Ohio Scottish Arts School is done for 2026. What an incredible year! We had amazing instructors in Jo Morrison, Sharon Knowles, and Stephanie Claussen. They brought so much energy and knowledge and depth and music – it was breathtaking and I am fortunate to get to work with them. Add in the other incredible instructors and – whew! What a week! I, of course, as usual, didn’t take any photos, but there are some great captures on the OSAS Facebook Page. It was also my honor to be one of the judges for the OSASPBA competition – what a hoot! We had good tunes, good times, good friends – it’s a good life.
This week is the week in between OSAS and Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. I’m delighted to be invited to judge the Harp Competition and perform a few times with my Banrigh peeps. If you’re within the sound of my voice, come on out and see us. Bring your harp and come play. We’ll also be having a “petting zoo” to share our beautiful instruments with people who haven’t gotten to try them before.
Eventually I’ll be headed to Ligonier Highland Games – at their new time in their usual location. If you’re planning on Ligonier in September – come out at the new date, 18 July. I’m looking forward to judging that Harp Competition and will see you there!
As you can see, I’m on the fly and having a great time, so come out and see me if you’re available. Let me know you’re coming so Iet me know to look for you! And if not, I’ll see you soon!
It’s been a while since we talked about going to Scotland, learning tunes and playing harps (or enjoying and listening!). Alex and I have come up with an exciting trip that will be perfect whether you lay the harp or not!
It’s time! We have set dates for our Highlands (and Islands) trips for 2027. Yup – trips! Two!
We are going to spend our time in Scotland – with harps! What could be better?
Ok, well, bringing a harp appreciator along with you could probably make it even better – so do that!
If you’ve never been with us before, you’re in for a treat! And if you have traveled with us, you’ll see that we’ve kept all the wonderful parts of traveling in the warm embrace of David and put a new spin on it with Alex!
We’ll fly into and out of Edinburgh and then use a mix of transport modes to enjoy each of the historical centers and their sites. Some of our time will be organized tours and we’ll also have independent downtime. No matchy-matchy tour for us! We’ll hit marquee sites (for our first timers) and some of our favorite local gems (for our tenured travelers). And you know that your harp for the week will meet you there so we can have a tune for each day!
When? you ask. We have chosen two dates so you can definitely fit it into your schedule. We will have five seats for our Spring trip May 3rd to May 17th, 2027 (think cheerful yellow canola flowers and gamboling lambs!). In the Autumn we’ll have five seats September 26th to October 4th, 2027 (think blooming heather and autumn foliage!). Different times of year, different seasons, same beautiful, amazing Scotland!
As I said, we only have five seats on each trip – because we like it that way! We get to know you so we can tailor as we go so you have a wonderful experience! We have a plan but it’s not rigid, so if we want to, we can squeeze something special in – or route ourselves around the sunshine.
Here’s the plan!
After you arrive, we’ll head to Sterling and enjoy getting to know this fabulous country. We’ll throw back to the glory days as we explore the fabulous Sterling Castle. We’ll also get the chance to enjoy the stunning scenery with a little bit of time at the indescribable Isle of Skye. From there, we’ll head to Pitlochry for a little bit of time in picturesque small town and see some of the heart of the country. We’ll round out our time in historic Edinburgh and enjoy Scotland’s capital of culture.
Of course there’s more and you’ll find additional details on the website (https://babciaandyiayia.com/scot27) like what’s included and more itinerary details. I know you’re intrigued so if you’d like to learn more about this experience, please schedule a time to chat with us. We’ll answer all your questions and get to know you a bit better!
And if you’re already ready to go – save your spot (click the link at the top of the page). If you have trip detail questions or want to ask harp related questions, just ask! I can’t wait to hear from you! I’ll be over here, pre-packing and finding new tunes!
