Jenius Creations

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  • Greet the day


    I had the extreme good fortune to be a guest at Holy Cross Monastery this week for a harp retreat with old friends and other friends I hadn’t met before.  It is a lovely place in a beautiful location.  The weather was crap.  Gray.  Drizzly.  Misty.  It was perfect!

    Of a morning, I greeted the dawn and was treated to the type of daybreak that only arises from awful weather – a breathtaking, gorgeous, extended crowning of the sun over the earth. 

    The great thing about sunrise is that it can’t be rushed.  No matter how many you see (and I do my best to see as many as possible) each is beautiful in its own way and comes in its own time.  And no matter what you do, they simply are.  All you can do…is breathe…and wait for it…and enjoy.

    Which is good for us to remember – we must sometimes take the time to simply be.  To breathe.  To allow the day to wash over us.  
    This same approach can be brought to your harp and your music.  Don’t rush.  Enjoy the beauty.  Let the music unfold.  Relish that presence.  Practice it.  Until, like placing your fingers, counting, or breathing, it merely comes naturally.  Practice enjoying and not rushing until it comes naturally…and becomes just the way you do it.  

  • An Affair to Remember

    We are all busy it seems.  We have work, family, friends…and harp.  Sometimes it seems like something has to give – that there’s just not enough time to get everything done. This is especially exasperating if the thing that brings joy to your day is the one thing you don’t seem to get to. Yes, I’m talking to you.  Yes, I’m talking about playing your harp!
    When time gets tight and you don’t have time to practice, it is disturbing – being parted from that which adds goodness to your day is not pleasant.  But it also worrisome – because you know that with each day you miss practicing you are getting further from your goals (whether you are focused on learning a particular tune or trying to be prepared to perform)…and that is frightening as well.
    If this is happening to you, maybe it’s time to have an affair with your harp!  If you were having an affair, you’d force time into your day to have your fling.  You’d make excuses to be in the same place, to catch a glimpse, to run your hand along the arm.  You might sneak around, hoping that no one caught you. You would expend significant energy to get to the object of your affection. And each time you did, you’d be delighted and eager!
    The time might be fleeting, but the frission of excitement each time you were near would be titillating.  And you’d so look forward to the next time – even if you had to manufacture it.
    Go ahead.  An affair would be good for you – you could fall in love again…with your harp. 

  • Harp Care

    It has been a rough winter for just about everyone – temperatures going up and down, rain, snow, ice, more snow.  Heater on, heater off, windows open, windows closed.  All that change can be hard on your harp. You probably find your harp is out of tune more than “usual”.  While all that is happening, don’t forget to check your regulation.

    Regulation is a technical term for periodic maintenance for your harp.  It keeps it in good working order (or playing order if you prefer!).  Lever harp regulation is important and no less essential than it is for pedal harp.  How often you need to regulate is determined by harp type (with pedal harps needing more frequent regulation than lever harps) and how often you play (with more played harps needing regulation more periodically).  And if you are very picky about your tuning you might want your harp regulated more often.  If your lever harp is needs regulation, you will notice that when you set your levers your sharps are not accurate or your naturals aren’t right.  Your levers can be off in either direction (too sharp or too flat).

    Not sure if you need regulation? Here’s a way to tell:

    1. take all your levers off and tune each string as accurately as possible*
    2. set all your levers
    3. check the tuning of each string (do this carefully – remember that you have set every lever not just the ones you usually set, so make sure you are getting sharps and naturals where they should be)

    If your tuning with the levers set is not as accurate as it was with the levers off, you may need regulation.   There are, of course, matters of degrees (how far off are they) and your tolerance for any variance.  It is most likely that the levers you use the most will be the most affected (because you’re are always engaging and disengaging them, the bracket has more opportunity to move).

    If you do need regulation, you can do it yourself, although I recommend you go to your luthier.  If you decide to do it yourself, I suggest you find more experienced harpers who do their own regulation and ask for help and guidance before doing it yourself – it requires patience and calm.

