This is when we honor the fallen. Although it’s easy to get caught up in the warm weather, the “unofficial start of summer”, and the BBQing, we are often asked to play for events – just a thought on receiving the privilege of getting one of those calls.
Being creative seems like it should be easy. But, sometimes you want to be creative…and nothing comes. And it seems that the harder you think the less anything good happens!
Maybe you just need some inspiration. You could do the usual thing – sit there and try to come up with something you will deem creative. But if that had worked, you wouldn’t need to read this.
What are some other ways you might spur your creativity? Here are 5 ways to move forward:
Don’t sweat it. Some days, nothing will come of it, but other times you’ll generate all sorts of great tune ideas! Be sure to capture what you do come up with (even if you are not happy with it) – build a collection of ideas that you can review later. Continue to work those and see where you go – you never know where you’ll end up!
What do you do to spur your own creativity? Share your methods in the comments!
As musicians, we use all kinds of tools. This, of course, includes our harps (duh!) and our tuning wrenches. But there are plenty of other tools we use all the time. Don’t believe me? What about your practice journal? Your metronome (yes it counts, even if you barely use it!). Your electronic tuner? Pens, pencils, sticky notes, highlighters – all tools. Books and books and pages of music? Also tools. But perhaps the most useful tool is one that can help you learn, improve, and focus. What is this magic power tool?
Your phone!
Yup, your phone really can be a life saver (well, practice saver at least).
No, not for watching videos (although that’s a good way to learn new tunes). Not for surfing Facebook. Not to check the weather, be a Twit, or to surf up irrelevant factoids.
I’m pretty sure there are two things my students can hear me say before the words can actually get out of my mouth. The first one is: SLOW DOWN! You might be tired of me saying that too. But I repeat it because — it’s true.
The other one they know is coming is: RECORD YOUR PRACTICE! Use your phone camera to record yourself.
I know that often, no one believes me. But every once in a while, I hear back from someone, “Oh! You were right! I didn’t know I was [insert your current technique foible (sticking out my pinky, not bringing my 3 back in, actively making roach antennas, not actually placing, etc. the litany is long!)] but I really am – I thought you were just being mean.”
This is, of course, a variant of, “Oh, I didn’t know I was slowing down/not waiting/not counting/consistently playing the wrong note” that arises as well.
It is really important to acknowledge that there is a lot going on when you’re playing a tune. You feel this keenly when you’re learning a tune (when even an 8-bar romp seems to last forever, none of the notes will stick together in clumps, and you are sure you’ll never learn it). But once we get past the initial feeling of fear/dread of having to think about each note, we think we got it.
But we don’t. Mostly because there is so much to get – fingeringandplacingandtoneandharmonyandpostureandbreathingandeverythingelse
What you lose – almost immediately – is the ability to monitor yourself! There are so many things to think about and you can only pay attention to so many.
And that’s where your phone comes in – set your phone up on your music stand (obviously point it at your “work area” of the harp – at the strings where you are playing). Make sure you use the video function rather than the still camera. Then push the button and let it go.
Don’t worry about making a huge video – you’re going to record– review–delete. After you have recorded, then you’ll review – watching for what you can learn. Following reviewing, you can then delete that file (or upload it for your teacher) and start the process over again. Make sure you record with sound so you can hear the tune (and the metronome!).
What are you reviewing for? Well, the list is long and distinguished! You will probably need to review it a few times to catch everything. You’re looking for closing, placement, good contact with the string (or getting enough finger on the string), no hesitations, relaxed hands, appropriately raised elbows, no grimaces, etc.). And you are looking for places that you fumble*.
You won’t record your pieces just once. You can repeatedly record when you’re learning the tune (as above). Later, when you’re more facile with the it, you’ll be looking more at the musicality with which you’re delivering the tune – still fingering and placing but also dynamics, phrasing, accents, and those places that sounded good in your head just don’t sound as good in the real world.
No matter which stage of learning you are in with a tune, you are also looking for the places that you need to focus your work. The tricky fingering not working? Focus on just that bit, work it over until you figure out a new fingering and a better way to do it. Then you can append the bit just before (coming into the tricky bit) or just after (coming out of the tricky bit) and build up a larger and larger chunk of the tune until the whole thing just works.
Have you tried recording your practice? Want to share what you learned in the comments? I’d love to hear about it.
