Memorize or learn?

A few years ago, I set myself a goal of having enough music in my head so that I could play a three-hour background gig without sheet music.  This was largely driven by my innate laziness -   

Some of you have asked me how you could memorize all that music.  And you’ve likely seen the questions of memorization come up repeatedly in forums.  So many people believe that they must have sheet music.  

Be comfortable that those tunes will be there when you need them – and you can lose your music stand too!  Read the rest of the post on the website.  And subscribe to be sure to get notified about each blog post. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hoping you have much for which to be thankful

 

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Veterans' Day

Just a thought - 

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Happy Anniversary! Our 10th year

It’s amazing to realize that I started writing this blog 10 years ago this week!  The time has flown by.  I started to blog to get the word out about the Harp the Highlands and Islands trips.  And here we are, so much later, talking not only about the trips but also about becoming better harpers and learning stuff! 

Have you ever wondered how the trips came about?  Through serendipity of course!

Read the story on the website - and subscribe to stay up to date! 

Theory Moment (redux) – Get it your way

Last week, we talked about why theory is good for you.  But I know that not all of you believed me.  So, this week, I’m going to show you that you’ve got this – but you might have to gut it out!

Read the rest of the blog on the website - and subscribe to be up to date!

Harp Room Bling

Sometimes you just need a little, visible nudge to remind you of what is important to you.  So this week - a downloadable poster. 

Print it out (up to 18 in x 24 in) and hang it up near your harp so you remember each time you sit.  To get your copy, head over to the website and let me know you would like to have it - leave me a comment and I'll get it to you!

If it was easy, it would be easy!

The more you practice something, the easier it becomes.  The more you practice something, the less you have to consciously think about it to make it happen. And that comes about through practice.

There are no short cuts.  If it was easy, it would be easy.  Now, go practice!  Learn more at the website.  See you there!

Better get moving – 10 steps to the holidays!

It’s nearly October (yikes!), the summer is over, the kids are back to school, the days are palpably shorter.  And you know what that means – the holidays are nearly here!

There are only 12 weeks to go – but you know that festivities will start in about six to eight week so there will be plenty of time to fit in all the parties, pageants, festivals, parades, celebrations, get-togethers, gift exchanges, as well as gatherings.  And each of those will be an opportunity to share one of your greatest gifts – your music

For ten (relatively easy) steps head over to the website - see you there!

Scotland is calling! Be an Early Bird

I am already excited about our next trip to Scotland...and it’s still eight months away!!

I know that you’re so excited about the prospect of going too since I have talked to you and some have already taken advantage of the Early Bird pricing and booked your spot.

I know that some of you are still thinking about it.  So, I wanted to encourage you to get in on the Early Bird pricing.  To learn more, head on over to the website.

It’s been that kind of week - Six (or so) elements of Harp Care

Ok, it’s probably more like two weeks, but it sure feels like it’s all happened in a week.  Two subscriber emails that didn’t quite work the way I wanted.  And a surprise trip that sort of skewed the entire week toward the weird.  And then, on top of everything else, six broken strings on three harps!  SIX!

This is especially perplexing because I don’t think over my entire harp life, over all of my too many harps, I’ve had this many broken strings – total!  (ok, that might be a slight exaggeration, but not much of one).

I’m pretty sure I know why it’s happened – 

There are other things you can do, and I’d love to hear what you do as part of your regular harp maintenance – let me know in the comments below!

As you know, I have ever so slowly been moving the blog to my website.  If you are reading this blog here and you haven't gone over and subscribed - please let me know.  I believe it is time to close this one up, but I'd like to hear from you.  If I don't hear, then I'll know it's time to close these doors and do all the work over there...I'll look forward to hearing from you if it's not time yet - please leave a comment if you're only reading the blog here.

What to play?

How about a free arrangement of a classic?

We are always casting about for new things to play.  I am forever looking for tunes to add to my repertoire that meet my criteria...

So this week, the tune I’ll share with you is a classic traditional tune – well-known, well loved, and currently well used.  Everyone should have this one in their toolbox. 

Come read the whole post on the website.  This arrangement is free to subscribers.  Not a subscriber?  It’s easy, just sign up here and each week you'll get a direct link to the blog, the occasional freebee and more. 

Are we done stretching? Not yet!!

So, throughout August we have stretched our artisticness away from the harp. We’ve stretched our bodies and we’ve stretched our repertoires.  What could possibly be left?

Maybe the most important part. Have you stretched you?

I hear you grumbling. I’m all stretched out. Yes, I’ve stretched me.

But have you stretched all of you?

Join us at the blog  https://www.jeniuscreations.com/are-we-done-stretching-not-yet/

Expand your musical reach – another stretch (or 7!)