    Regulation is a small maintenance activitiy that will allow you to enjoy your harp as well as making it “healthier” so you can play it longer.  Stay regular my friends!

    * you can do the same procedure to check your pedal harp regulation

  • Stage fright Challenge

    People who have stage fright often think that the people they see on stage are different. That the people on stage don’t have any anxiety about being up there, in the spotlight, the object of the attention of all the people in the audience.  Boy are they wrong!

    The only difference is that the people on the stage have mastered looking calm. I don’t know a single performer who doesn’t have some level of anxiety about performing.  Granted the level of anxiety and come of the symptoms are different, but everyone feels it.

    The other difference is that performers have, one way or another, overcome the anxiety.  That is because the reward is too great to miss.  However, if you haven’t overcome the terror, you don’t know what you’re missing [it is also possible that it isn’t a reward to you!].  If you have set yourself the challenge to overcome your stage fright, there are a few steps you can take:

    1. Identify precisely what your “bugaboo” is – are you afraid you are not prepared? not good enough? going to trip on stage?  
    2. Once you have identified it, address it – not prepared?  practice more.  Not good enough? there will always be people who are better than you are…and you will always be better than others. Tripping?  well, that’s been proven to be endearing – at least on national television!
    3. Define what venue will be doable for you at this point in time – where can you play (or for which audience) that will be outside your comfort…but not too far?  Schools and nursing homes are great places to play with audiences that are thirsty for and appreciative of your performance.
    4. Acknowledge that you will feel trepidation – and that it will affect your playing…and go with it!
    5. Be prepared to learn from getting out there – you will be able to be proud of your accomplishment and you can learn what happens (not what you fear will happen but what actually happens!).  Leverage what you learn.  Then you can work on those things as you prepare for your next performance!  

    And don’t go too fast – give yourself time to adapt…and enjoy the process!

  • Choosing new music

    There is so much great music in the world and many of us want to play it all!  However, at some point you must select the music that you are going to choose to learn and acknowledge that it is not possible to learn it all.  When you select a tune, whether it’s for competition, performance, weddings, healing or simply to amuse yourself, you should think about a few things to assure that you select the right music for you.
    1. Do you like it?   Early in my harp career I got excellent advice – don’t play music you don’t like!  Just don’t.  Life is short, enjoy the music!  (If you are booking weddings, this does have the unintended consequence of requiring you to know more music so you have something to suggest to counter a request you don’t like.)
    2. Does the arrangement work for you?  We all have strengths and weaknesses.  We have “tricks” we like, while there are others that just don’t fit our hands.  Make sure you select arrangements that are a good match to you…or arrange the tunes to make that match.
    3. Does it match your comfort zone? This goes both ways – if you are seeking to add to your repertoire, staying in your comfort zone will make learning the tunes easier and faster.  However, if your goal is to learn new things while learning new tunes, work outside your comfort zone and stretch!
    4. How are you going to play it? What’s it story to you? There is more to playing than getting the notes in the right order – what do you want to do with the tune?  You can be forming those ideas while learning the notes but coming to the tune with the story in mind might make it easier to learn.
    5. Is it over-played?   If everyone is playing a particular tune (especially if you’re choosing a “party piece”) do you want to be playing the same music?  Select the tunes to catch your attention.  [Note – this does not include session tunes, in which case the entire point is to learn tunes everyone is playing!]
    6. When you play the song for the first time, does it seem easy?  One of my favorite  indicators that a tune is a good fit is that it comes “falls into my hands”.  Don’t beat yourself up learning a tune that will not come together in your hands.  There are so many to choose from.  And if you really, really love the tune – come back to it later – it might just surprise you.
    And don’t forget to have fun while selecting new tunes.  Enjoy the process!

  • Three ways to do good


    We all play our harps for our own reasons – we love the feel, we love the creativity, we love to perform, etc.  But sometimes we need more.  Sometimes we need to give back, to help others, to do more.  You can use your harp in service – and the harp is an excellent way to do that.  Here are three ways you can give back with your harp.