*I classify fumbles into two buckets, each of which has a different solution. The first bucket is “I had no idea where to go next”. The solution there is to review the tune and keep working on it because you don’t have all of it in your head yet. The second is “I knew exactly where I needed to go, I just couldn’t seem to get there”. The solution for this bucket is…SLOW DOWN!
Some people have a bucket list. Of course, even more haven’t made one, but they probably have things they’d like to have accomplished by the time they’re done on the coil mortal.
A bucket list is a compilation of all the things a person would like to have accomplished, completed, or dreamt of. It is (yet another) goals list, pure and simple.
You might think a Bucket List is a macabre thing to keep. After all, most people think of it as a list of all the things you may (or might not) have accomplished in your entire life. Ok, that would be macabre.
But what if you instead think of it as a gentle reminder of what you think is interesting, curious, important, and/or worth pursuing? If you look at it that way, it could be sort of interesting – and a little goading. And probably worth keeping for quick and frequent reference. For guidance. And as a reminder to keep your head up (metaphorically…. although you should also do that physically while you’re playing!).
Apparently loads of people have lists that include travel around the world, run a marathon, be a better person, write a novel, or pursue a passion.
BUT – YOU ALREADY HAVE A PASSION. You’re no desultory harper!
What sort of things might you put on the list? Well, that’s going to be fairly personal. After all, it will be all the things you hope you will do before you are no longer able to play the harp. I have my own ideas (although, to be fair, I’ve been checking mine off as fast as I can!).
How, you might ask would you go about making your bucket list? Well, it’ll take a little time and effort, but it’ll be worth it! First, note that you might be making more than one list. After all, once you start thinking about it, you might be making a life list, a harp list, a family list, etc. And that’s ok – you can have multiple lists!
I’d suggest making the list in your practice journal. You have to keep it somewhere, so why not there? That way you’ll see it each time you sit to practice – and be reminded of some of the reasons you’re about to practice…
It’s your list – you can put anything you like on it. Secret fantasies, deepest desires, put ‘em down. You’ll never know when you’ll have the chance to check one of them off, but you’ll be ready for the opportunity if you know you want to (you won’t have to think about it when it happens – you’ll be ready!).
Of course, also put down stuff you know you can do if you try. Learn that piece you admire. Write down that tune that you hear in your head. Ask that well-known teacher for a lesson. You have nothing to lose!
Then there’s the harder to define stuff – what do you want your harp legacy to be. Don’t think you have one? Oh, you do, you just might not have thought about it before. Do you want to be sure that you have actually played for your friends? Wish you would sit a Master Class? Want to participate in that fabulous workshop everyone’s always talking about? While these things might be more challenging, you can get there. And writing them on your list will remind you to keep at it.
Maybe the hardest thing about generating your bucket list is to prioritize it. What’s the most important to you? What will take you the most time (or require new skills or significantly more practice)? Does anyone in your life need to have an input (whether they be an audience member or a travel companion or some other adjunct to your thinking)? You’ll need to factor that in. Also, is there any intersection of your harp and your life bucket lists? Maybe you can take your harp with you as you travel around the world? Always wanted to go to Scotland (always a good idea) – maybe there’s a workshop you plan around (or you could join us sometime in the future!). Two birds, meet one stone!
What does not belong on your Harp Bucket List? ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED IN! Don’t want to play in an ensemble? Don’t. Don’t want to play orchestra parts? Don’t even write it down! Never wanted to learn that “must do” repertoire? Then DON’T!
You’re capturing what YOU want to do with your harp life. Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks. Maybe you’re not quite ready to do some of it, that’s ok. You’ve written it down so you can be reminded of what you want to be so you can keep acquiring the skills or practice you need to be able to get there. And remember – it’s your list. Share it with others if you like, but you don’t have to.
When you complete something on your list, savor that!
Make your bucket list – so you can do all the things you want while you are able. Live your harp life! What might you put on your bucket list? Got a good idea? Want to share it in the comments?
I saw it in the eyes. I thought that maybe while teaching online I wouldn’t see that look – the “oh no, she’s going to make me play it even slower – how can I play it s-l-o-w-e-r? I can’t remember it that slow, pleasepleaseplease don’t say to play it slower. Crap, she said it!”
I get it. We want to play more, we want to advance, we want to achieve. And now that most of us are at home, we are being sent subtle (and not so subtle) messages that we should be achieving great things with all this free time we have now (that’s a whole ‘nother kettle of fish – because I don’t know about you, but I seriously am working more that I was before!).
