Are you looking for just the right gift, one that will fit perfectly, amaze the recipient and thereby delight you?  Looking for that perfect gift that a harper or harp-lover will enjoy immensely? 

We will be traveling in September which is a wonderful time of year – long beautiful days and lovely tunes to share.  All the information is available on http://www.jeniuscreations.com/harp-tours-of-scotland/.

Need more inspiration or a good reason to go?  Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6chtMBxLFug – this isn’t a my video, but it made my heart go pitter-pat and I can barely wait to go to Scotland.  I hope you’ll join us!

Well, you already know that we had a great time this year!  Last week I told you about the basics of the trip.  We all really had a great time and shared some fantastic tunes.  And David and I have already started planning out 2013 – including things we are adding and new tunes for some new locations. 

Some of the highlights from this year:

Fine days that allowed us to sit in nature’s glory and play

Fun locations of incredible beauty:

Mrs. Russell again graciously allowed us to play in her dining room at Ballindalloch Castle and later joined us for a photo. 

We really did have fun – can’t wait ’til next year.  We are deciding what to add and what to tweak – I hope you’ll join us – start planning now.  And, as always, if you’re ready for more information so you can start planning, just let me know via email or comment!

We have just finished the 2012 Harp in the Highlands and Islands tour and had a fantastic time!  As always, we modified the activities and events to match the weather (which was pretty good considering that Scotland hasn’t gotten their summer yet), ongoing events in the places we went and the things in which our guests were particularly interested. 

We also welcomed our first non-harp playing musician – a guitarist.  Robin is an accomplished guitar player and she learned all the tunes along with the harpers.  It was a real pleasure to have a broader instrument base and we really enjoyed the interplay of harp and guitar.

I am on pins and needles waiting to depart for this year’s Harp in the Highlands and Islands Tour! David and I have made some minor changes based on previous guest feedback and we know that 2012 will be the best year ever!

We are meeting in Edinburgh 16 July (so soon!) and are going to see some of the most beautiful scenery.  From the majestic beauty of the Isle of Skye, through the breathtaking western Highlands, and around the lush Spey valley you’ll see and hear more than you could imagine.  Each day we’re going to play and learn and laugh and have a great time.

And all the while we’ll hear gasping – every mile we go we see something that noteworthy! We’ll head towards the Highlands enjoying all the by-ways highlights that make Scotland so delightful. We’ll explore the Spey Valley, Royal Deeside and more.

If you missed it this year, don’t despair – David and I will plan a slightly different trip for next year!  If you want to come along – email me directly on jentheharper@gmail.com

I am on pins and needles waiting to depart for this year’s Harp in the Highlands and Islands Tour! David and I have made some minor changes based on previous guest feedback and we know that 2012 will be the best year ever!  We are going 16 – 23 July for an eight day, seven night adventure!

You will see some of the most beautiful scenery and experience the majestic beauty of the Isle of Skye, the western highlands, the Spey valley and more. This tour is designed for harp players at all levels and other traditional instrument players. Each day you will enjoy a music event – learn a tune, add to your music lore and more while you experience the history of our musical heritage. We will gather in Edinburgh and dive in going first to Perth and then heading westwards toward the western highlands and the west coast.

We’ll enjoy the unique and stunning scenery of Skye and the magnificent views through the Cuillin Mountains. Following that we’ll head towards the highlands enjoying all the by-ways highlights that make Scotland so delightful. We’ll explore the Spey Valley, Royal Deeside and more. On our final evening, David and his wife Heather will welcome you to their own home at Burghead where you will be treated to some authentic Scottish cuisine and hospitality.

Each day along the way, you will learn a tune or we’ll have play together in the midst of incredible scenery. The tunes are associated with the places, history, and people we will meet.

The 2012 Harp in the Highlands and Islands Tour is coming up quickly and it looks like there are only 2 seats left!

 

If you are interested, there’s still time – our 2012 tour departs Edinburgh 16 July and returns there after a week of seeing some spectacular parts of Scotland. 

We welcome everyone – harp players, people who love the harp and want to give it a try, people who are love to listen to the harp and traditional music, players of other small instruments, and people the would just like to explore Scotland.  We’ll see breathtaking sites, history, meet wonderful people, and learn tunes that are tied to our travels.   We will continue to bring the harp experience to our travellers and can’t wait to share it with you.

Long ago on this blog, I took a moment to thank you for reading it.  I really do appreciate that you read what I have to say. And I am always delighted to get comments from you!  This week, I’d like to again thank those of you who are following my blog. I do hope you find it useful. 

If you are visiting for the first time (or you just remembered and came to check out what I was going on about this time!) and like what you’ve seen, please join us and become a Follower. Followers get an email when content has been added or updated so you get all the information, fresh as it gets posted.  And it reminds you to take a moment for yourself and your harping.  It also gives me a continued warm fuzzy that I’m not talking to myself!

I’ll tell you about important stuff: travel to Scotland, growing as a harp player, and other essential stuff, like playing the harp while we’re in Scotland!  I’ll also highlight harp events or other excitement in our harp world that I think would be interesting to you.

And, of course, I would love to hear from you.  You can always let me know if there’s a particular topic in which you’re interested. 

I hope you’ll join us on a regular basis.  And if I don’t know you personally I’ll look forward to meeting you when we’re at one of the many events available.

If you see me somewhere – please introduce yourself…you have me at an advantage – you know what I look like!  It would be delightful if I met you in Edinburgh as we set off on the tour – but OSAS, Harp Camp, or any of the other wonderful learning opportunities would be great too!

See you soon!

The 2012 Music in the Highlands and Islands Tour is rapidly approaching.  We will be going 16 – 23 July.

This year, we are welcoming not only harp players, want-to-be harp players, and harp loving companions but also other instrument players.  If you, a friend, companion, or music partner play a small instrument and would like to join us – welcome and come along! While we will continue to bring the harp experience to our guests, we understand that not everyone is ready to play the harp, but that is no reason that these instruments can’t also come with us on our musical adventure. So this year we are also inviting other musicians to join us. So if you already play fiddle, flute, concertina, or whistle, please bring your instrument and join us!

You’ll get the same great instruction and tunes. You’ll still have the opportunity to try your hand at the Harp – THE traditional instrument of Scotland, but you now have the opportunity to learn some or all of the tunes on your “native” instrument.

For more information, email me or leave a comment. Remember that seats are limited. I hope you’ll be joining us!

We are pleased to announce the 2012 Music in the Highlands and Islands Tour will be held 16 – 23 July.

Due to the overwhelming success of the Highlands and Islands Tours, and based on feedback received from our guests, the 2012 Music in the Highlands and Islands tours will be even better than before!

As always, non-harping companions are welcome and this year, we  are  expanding our offerings.  If you, a friend, companion, or music partner play a small instrument and would like to join us – welcome and come along! While we will continue to bring the harp experience to our guests, we understand that not everyone is ready to play the harp, but that is no reason that these instruments can’t also come with us on our musical adventure. So this year we are also inviting other musicians to join us. So if you already play fiddle, flute, concertina, or whistle) please bring your instrument and join us!

You’ll get the same great instruction and tunes.  You’ll still have the opportunity to try your hand at the Harp – THE traditional instrument of Scotland, but you now have the opportunity to learn some or all of the tunes on your “native” instrument.