I’m back home after two glorious weeks in Ireland and Scotland. We had a wonderful group who made every nook and cranny of each day so much fun! This time I decided to be fully present and not worry about posting here. Even so, I – as usual – didn’t take many photos (I find that bring present means that “take a photo” doesn’t enter my mind!). But I did take a few, so I’ll share some that I love. Now that we’re back, it’s time to plan the next trip so let me know if you’re interested and I’ll share the details as the trip forms! Until then, here are a smattering of snaps from our adventure –
Being back also means getting back to practicing. There are some real benefits of being away from your harp for a manageable amount of time. There’s the clarity that a break brings. You have time to think about what you’ve been playing, what you would like to be playing, and seeing a little better what you might need to spend some focus on. You hear tunes you don’t know and would like to. You hear tunes you don’t know and are happy to keep that way.
One thing that I also noticed was that I really enjoy having my harp handy, ready for me to slide onto the bench and play whatever comes to mind. I don’t notice that regularly, but I feel it keenly when I am without. With all that time away, what do I think I need to focus on now? I thought you would never ask! I’m wanting to get back to basics – with dedicated time for exercises, etudes, and book work. You know, those things that are so easy to put aside when you convince yourself that you don’t have time (right along with getting some movement in and eating carefully!).
It would be easy to set these things aside. After all, the holiday season is racing up so there’s so much to prepare. Granted, much of it is review and polish, but there are also so many new tunes to learn and learn and the calendar isn’t getting any bigger! However, that is e-x-a-c-t-l-y when you should return to basics. Because what are exercises and etudes, after all? They are really just a bunch of patterns linked together. And those patterns can be linked together in a bunch of ways…which make up tunes (like holiday music!). For instance, before I play Carol of the Bells, I could spend a little time on a fingering exercise of 1-2-1-3-1-2-1-3 while moving around the scale. Before I try to take on Ding Dong Merrily on High, I could spend focused time with partials scales so I can play Glooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooria smoothly, comfortably, and confidently!
So the next time you try to convince yourself that you don’t have time to do exercises and etudes, remember that they are just the types of patterns you’re going to call on (repeatedly) as you get your music pulled together. No matter what time of year, you’ll be using that stuff so you might as well get to it! What exercises will you add to your day? Let me know in the comments – I love learning new patterns!
One of the best things about January is that it just feels like a time to plan! Now some plans can be small but important like “I plan to practice every day” and others can be big like “I plan to buy a complete set of strings, so I won’t have to worry about a string breaking”.
But some plans are both big and important – like, “I really want to travel to Ireland and Scotland, and I want to do that with a harp so I can soak up even more of the wonderfulness in the air!” So, let’s start planning because I would love it if you came along with us!
For 2025, Alex and I have made some changes and added some flex, and I think you’ll really enjoy it! Welcome to your adventure where there are lots of amazing sites and musical sounds to be had in these incredible cultural treasures.
New in 2025 – you can come along to Ireland and Scotland, just Ireland, or just Scotland. Travel dates are October 1st through the 14th, estimated at $5,900 ppdo plus airfare. If you can only come for one week, split fares are possible – ask for more information! We are still planning, so be sure to check back often as the itinerary is updated and confirmed. This is a rough itinerary and is subject to change.
Here’s the plan:
The first week will be in Ireland. This week will focus on some favorites – and you know that there’s a tune for that! (for those of you haven’t traveled with me, that seems to be the sentence that comes out of my mouth all-the-time. Don’t worry, I’ll share them with you!).
Days 1-3: Down South in Dingle
Touchdown Shannon! We’ll meet in the arrivals hall and then make our way south to the Dingle Peninsula where music is king and “the next parish over is Boston!”
Days 4-5: The Cork-Kilkenny Connection
Known for winning the tidy town award year after year, Kilkenny is full of charming streets, traditional shops, and plenty of High Street atmosphere.
Days 6-7: Dublin’s Fair City Ireland’s work-a-day capitol awaits as we check in to Dublin. With great districts like the Temple Bar and Grafton Street, Dublin has so much to offer including a chance to find out more about those Irish roots!
Departure Day or Day 8: Up North in Belfast
We know that some of you have to head back Stateside, and we’ll be sad to see you go but we’ll be headed to Scotland!
Week Two: Scotland
We’ll enjoy the historical centers and their sites. We’ll balance our time with organized tours and independent downtime. If you’ve never been here before, you’ll see those marquee sites that are a must. And if this isn’t your first time, those local gems for just waiting for you – the tenured visitor.