You might have heard this same thing from your teacher*. So, what does “practice it slower” really mean? Well there’s the obvious – just play everything at a lower tempo. But does that really serve you? What is it that you’re meant to learn while practicing slower?**
Here are six things you can get from practicing slower:
Do yourself a favor and slow down! You will know your music better and you’ll be more comfortable playing it. You will also, whether you mean to or not, learn what gives you the most trouble so the next time, you can give it the time it needs while you’re learning…by going slow.
How Slow Can You Go? Let me know you’re great slow going experiences in the comments.
* Not everyone agrees with this approach and I am sure some may read this and clutch their pearls. And that’s ok. I like to see people succeed in learning and breaking the music down into small pieces and working on the parts systematically has worked really well. Probably because at each step you are only focusing on learning one thing. It won’t work for everyone, but isn’t it worth a try to see if it will be a good fit for you?
** I am a-l-w-a-y-s telling my students to practice slower. Heck, I am always telling myself to work slower. Even I get tired of hearing myself say it (I do still say it, because it works). In the time of Coronavirus, blog posts ideas are being shuffled and I found the notes for this post on a sticky note on my desk. I can tell by the color of the sticky that I made the note months ago. So, after I wrote the post, it occurred to me that I may be this brilliant…or I might have read something or listened to a podcast by someone else and that’s where I got the six points. It all sounds like the sort of thing I do and teach, but if I have inadvertently stolen someone’s idea, unfortunately, I didn’t write down whose. But, I do not intend to plagiarize – if if you recognize this – please let me know so I can attribute credit.
COMMENTS BELOW THE LINE
For good or bad, photos don’t “fit” into the comments – but I LOVE when you share them, so I’m going to start incorporating “Comments Below the Line” in posts so there’s a place for them to show. You will have to email me the photos, but that’s ok, I’ll get them up here asap. Thank you so much for always helping me learn more!
From Helen:
I love teaching. I learn so much from each of my students. They all have their own strengths and challenges, but I find that there are sometimes overlaps. This week, no less than three students have been trapped in the Land of Should – a dark and horrible place which is easy to find and sometimes hard to leave.
You might have been there. You might be there right now. You can tell you’re there by the signs:
“I should practice more”
“I should be more motivated (even though there’s a global pandemic and nothing is as it typically is)”
“I should be able to ignore the things going on in my life and keep playing”
“I should be able to play this by now”
“I should be better than I am”
I get it. The Land of Should can be very seductive. And sometimes it seems like it’s the only place the bus stops.
But being trapped in the Land of Should is actually painful and not very comfortable. After all, WHY should you (practice more, be more motivated, be more accomplished, and by extension, have a pristine home, have read all the “right” books, being wearing the right look, etc. – whatever)??
But shoulds are often unhelpful – these thoughts don’t get you any further ahead. Telling yourself you should do (or be) something doesn’t change anything or suggest useful changes. It only sets you up to feel like you’ll never get where you’re going. The Land of Should is like that.
One way to look at is that these thoughts are actually you bullying yourself! You’re telling yourself you’re a disappointment. Would you say something like that to your best friend? I didn’t think so.
And right now, we all need a little more TLC – especially from ourselves! Even the most stalwart and resilient among us are feeling a little peaky. So, it’s no surprise if the pull of the Land of Should is becoming stronger.
How do you escape its terrible orbit? Here are five ways to get out of the Land of Should:
If you find yourself lost in the Land of Should, perhaps one of these might help. If something works for you, please let me know. And if you have another way to escape – please share in the comments below.
The silent siege rages on. We the fortunate work from home, stay inside, and “do our part” (whatever that means). Sadly, people are becoming more isolated, even while feverishly posting to social media – lighting a match to hold back the darkness.
But this week can be just a little bit different. This week we honor the fine arts by celebrating World Art Day on 15 April.
Which is ever so much better than Tax Day (if you just had a moment of panic, relax, they moved the deadline to 15 July – you may resume your regularly scheduled delaying).
The International Association of Art (www.iaa-usa.org) declared 15 April as World Art Day (I cannot make this stuff up) to promote awareness of creative activity world wide. They chose this day because it is also Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday. And if ever there was a walking personification of the fine arts, ‘twas he.
