Let's go to Edinboro!

Nope, I didn't spell that wrong - I mean Edinboro....  Pennsylvania....  USA. 
 
It isn't often that you can get in on the ground floor of anything - but this year you can be at the inaugural Edinboro Highland Games Harp Competition! 

You know that I'm big on competitions - but I'm even more enthusiastic about launching a brand new competition! This event will be held 8 September.  Begin your competition weekend with some motivation - attend Kim Robertson's concert at Cole Auditorium, 7:00PM. 

 

And on Saturday, it will be a full day of harping at the Pogue Student Center! I am delighted to have been asked to MC the competition. 
 
8:00AM Register for FREE workshops; Enter Harp Competition ~ $25 per entry

9:00AM Workshop: Healthways for Harpers (FREE)

10:30AM Workshop: Tricks of the Trade (FREE)

11:00AM Harp Competition Entry ENDS

11:30AM Lobby Harper rotation begins (FREE)

12:00PM Games Opening Ceremony on the Lawns (FREE)

1:30PM Harp Competition begins; JUDGE ~ KIM ROBERTSON

3:30PM Competition Awards Presentations

3:45PM Harp Circle (FREE)

 

And, LEWIS CREEK HARPS will be there.  And, Kim Robertson will have CD’s for sale all day.

 
Rules and entry information is available at http://www.edinboro.edu/events/highlandgames/harp.dot
 
Harp Competition Entry Fee: $25 at the door
 
I hope I'll see you there!

The Happy Afterglow of Harp Camp

One Creative Ensemble

This year's Harp Camp - the 17th Annual - was fantastic! We had a great time. Our theme was "Music suits me to a Tea!" and we did some excellent things in that vein.  We focused on fakebooks this year, learning how to read them, how to use them to build repertoire, increase arrangement variability and as a launch point for new arrangements. Monica did a fantastic job with helping us get into our theme with an excellent craft and all our campers made themselves very fine hats for our Tea Party.

During Tea we took turns enjoying our light repast and playing for each other as "sonic wallpaper" to help each person get more used to playing for an audience, to try out some of the things we had learned, to enjoy each other's music and to enjoy one another's company.



Note our delightfully clever chapeaux and tea goodies.

We also had our old staples - Creative Ensemble and Directed Ensemble - to assure that everyone had the chance to grow and stretch - and practice their counting. And our usual sprinkling of games and activities that all contribute to our development as musicians - rhythm, breathing, counting, drawing, listening, and laughing!

Our campers all had a great time - and left tired and with their heads full - just like we like it!
 

Kris teaching "reflectively" -
 couldn't resiste the image in the mirror!

Harp Camp is always fun and challenging with small groups (no negotiating your harp down long halls through throngs of people), plenty of one-on-one time with the tutors and with other campers.  I hope you'll consider joining us next year - more information will be available on my website soon (and I'll let you know here when to look).  Kris and I can't wait!

Off to Summer Camp

Harp Camp that is!

This post will be short - I've packed and gotten ready and I am leaving for southeastern Pennsylvania for Harp Camp. I am so excited - looking forward to a long weekend of great music, learning, and sharing.

We'll be focusing on working with fake books as well as our usual collection of interesting, different, unusual activities to ensure a wonderful learning experience.  

I hope you'll consider joining us next year!

Corrina Hewat has sent me this - I hope you seriously consider participating in this year's Harp Village in Cromarty.

The Harp Village 2012 will take place in Cromarty, Scotland. It will start Friday September 28 and runs through Sunday Sept 30th 2012. Tutors this year are Maire Ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman, Corrina Hewat and Dave Milligan and the Duplets -Gillian Fleetwood and Fraya Thomson. They will perform in a Dazzling Duos concert on the Friday night. Harp workshops will be held throughout the weekend for all ability levels from beginners to intermediates and beyond. In addition, there will be a masterclass with Maire and Corrina on the Saturday night followed by a harp session led by the Duplets.

Application forms are now available from the website: http://www.cromartyartstrust.org.uk/the-harp-village-2010.asp 

What a great opportunity!

Highlights of the 2012 Harp in the Highlands and Islands Tour

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!