Day 8-9: Stirling in the heart of Scotland
We’ll spend some time exploring those beautiful spots that make Scotland so unique. We’ll check in at Stirling to see how things look from the stunning castle and learn a little more about William Wallace and history – romantic and accurate!
Day 10-11: Historic St. Andrews
We’re off to beautiful St. Andrews to take in this amazing and interesting place – full of history, culture, golf, and a university! St. Andrews is small but mighty – and compelling!
Day 12-13: Ending in Edinburgh
Edinburgh awaits us with plenty to see and to do! We’ll arrive in style by train and pull into Waverly Station. From here, we are just a short distance from our hotel. Just off the Royal Mile, we’ll set out to enjoy the local area and enjoy our workshop as well as dinner.
Departure Day
As we say goodbye to you here, we’ll be sure to fill your final hours with any last-minute activities or venues that might interest you. We are sure that you will leave magical Scotland with a song in your heart and a smile on your face and perhaps a reason to return to this legendary culture.
What’s Included
Breakfast at our hotels and dinners at unique locations daily.
Balance of scheduled experiences and unscheduled time to explore further or relax as you choose.
Plenty of downtime to enjoy unscheduled moments any way you please.
All attraction tickets and passes for experiences and guided tours (always with local experts).
All transportation including airport transfers upon arrival and departure.
Daily music workshop time to develop those crucial skills as well as a small harp for your use.
Our Commitment:
As we get to know you, we will be able to find those little corners of Ireland and Scotland that delight and enchant. From magical bookstores, fabled artworks, and secret passageways, we’ll share with you those little things that make this the experience of a lifetime.
You know one of the quintessential joys of making music is sharing with others, so if you have a non-harp playing travel mate – bring them along! They are more than welcome (and if they play a different, small trad instrument, they are welcome to bring it and learn the tunes as well).
At this point you’re likely interested, and have questions, right? Ask away, I love to answer questions! Click here for questions.
If you’re ready to “press play”, click here to save your spot and get priority access. Can’t wait to travel with you!
I hope you’re going to plan to come along – we’d love to show you our favorite things and find some new ones too! Let me know in the comment!
Turns out it’s not a great time to go to Ireland. But never fear, when it’s time to pivot, we’ve got a plan – welcome to your Scotland city getaway! Let’s take on Glasgow and Edinburgh in true style and enjoy a great European getaway. Let’s enjoy the high Summer season and the world famousEdinburgh Royal Military Tattoo. This marquee event is one of the best cultural traditions that Europe has to offer. We’ll surround our show with lots of the amazing sites and musical sounds that make these anchor cities cultural treasures.
You might have already been to Scotland but have you experience the Tattoo? I know I haven’t and I can’t wait Wondering what we could possibly see? How about: Flying into/out of Edinburgh or Glasgow (or into one and out of the other!). We’ll use a mix of public transport and private transfer to enjoy the historical centers and their sites. We’ll balance our time with organized tours and independent downtime, with marquee sites for the first-time visitor and local gems for the tenured guest. You know that I’ve got my favorite spots and views and I’m excited to see if you agree!
How will we spend our time? Like this –
On Day 1, we’ll meet up and get to Glasgow. We’ll check in with the local scene on the High Street and walk off that jet lag with a welcome dinner in true Scottish style.
Day 2, our Glasgow adventure will continue as we take in some of the local sites and iconic places. We’ll spend the day enjoying all things Scottish. We’ll spend a little time learning tunes (and appreciators will do things us harpers will be envious of). We’ll round out the day with dinner which is just a walk away from our hotel.
On to Edinburgh which awaits us with plenty to see and to do on Day 3! We’ll arrive in style by train and pull into Waverly Station. From here, we are just a short distance to our hotel, just off the Royal Mile. We’ll set out to enjoy the local area and enjoy learning another tune before dinner.
On Day 4, Edinburgh continues to delight and today we will take in one of the marquee events! After enjoying Rosslyn chapel to the south of town, we’ll have an early afternoon workshop before heading to the Military Tattoo at the Castle. This spectacular show never disappoints and promises to entertain and delight.
