I know many of us are having hellacious winters no matter where we live and that makes it difficult to imagine spring or to begin planning our summers. But summer will be here in no time, so now is the time to start planning what lovely harp events you will attend. There are many more than there used to be which is helpful – choice is always comforting. But finding the summer event that is the right fit for you can be daunting. In addition, sometimes you have to read carefully to assure you’re going to the event that will fit your needs and your harp.

There are loads of summer camps for harp players – typically for those under the age of majority. And while that’s great and I applaud the ongoing education of our youth – many of us are both harp players and well above the age of majority. Also, many events cater to pedal harpers – again, I applaud their ongoing edification but typically lever harpers may not be comfortable at these events.

It’s comforting to be stretched at an opportunity that fits your goals, level of play and interests. These events do exist and many are likely close to you (or at least near enough to make the trek!). I will spend the next few weeks highlighting the events I find especially useful, fun, educational, entertaining, and worth the time and money to attend. I clearly benefit from sharing the events with which I am associated but the others are just good in my opinion, pure and simple – no cross marketing, not compensation, no bennies, just my thinking on events I attend or have not yet gotten to but reliable sources have confirmed are a great time.

If you have a favorite, let me know – ‘cause you know I’m going to tell you mine!

The other day I was in my favorite over-commercialized caffeine dispenseria doing what loosely passes for work .  Actually I was working, but I couldn’t help but overhear the people sitting next to me.  I was trying to not listen, I really was.  But their conversation kept catching my ear (no, I’m not about to tell you to listen more, although we can all do with the practice) – they were talking about breathing.

And every time they said the word “breath” I’d take one.  And soon I was nearly hyperventilating!  So, I did the only thing I could think of – I inserted myself into their conversation!

And met two lovely people, preparing a talk about breathing.  We discussed all the wonderful things the simple act of taking a breath can accomplish – from giving one the time and resources to think, to helping clear one’s head, to making the music sing like it supposed to.

I’ll beat breathing to death some other time, but for now, think about the serendipitous opportunities that arise every day.  Are you open to learn when interesting people might share? 

What has this got to do with playing the harp? Well, everything!

Be open – When you’re making music, you need to be open to experiences as they come along – whether you incorporate something new into your arrangement, play somewhere you never even thought of being, or play something you didn’t think you could, be open to what you may take away from the experience.

Be flexible – just because you’ve set out to do something in particular (play a piece a particular way for instance), be flexible if some other option arises (some people refer to this as a “jazz improvisation”), which will help you stay in the performance rather than focusing on the deviation.

Be interested – just as meeting new people are interesting, stay interested in your music, your technique, your performance – and your breathing!

Be there – if you’re not present when you are playing, how can you expect your audience to be there?  Be present when you’re playing so you and your audience can enjoy the moment.