In case you’re wondering what this has to do with us as musicians – in a word, everything! Many think the fine arts only includes painting, drawing, and sculpture, but it is much broader. And you guessed it, includes music! (and other things like literature, architecture, dance and more)
In the US there’s a big celebration in Los Angeles with loads of events planned. Well, there was to be a big celebration in museums all over the area. But as you might have guessed, that will not be the case this year. With museums and other public spaces closed, these events will certainly take a different from (if they occur at all).
So what are we – we fine artists – to do?
Let’s be creative!
And let’s share our fine art.
Because now more than ever, we need to be making art. We need to be making art to care for ourselves. And perhaps even more, non-artists really need to be experiencing art! So we need to be making art to care for others.
So, let’s share our arts. Not to put too fine a point on it – our art is fine. There are many things you could do. Here are a cursory few:
How will you celebrate World Art Day? Let me know and share photos! And remember, if you want – every day can be World Art Day!
Kate sent me this photo of her Covid-19 protected harp! Kate’s a nurse and knows the importance of keeping healthy – 
It’s that time on the calendar when I usually take some space to mention some of my favorite summer programs and activities so you can save your pennies and dates and plan to go to as many interesting, educational, and cool adventures as you can swing.
This year – not so much.
We’re still watching from the windows, waiting for the shadow to pass. Hopefully it will leave us alone, but not before many of the summer activities will be cancelled or postponed.
But we are the lucky ones – we have our beautiful instruments and our soul-touching music – our companions in times good and bad. We have a port in the storm that feels like it will never recede.
It will recede, as storms (and diseases) do. And after a while we will timidly leave our homes and venture out. Slowly, as we do, things will return to normal. Normal – and all that it entails – too much going on, too much to do, too much to accomplish.
Don’t be one of the people who, at the end of this confinement, looks back and wonders where the time went! If you are home and you are not sick – what a gift – you have time!
You can use this time chained to the constant blather of news that isn’t – or you can go to your harp! But what will you do there? Well, what would you like to do? While the answer to that depends on you, here are some ideas to get you started:
Summer may be cancelled, but we still have our harps!
Next week – ways to get yourself sorted, organized and keep from spinning around not actually learning anything! How are you spending your harp time while staying at home? Let me know if the comments!
The tyranny of the invisible thingies continues. And this makes many remain feeling a little unsettled. We pretend that words like AloneTogether make us feel better – but really, they don’t. The upside is that we have the technology to keep reaching out to one another – to maintain contact and be together even though we’re at least six feet apart.
Since we have this connection, I wanted to reach out to you my subscribers – with a little poster you might want to print out. I made it to help cheer you when you’re not feeling so much like playing…even while you know playing will probably help you feel a little bit better and help you to count your joys.
This whole thing won’t last long (in the grand scheme), so stay safe, stay the course, stay home. And keep practicing. Maybe take your harp out to the sunshine and play for your neighbors to help cheer them as well and share a joy for them to count as well.
Not a subscriber yet? You can sign up here.
There’s not much that I can tell you that you haven’t already heard about the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. If you need information, there’s loads available in all the usual outlets.
What I can do though, is strongly encourage you to take care of yourself and those in your life. There all the usual precautions – avoid others, wash your hands, disinfect surfaces.
You might be surprised I don’t have a lot to say – especially since I usually do. In this case, I just don’t have a lot to add.
But one thing I can stress to you is that this is a time of turmoil. And in those tumultuous times, the importance of spending time with your harp only increases.
No, this is not my usual exhortation that you practice. This time, I strongly encourage you to play for you. To bolster your spirits – and the spirits of those around you. Never underestimate the succor your harp can provide you and those in your household in times of turmoil.
The anxiety and stress of times of uncertainty may leave you feeling like you don’t want to (or don’t have time to) play. Don’t allow stress and concern to convince you that you “must” practice – because you might not want to. Don’t let your anxiety pull you away!
Whatever you do, just play. Allow the music and the reverberation flow over you and soothe frayed nerves. Enjoy the feel of the harp itself. Revel in the meditation of tuning and the simple joy of warming up. Play what helps you feel centered. There are many opportunities to share your music and I encourage you to do that but if you’re not interested in doing that, just play. If you are of a mind, share video in the usual places to help others (don’t have a usual place? send it to me and I’ll be happy to share it for you).
Help others by sharing your gift. We will all be better for it. And of course, if you’re playing, you are likely social distancing! Are you playing for yourself? For others? Let us know in the comments below.