I can see our seats! (just kidding, sorta).
We’ll round out our time in Edinburgh with a few optional tours and destinations and complete our workshop series on Day 5. There will be plenty to choose from depending on your interests. From The Whiskey Experience to Holyrood Palace, we’ll get you started in the right direction to enjoy all Edinburgh has to offer. We’ll end the day with our signature farewell dinner then give everyone a little time to pack up before our airport transfers tomorrow.
Day 6 is Departure Day. But before we say goodbye, we’ll fit in your final hours with any last minute activities or venues that might interest you. You know that you will leave magical Scotland with a song in your heart, a new tune in your head, and a smile on your face (and perhaps a reason to return soon!).
What’s Included?
Breakfast at our hotels and dinners at unique locations daily.
Balance between scheduled experiences and unscheduled time to explore further or relax as you choose.
Plenty of downtime to enjoy unscheduled moments any way you please.
All attraction tickets and passes for experiences and guided tours (always with local experts).
All transportation including airport transfers upon arrival and departure.
Daily music workshop time to develop those crucial skills on a harp that will be there waiting for you.
As always, we take your interests into account and as we get to know you, we will be able to find those little corners of Scotland that delight and enchant. From magical bookstores, fabled artworks, and secret passageways, we’ll share with you those little things that make this the experience of a lifetime.
Our total trip cost for the 2024 season is $2900.00 plus airfare.
So you’re interested, right?! We’ll be hosting an online Q&A session so contact us to join the meet up and for more information and all the details. And you know you can always send me questions too. A minimum of six participants is required for this experience so invite your favorite travel companion/harp appreciator to come along – ’cause what could be more fun than visiting Scotland with me?!
Coming? Let me know in the comments! I have some great tunes lined up!
This is the time of year when I start to run down the summer happenings that I’m looking forward to, hopefully in enough time that you can also plan to come along too! The great thing about summer events is that they offer an opportunity to learn and do in ways that don’t happen as much throughout the rest of the year. They are built on the break summer seems to bring to our “every day” world. And better still summer events have great opportunities to learn and grow…and have a little fun!
This summer we will have our first Harp the Highlands and Islands trip that starts in Ireland (don’t worry, we make it to Scotland too)! We’ll travel with the amazing Alexandra who is not only a teacher but also a historian (by dint of education and enthusiasm!). She has planned a compelling itinerary and we’ve layered harp events on an unending array of beautiful and interesting stuff.
Things we changed – we starting in Ireland and will see parts that aren’t as well traveled (which leaves us open to exploring more than the usual stuff). Things we haven’t changed – we still have a small band of travelers (no more than 8!) that ensures you have an intimate and tailored visit. We’ll meet local people and learn tunes and have an incredible time doing it! And just when we’re fit to burst from Ireland, we’ll head over to Scotland and do it some more!
You know that having music in each travel day will make it all the more fun – and since we’re not just listening to it, we’ll be even tighter with itinerary informing the tunes we learn. We’ll start in Shannon and then travel north to enjoy some time on the Wild Atlantic Way, visit castles, holiday towns, and meet some of the locals. We’ll also check out the stunning Kylemore Abbey! Then we’ll continue north towards Belfast and discover what makes the Northern coast so enchanting. We’ll cross over to Scotland in style on the ferry then round out our adventure in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Here’s what’s coming:
Day 1 – Welcome to the Emerald Isle! We start at Shannon International, shake off that jet lag and head north on the Wild Atlantic Way. First stop – Galway and then we’ll make our way to Westport. From here we’ll set out to explore this amazing corner of the world.
Day 2 – We’ll launch out today to explore the Connemara National Park. Nestled into the lakeside, Kylemore Abbey waits for us to enjoy. We’ll take a tour of the main house as well as the chapel, and gardens where the famous Kylemore ponies wait to greet us! We’ll head back to Westport for the evening our daily harp workshop.
