

1. What would you like to accomplish this week? Try to be specific so you’ll know if you’ve done it.

2. Make a plan for each day.  Remember that you can include all the things that are part of practicing including analyzing new music, listening to tunes, practicing at the harp, practicing away from the harp, rhythm work, improvising, all the things! Don’t forget to plan which days youl might be away and have little time to practice as well as the days that you know you just really are not going to make it to the bench.  Be realistic!

3. Show up – every day.  If you have plan, it is certainly easier to stick with it.   

4.  Don’t waste your time – since you have thought about what you’ll be doing, do it – fully.  Don’t skate through your practice. 

5.  Be present.  Put your phone away, turn the tv off, close the door (if you have that luxury).  It’s a brief part of your day – be a part of it.

6.  Take the good with the not as good (and include the inevitable flow of your development into account when you plan your week. 

7.  Set your priorities – out loud.  You have already set them, whether you articulate them or not, so you might as well include them in your thinking.

8.  The clock is your friend.  Not only do you want to be sure to have identified when in your day you will sit to play, you also need to know how long you intend to play.  Not only do you want to avoid packing it in too early on a rough day, but you also want to keep the rest of your life going too!

9.  Make a note – when you’ve done for the day, jot down what you accomplished and what you need to do the next time (which might be a tweak to the plan).

10. Don’t let a little bit of structure make you forget that you enjoy this!

You might also strive to always play at the same time of day.  I don’t suggest that only because that I can’t really support that.  My schedule is never that regular.  If you have (or crave) a very steady schedule, then definitely do try to keep to a scheduled time.  But if it doesn’t really drive you, don’t worry about having a regular time – so long as you regularly make time.

Do you have a plan? Will you try some these?  Which ones?  Let me know in the comments.

Have a bath

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Ok, let’s start by just taking a breath.  Because it’s been a breath-taking week.  No matter how you look at events and their attribution, it’s been quite a week.Sound Bath

So, we could sit around and kvetch about it.  Between the pandemic and the world and politics and social media and social distancing and east coast hurricanes and west coast fires, and everyone being sure that they know the answer, and everyone else is an idiot, there’s a lot to “unpack” as they say. 

One thing seems sure – many people are feeling many things, including anxiety and ennui. What if someone could give a gift to multiple people simultaneously, that would help ease that, if only for just a brief while? Wouldn’t that be a wonderful gift?

Of course it would be!  Well, guess what?! 

YOU can give that gift.  You can provide that brief respite.  It’s all there, right at your fingertips!

Consider going out and playing for the people near you (and for yourself).  You can create a version of a Sound Bath.

What is a Sound Bath?  It’s an experience that uses sound as an aid to relaxation and meditation.  The music is played to wash over the listener – hence the “bath”. 

While simpler sounds are often used, the harp is certainly a perfect instrument and this is a perfect situation.  All you need to do is play.

Play simple melodies.  Play those tunes you learned at the start.  Play what you’re learning now.  Play from your heart and with the intention of relieving any conflict in your own head as well as creating an environment in which your listeners can relax.

It won’t be a performance.  Perhaps it will feel slightly more embarrassing – after all, you will be inviting others to join you in a bath!  Ask them to join you, to relax, to close their eyes, to breathe, to listen, while you play your harp.  Then bathe them with sounds.

It doesn’t need to be fancy – just play from your doorstep, porch, driveway.  Or go to the park.  Or the Walmart parking lot.  No matter where you sit, be sure you play from your heart.  It will do you good.  It will do them good.  Use your harp and your music as a balm. 

It won’t matter what you play.  What will matter is that you play.  It’ll do you good. 

Will you go out there?  Will you draw a sound bath for yourself and others?  There’s no time limit and certainly no deadline, but there’s no time like the present.  Let me know if you decide to play, where you chose to play, who you played for – let me know in the comments!

Ooops, missed that

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It’s been quite a time.  All the stuff going on around us.  Disease. Death. Destruction.  But we’re really lucky – we have our instruments and our music to help soothe us and to aid our journey through the mire.

Most of us try to face toward the future, to the time after all the yuck we’re experiencing.  Therefore, we might not have noticed that time is passing.

And so, the midpoint of the year, which is July 1st (or 2nd, depending on the year and your desired level of precision), has come and gone, by quite a bit – over six weeks (!).  I like to mark the midpoint of the year – to see how things are going and to assess if I’m “there yet”.  At that point in the middle of the year, plenty of time has passed to have started some projects, made progress on others, and to have finished some as well.  With projects in work, I can also get a good idea how I’ll be getting along through the rest of the year. 

I try not to make it too much of a report card.  You know –

SUBJECT GRADE
Effort A
Follow Through C
Completion F

And if it is a report card, for it to be more kindergarten-like:

If you can focus on the critique (of the smiley report card) and avoid the criticism (of the other), then you can make a better assessment too.  After all, at the beginning of the year, you have boundless energy, unending ideas, and a blank calendar.  By the middle of the year, you have less energy, the calendar is mysteriously stuffed AND you have a clearer idea of what you are really interested in.  Because really, you only do those things on which you focus.

At this point of the year, when it’s hot, and still, and called the dog days for a reason, you might find that your focus has drifted.  Between the alluring beauty of the easy things and the unending distraction of the glittery things, you may have lost sight of the most important things (as defined by you!).   That makes this the perfect time to ask yourself if the important things of January have maintained their status in August?  Ok, really the perfect time would have been on July 1st, but today is nearly as perfect a time to ask. 

Then the question is, ask what?  Here are a few questions you might ask (and answer!) in the middle of the year:

  • Are those things identified in January as being important still important?  If not, then take them off your agenda, ‘cause you’re not going to get to them!  But if they are still important, then it’s time for the tough questions
    • Why did they get short shrift?
    • What is stopping you?
    • What do you need to do to get back on track?
  • What has gone well?
  • What one thing do you need to have done by 31 December to consider this a good year?
  • Were the goals set in January the right ones (and if not, what should they be now?)
  • Am I only trying to do this because it seemed important before?

And my personal favorite –

  • Am I enjoying myself? (because, after all, if not, why do it?)

On balance, I’m fairly pleased so far this year.  How about you?  We have about four and a half months to go, so there’s loads of time to keep on and move ourselves to where we’d like to be.  Don’t forget that writing it down helps – both to realize what you have remaining to do and to remember what’s still to go (and why it is important to you).  List the tunes you’d like to learn, the technique you want to master, the events you’d like to play, the people you’d like to meet, etc.

Then you can work on making it happen!  How does your year look here at the mid-point?  Let me know in the comments!