    Health and Healing – Many people are called to contribute by supporting healing. There are a number of programs available to become trained to provide music in health care delivery systems.  Find a program such as Music for Healing and Transition – accredited  with the National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians to assure that you are learning the material you need to provide an environment conducive to the healing process.  Not interested in pursuing study?  You can still play in hospital waiting areas for the families anxious and waiting. 
    Work with education – If you are interested in helping children, you could develop presentations to introduce them to the harp and its music.  Many schools would be delighted to have your contribution.  And remember how many people have never seen or heard the harp – you can get in there early!  You might even find some new harpers there.  Schools need enrichment content and all the pupils could benefit from your time.
    Entertain the under-served – no matter where you live there are likely to be people who are not able to access quality entertainment so why not share with them?  Nursing homes, shut ins, group homes, and others would be delighted with any performance you would be willing to share. 
    Service is an excellent way to overcome any reluctance you might have about performing – these audiences will be so grateful for your time and talent.  In addition, it helps us to learn that playing and performing is about sharing, it’s not about us!
    There are so many ways to share – if you have others, please add them in the comments below – I’d love to hear from you – 

  • Southern Maryland Celtic Festival Harp Competition 2014

    April 26, 2014 marks the 36th year for the oldest Celtic celebration in Maryland!
    The festival is scheduled on the last Saturday of April every year from 10 AM to 6 PM, rain or shine, on the 560-acre Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum.  With more than 50 clans and societies and three performing stages offering continuous music and dance, it will be a fun and full day.  There is a Celtic marketplace and after the closing ceremonies, stay for the evening ceilidh.

    We are so excited to have Jo Morrison judging the Harp Competition this year.
    Jo is nationally known for her evocative interpretation of Scottish and Irish music on the harp.  Having spent several months in 2005 teaching, writing music, and performing on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, Jo’s knowledge and understanding of the Celtic genre puts her in great demand as performer, adjudicator, and teacher across the country.
    When not performing, Jo spends her time teaching harp privately and in classes and workshops, and composing and arranging Celtic music for the Celtic harp. She also teaches harp at Common Ground on the Hill in Westminster, Maryland, and taught at the Ohio Scottish Arts Schoolin 2002, the Somerset Harp Festival for several years, and at various workshops around the country. She taught on the Isle of Lewis in July of 2007. She is currently Vice-President for the Washington Area Folk Harp Society.  Jo is also trained as a Certified Music Practitioner with the Music for Healing and Transition Program (MHTP).
    Jo has five CDs – her debut album, The Three Musics (1998), as well as A Waulking Tour of Scotland (2000), Christmas Gifts (2003), is a collection of carols from around the world, By Request (2004) is Jo’s musical reply to the oft-posed question, “When are you going to record that tune?” and  her 2008 CD of all original music. Flights of Fantasy.   In addition, she has published three popular collections of harp arrangements, “The Three Musics of the Celtic Harp“, “The Morrison Scottish Repertoire Book“, and “The Beginning Harper’s Tunebook,” which is rapidly becoming a standard for beginning folk harpers.
    Keep an eye on the CSSM website for more information as it forms up (although there is a start time posted it might change to assure everyone has the best day possible) – but definitely plan to participate as a competitor, a volunteer, or as an observer – we need them all!
       

  • Clarity … with time

    Some of you let me know that you thought my post last week was exciting but hard to follow.  So, I wanted to take the time to be clear  – because I don’t want you to miss out!

    We have worked with the Cromarty Harp Village to bring you the chance to extend your visit to Scotland to participate in a tremendous workshop.  After spending the week with us seeing beautiful Scotland, you can add on an additional night of dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation, transportation (and more to see) to and from Cromarty, and the three days of the incredible Cromarty Harp Village events with four amazing tutors – Corrina Hewat, Patsy Seddon, Mary Macmaster, Heather Yule and Una Monaghan – all for just an additional $800.

     

    Take part in the entire Cromarty Harp Village experience including a Friday night concert, Saturday and Sunday workshops for all ability levels, a fun, informal session on Saturday night and a final afternoon gathering on Sunday.  And don’t forget that this year, there is the newly commissioned Homecoming piece by Corrina, Patsy and Mary that you will get to play and perform!