Day 3 – Deep in County Mayo, we’ll visit the famous Ashford Castle grounds as we participate in a Hawk Walk with the National School of Falconry. Here, you’ll meet the local residents and get to know why this sport became such an important part of Ireland’s history. After, we’ll sit down for a lovely lunch at the Ashford cottage complex before heading back to Westport and our daily harp workshop.
Day 4 – We’ll head north to meet a phenomenal athlete, Moe, the sheepdog! Moe will teach us all about how amazing she is and why the relationship between shepherd and dog is so vital to this industry. After a quick lunch, we’ll saddle up and take in the splendor of the Irish coast on the iconic beaches of Donegal. We’ll arrive back in Westport for our daily harp workshop and an evening in this charming vacation town.
Day 5 – We’ll say so long to Westport and head into Northern Ireland. Along the way we’ll pull over and enjoy some of the hidden secrets in the small towns that dot the area. We’ll head to the northern coast of Ireland where we’ll learn a little about the distilling process at the world famous Bushmills Whiskey Distillery! We’ll enjoy the seaside town of Portrush and check in with our daily harp workshop.
Day 6 – Today, we’ll take in the splendor of the iconic Giant’s Causeway. We’ll learn the scientific reason why the causeway exists and maybe check in on the reason the locals think it sits here on the northern coast. After, we’ll enjoy an evening consisting of our daily harp workshop and dinner along the scenic coast.
Day 7 – We’ll make our way into Belfast where we’ll learn about the Titanic and its connection to Ireland. Our daily harp workshops continue and dinner will be a short distance away in our city center.
Day 8 – We’ll spend the morning learning about the history of Belfast’s most infamous story, “The Troubles”. This part of Belfast history is best told in the murals that dot the neighborhoods in the west of town. After, we’ll say goodbye to Ireland and take the Stenna Line Ferry across the Irish Sea and arrive in Cairnryan Scotland. We’ll head north for Glasgow to start our Scottish adventure!
Day 9 – Our Glasgow adventure continues as we take in some of the local sites and enjoy noting the differences between each side of the Irish Sea. We’ll spend the day enjoying all things Scottish then settle in for our workshop time and dinner just a walk away from our hotel.
Day 10 – We are off to our final destination! Edinburgh awaits us with plenty to see and to do! We’ll arrive in style by train and pull into Waverly Station. from here, we are just a short distance to our hotel. Just off the Royal Mile, we’ll set out to enjoy the local area and enjoy our workshop as well as dinner.
Day 11 – Edinburgh continues to delight and today we will take in one of the marquee events! After enjoying Rosslyn chapel to the south of town, we’ll have an early afternoon workshop before heading to the world famous Military Tattoo at the Castle. This spectacular show never disappoints and promises to entertain and delight.
Day 12 – We’ll round out our time in Edinburgh with a few optional tours and destinations and complete our workshop series today. There will be plenty to choose from depending on your interests. From The Whiskey Experience to Holyrood Palace, we’ll get you started in the right direction to enjoy all Edinburgh has to offer. We’ll end the day with our signature farewell dinner then give everyone a little time to pack up before our airport transfers tomorrow.
Departure Day – We know that this experience will have you falling in love with both sides of the Irish Sea! As we say goodbye to you here, know that both Ireland and Scotland fondly await your return!
As always, we’ll get to know you so that we will be able to find those little corners of Ireland and Scotland that delight and enchant. From magical bookstores, fabled artworks, and secret passageways, we’ll share with you those little things that make this the experience of a lifetime.
Our estimated price for the 2024 season is $4700.00 plus airfare. What’s Included?
Breakfast at our hotels and dinners at unique locations daily.
Balance between scheduled experiences and unscheduled time to explore further or relax as you choose.
Plenty of downtime to enjoy unscheduled moments any way you please.
All attraction tickets and passes for experiences and guided tours (always with local experts).
All transportation including airport transfers upon arrival and departure.
Daily music workshop time to develop those crucial skills (and a small harp – no traveling with your harp!).
A dedicated opportunity to refresh your bags during our travels.
It is holiday time and someone might ask you what you’d like to receive. A couple of years ago, I posted a Gift Guide and it’s that time again, so I thought I’d add to the list.
