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Happy Independence Day
To all my American friends – Happy 4th July!
Go play your harp enjoying the freedom to play and say whatever you please.
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Make way for the New
Wishing you and yours a Happy, Healthy, Harpy New Year! See you in 2012
Happy Christmas
Wow what a party
we had a great time in Scotland
Somerset Folk Harp Festival
Am I going to see you at Somerset??? I sure hope so. It promises to be a grand event – building on the previous years’ successes.
There are so many workshops it will be hard to determine which ones to settle on. And then there’s the vendors! The harp tastings, seeing old friends, meeting new ones, finally putting faces to names you’ve heard – should be a good time.
If you’re there, look for me – I hear I’m easy to find. Please, make sure I meet you! It runs 14 – 17 July. See you there!
“It’s like a painting except it’s here…and then it’s gone” Harry Connick, Jr.
Harry Connick, Jr made that comment in a program about the process of building concert pianos. In full disclosure, as much as I love playing the harp, I also love playing the piano. It was my first instrument and it provided the foundation for my musical life. I was fortunate to have an incredible teacher who taught me the importance of being a whole musician – the importance of practice, reading, interpretation, performing, and enjoying all of it. It is a strong underpinning that I continue to build on now, even though I don’t take the time to play my piano as much (note that I didn’t say I don’t have time…because truthfully, I don’t make time). And although I never got the concert grand I always wanted…but I got the mental equivalent and I’m grateful for that.
But Harry had a good point – music is ephemeral – fleeting. It can be like a breeze in summer…worth waiting for and so enjoyable when it comes. And best of all, as musicians, we can create our own breeze!
In the height of summer, when you get a cooling breeze, you don’t think, “well, that wasn’t right” or “I didn’t like that, I am a terrible breeze appreciator” or “that breeze was a chore to experience” or “that breeze was terrible, I’m going to repeat it over and over and over until I get it perfect”.
No, you just think, “oh, wasn’t that nice”.
Take that same appreciative approach to your music – enjoy the process and the activity, and the cool breeze it brings you. Enjoy the brief respite from the heat of the rest of the day. Revel in making music. Don’t focus on the details but delight in the sensation.
Happy New Year!
Wishing you and yours a very happy New Year – all the best in 2011!
See you in January!
Happy Christmas!
I hope you have a lovely solstice, a joyous Christmas, a delightful Boxing Day, and as much cheer as you can stand plus one bit more! Happy Christmas!