    Both the Harp the Highlands and Islands Tour and the Harp Village have limited seating – and when we’re full, that will be all for this year, so be sure to book soon.  

    Leave the details to us and just enjoy visiting Scotland and then immersing yourself in an incredible weekend workshop.
     

  • UPDATE! Harp the Highlands and Islands Tour UPDATE!


    This year, for the first time Cromarty Harp Village Opportunity!

    We have wanted to meet up with Corrina Hewat and the amazing Cromarty Harp Village in previous years, but this year, everything worked and we are SO excited that we will be able to offer this add on to the 2014 Harp the Highlands and Islands Tour!
    Why not extend your visit to Scotland and participate in this incredible opportunity?  The Cromarty Harp Village brings incomparable tutors and an incredible setting.  You cannot miss an opportunity to participate in a weekend workshop with Corrina Hewat, Patsy Seddon, Mary Macmaster, Heather Yule and Una Monaghan from Ireland.  I am breathless just thinking about it!
    Adding on to your tour would be immeasurably better than flying over on Friday and coming right back Monday.  And of course, it would be so much easier to come with us than to plan your own visit. Leave the details with us!
    For just $800 you can extend your tour an additional night, have an additional day of seeing more off the beaten path wonder while we go to Cromarty.  You will enjoy the entire Cromarty Harp Village experience including a Friday night concert with dazzling harp playing of Corrina Hewat, Una Monaghan, Patsy Seddon and Mary Macmaster and exquisite storytelling and harp from Heather Yule. Saturday and Sunday experience workshops for all ability levels.  In addition, enjoy a really friendly, fun and informal session on Saturday night and a final afternoon gathering on Sunday.  When you are full of great harping, we will return you to Edinburgh either to continue your visit or to return home.  
    BUT WAIT!  There’s more!
    This year’s Harp Village will feature a brand new commissioned piece of music written by Corrina, Patsy and Mary. This will be taught to all the harping students over the weekend and will be performed by all the participants on Sunday afternoon in a very special concert. The theme for the piece is Homecoming.
    Harp Village has limited seating (as you might imagine with that lineup!) so be sure to book soon – don’t miss out!
    As always, for more information go to: http://www.jeniuscreations.com/harp-tours-of-scotland/

  • Check Your Resolutions

    Surveys earlier this month indicated that many people make resolutions each year.  Those same surveys indicated that most people didn’t make it very far on those resolutions.   
    We typically make resolutions to focus on something we think we should be doing but haven’t done or on things we do that we know are bad for us. Assuming you’ve made some harp resolutions, this is a good time to determine if you’re on track to achieving those resolutions or if you’ve already fallen off the wagon and need to climb back on!   
    Here are four ways to keep yourself moving forward to successfully achieve your resolutions for 2014:
    1.  Make sure you really want it– sometimes we set a resolution that we think we should set, rather than one we actually want.   For example, we think we should practice for two hours every day, but we don’t really want to. Be clear on what you want and work toward that.  If you really only want to practice for half an hour a day, a better resolution would be to structure your practice and really get benefit from those thirty minutes.
    2. Identify what has gotten in your way and how you’re going to get around it – if your resolution is to practice every day but you’re not making it, examine why – what is getting in your way?  Once you know what is blocking you (you don’t really want to, you have to move your harp to play it, you haven’t scheduled the time) you can devise a strategy to stay on track.
    3. Catch yourself doing good – set up a reward schedule for making progress on your resolution.  Make sure it is a good reward!
    4. Verify that it was a good resolution to begin with – sometimes we set resolutions that really aren’t good (something we just can’t achieve or a resolution that you don’t really want)…change it!  Resolutions are not set in stone and you can set a new one that is a better fit at any time.
    Remember that you set a resolution to make you better, not to punish yourself!  Do what you can to help you make your resolutions successful and you’ll have a real feeling of accomplishment.