Don’t just go out and buy these things for yourself – leave them as gift opportunities! You can be very specific so you do receive what you want. It’s easy when you send a link and include the size, color, number with it! And your givers will be delighted to have gotten you something you are sure to enjoy.
Some things (including your suggestions):
A nice, comfortable, packable performance dress. Preferably washable and flattering. And pockets! (gotta put your key somewhere while on stage!).
A nice, comfortable pair of performance shoes to go with that dress.
Memberships/Subscriptions to your favorite Harp Journals – Folk Harp Journal, American Harp Society, Harp Column, Scottish Harp Society of America
Accessories bags. Corral your stuff in your harp case pocket or gig bag! A bag for your spare strings or your electronic tuner or your key. You need a place for your stand lamp, your cough drops, Kleenex, etc. Believe me, it’s easier to find stuff when you need it if it’s organized!
Music sounds – cds, downloads, membership to some horrible-rip-off-streaming-service – we all learn better by listening. It’s also good to hear new-to-you music.
Music paper – sheet music you’ve been drooling over but haven’t been able to justify buying? Here are some excellent choices!*
Workshop or lessons – there are loads of workshops, summer schools, and getaways offered all over the country (actually the world). And lessons or coaching are always a good idea!
Travel – What could be more fun than going on a cool trip – with me to a places known for harp?! Check out the 2024 itinerary here.*
Tickets – few things are as exhilarating – or motivating – as attending a live performance!
Cleaning supplies – whether you prefer a Swiffer or a soft bristle brush, put it on your list. You could get two, one for home and one to keep in your case.
Harp jewelry – can you ever have too many harp necklaces or earrings? And you can support a small business while you’re at it. I’ve really enjoyed the things I’ve gotten from harpjewelry**
So, while you’re making your list and checking it twice, what else would make wonderful holiday gifts that you’d love to get? Let me know in the comments!
* Shameless plug! ** Unaffiliated, but if you’ve ever met me in person, you know I love my harp necklace!
Well, I’ve had an incredible summer with loads of excellent harping and wonderful travels! I’m finishing up in Ireland which sort of brings them together! But only sort of because it’s a beautiful country with loads to see and do and I had great travel companions in my cousins who have been many times! Since technically I’m still on travel (I’m sending this from Ireland!), I just wanted to share some of my photos with you! I’d love to hear what you like best (or what I missed!). Here’s some of the fun stuff I’ve been seeing:
I’ve been studying Gàidhlig (Scottish Gaelic) and many things gave been easy to read. But someti.es the words are nothing alike!
First stop (sort of) Book of Kells – ????. This was worth every accolade you have heard!
Apparently, I can also find harps everywhere:
And where do you find books? In a library! In this case, the library at Trinity College – where the Trinity Harp is housed. After the fire at Notre Dame (in Paris) many historic properties are reviewing their fire plans and restoring with an eye to preventing loss – so the books have been removed…but the harp is still there!
Apparently, I can also find harps everywhere (but then i forget to photograph them!). Here’s another, random find.
And on occasion, you open a door and see the unexpected –
In restaurants
And on this poster
On street corners
And in person! Totally randomly, we ran into Lynne Saoirse at Kylemore Abbey where she performed in the Gothic Chapel. It was wonderful to see her again and to hear her play!
We did a little family history research. We really enjoyed the EPIC museum which included some interesting (and interactive) exhibits.
It was epic, for sure
Unsurprisingly, the Titanic Experience was captivating.
But I really enjoyed the manhole covers in Belfast
We had a fantastic trip. If you want to know more (or see more photos) let me know in the comments!
(PS I’m still on the phone so please forgive typos, weird formatting, etc. It looked fine from here)
I’m arrived in Edinburgh today (hence the slightly late post).
But, Edinburgh never disappoints, and today is no exception – clear skies and beautiful – as always.
Harpa are gathering in Edinburgh and are preparing to spend a little time in Edinburgh participating in the Edinburgh International Harp Festival! So excited to see everyone, learn new things, perform our new set of American tunes. Then we’ll head out and see more of Scotland and play a few more times for various charities. Does anyone have a better life? I don’t think so!
Harpa was started by Beth Kolle creating a cultural exchange tour. Over the years, the group has traveled to Norway, Sweden, and Scotland. The composition of the group changes with each trip and this year Harpa is Beth Kolle, Sue Richards, Therese Honey, Kelly Brzozowski, Martha Hill, Donna Bennett, and me. Each HARPA member pays their own way and each tour is hard work, from the initial rehearsal on the first day to the closing concert. Each musician must take time off and turn down paying performance jobs to join the tour.
Since we celebrated World Tourism Day before, travel has been on my mind. Ok, that’s not entirely true, because travel is a-l-w-a-y-s on my mind! I should have a little framed cross stitch like this:
But anyway. While traveling is always fun – especially if you are not one of those passengers who scream at Flight Attendants, Gate Agents, or other passengers – traveling with your harp does have some challenges. I talked about some of those here and here. Those have to do with the transport of your harp. This week, let’s talk about when you get there.
Because while 99.999% of the 7 billion people on the earth l-o-v-e the harp, the remaining 0.001% will be booked into the room next to yours. Never fails.
I should start by pointing out that I have played on the balcony of my hotel and thereby met new, interesting and interested people. Just like if you’re playing at home, few things draw people to you like playing your instrument and sharing your music.
However….and I learned this the hard way, sometimes people are not so happy to learn you play an instrument. Once, I was in Memphis TN (yes, known as a music city) with that powerful sound generator, my Harpsicle – when someone called the front desk to complain. Yup, it happened. Funnier – someone else was practicing the bagpipes in that same hotel…some people’s kids.
So, keep in mind that quiet and discretion are important while staying in accommodations like hotels, motels, and B&Bs. But how do you get quiet and still get to practice or play? Here are a few ideas:
The first is a physical intervention. Weave a scarf or tie between the strings. Push it close to the soundboard. This acts as a muffle and therefore makes your playing quieter. Don’t put off selecting your scarf for the last minute – the scarf (or tie) needs to be long enough to run the length of the strings. It also needs to be narrow enough (for a scarf) or thin enough (if you use a tie) so that it doesn’t bunch up (which results in too much “thup-i-ness” that I find distracting). This is not as easy as using your hat to muffle your trumpet, but it is infinitely better for the harp (after all, we’re not playing the trumpet and I’ve tried waving my hat in front of the harp, but it didn’t make it any quieter!). I wish I could tell you I thought up this tip but I learned it from Therese Honey.
The second method is to use a musical technique. This one seems to be tricky – just play more quietly! You might have seen this marking before –
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But have you ever tried using it? Ok, now I’m being a bit snide. Dynamics are a thing… and you can use them in your practice. You could play as pianississimo as possible and see what happens to your playing. You can also do this at home, no need to wait to be booked into a hotel. There are some things that happen when you play quietly. You will be able to play slightly faster (yup). You may be more accurate – because you’re being careful. You may find that you even have time now to close (whodathunk?). And because of all that you might find that, overall, you’re just playing better. In addition, learning to control your volume will make you a better musician.
Both of those work well for practicing or playing for enjoyment. This last suggestion is really for practicing rather than playing for enjoyment – you can “placeplay”. I do this with my students (and I’m pretty sure they hate it, but it works!). “Placeplaying” is moving through the finger shapes of the tune. Place the first shape, then close the fingers (don’t play, just close) and place the second shape. Remember that between these is actually another shape where the shapes overlap which is its own separate shape. Keep going: place – close – place – close – place – close – place – etc. through to the end of the tune. Keep placing but do not play. I love this because you learn things about the tune while you’re doing it. You can develop a new appreciation for the tune through this – you see shapes you missed, musical ideas you can see but not hear and you learn to think about the tune on a different level (like how although auditorily a “musical idea” is finished, on a physical level you’re actually in the middle of the idea). This is also an excellent way to learn a new tune – because you have to break it down and really look at it.
So, there you have it – three ways to play your harp in a hotel room and not bother other guests. Have you found other ways to coexist with other travelers? Hope you’ll share in the comments!