We have talked about stretching through making art and stretching our bodies.  There’s another place we need to stretch and that is in our music.  And it’s the perfect time to think about it – it will be the winter holidays and all the lovely opportunities to play will be coming.  I mention the holidays because they are the perfect foil for stretching our music.

Read more and get all the details on the website: https://www.jeniuscreations.com/expand-your-reach-another-stretch/

Can there be a First Inning stretch?

Last week we talked about stretching yourself in your art and I hope you’ll agree that is important.  But, we might have been a little bit ahead of ourselves.  Typically when we talk about stretching, we are talking about moving our bodies, stretching our muscles.  Maybe that's the First Inning stretch?

Well, that’s pretty important too. And for a lot of the same reasons.  And for a few different ones.  Physically stretching may be important purely because playing the harp is a physical activity.  Don’t believe me?  Play a 3 hour gig!  Or even an intense hour long practice.  Then you’ll know. 

Read the rest of the post here.

7th Inning Stretch

The start of August is sort of the “7^th Inning Stretch” of Summer.   
Most of the Summer is gone, but there’s easily another six (or more!) weeks to go, so it is the metaphorical 7^th Inning.

 
We actually started stretching ourselves in July by giving ourselves permission to cross into making art in other media.  This challenge to ourselves is a type of stretching -

Why is stretching so important? There are loads of reasons you should stretch yourself, but here are 7 (one for each Inning up to the stretch? Maybe 😊)

See more at  https://www.jeniuscreations.com/7th-inning-stretch/
 
PS - as I mentioned last week - if you've got a piece of art from another medium that you'd like to share - I will add it to the post.  If you missed last week's post where people shared their amazing art from other media, prepare to be amazed and check it out here: https://www.jeniuscreations.com/challenge-accepted/ 

Challenge Accepted!

You are amazing!!  All I can say is "WOW!!"  and "Thank you!" 
So many of you were willing to make art and share it with the rest of us.  You were artistic, creative, and definitely away from the harp.  And you made such wonderful stuff!

Here are a sample of the wonderful things people sent.  We have art made from pastels, markers, textiles, pencil, and clay!  

See the beautiful art at
https://www.jeniuscreations.com/challenge-accepted/

If you didn't finish in time, or whatever but now you're willing to share, I'm still willing to post - just send it to jeniuscreationschallenge@gmail.com and we can keep this up for a while!

Give yourself permission – be a mixed media artist

Blogspotters - as promised, from now on, I'll post a snippet and a link here but the blog is moved to my website and I hope you'll join us there.  Subscribing is easy, subscribe and get an email reminder of the latest posts, the occasional free content, and more as we continue to grow.  As always, sharing my thoughts, occasionally offering a travel opportunity, book or CD.

Being creative away from the harp will allow you to have room to grow.  Working in another medium also means learning new things, practicing different things that you need at the harp and having to think differently – even if only briefly.  Being creative in any medium will help you be more confident in your capacity to be creative.  And while the skills you master may (or may not) transfer – the freedom certainly will. 

Join us for the challenge at  https://www.jeniuscreations.com/give-yourself-pe…xed-media-artist
 

In the Bleak Mid-Summer…8 ways to stay Motivated

Blogspotters - as promised, from now on, I'll post a snippet and a link here but the blog is moved to my website and I hope you'll join us there.  Subscribing is easy, subscribe and get an email reminder of the latest posts, the occasional free content, and more as we continue to grow.  As always, sharing my thoughts, occasionally offering a travel opportunity, book or CD.

It is the Bleak Midsummer – that time of year when it might as well be winter for all that you intend to go outside!  It’s predicted to be about 100^o tomorrow – ugh.  And raining.  The remnants of a tropical depressed (yes, I meant that).

But that’s the thing about the Bleak Midsummer (you might call it the Summer Doldrums, but that’s not bleak enough for me) – the heat, the humidity, the knowing that it will last another eight weeks – all gang up on you and sap your strength and motivation!  Who wants to play when you know you’re going to sweat on your harp?

https://www.jeniuscreations.com/in-the-bleak-mid…o-stay-motivated

Announcing the Harp the Highlands and Islands trip for 2020!

Blogspotters - as promised, from now on, I'll post a snippet and a link here but the blog is moved to my website and I hope you'll join us there.  Subscribing is easy, subscribe and get an email reminder of the latest posts, the occasional free content, and more as we continue to grow.  As always, sharing my thoughts, occasionally offering a travel opportunity, book or CD. 

We are so excited to be planning the Harp the Highlands and Islands trip for 2020.  It sounds so far away – and it is…until it isn’t!

This is your chance to see Scotland in the glorious early summer—when days are bright, and temperatures are nothing like you experience at home!  Our trip will run 9– 16 June when the flowers are blooming but before the tourists have arrived in earnest!

If you’re not familiar with our trips – it’s your opportunity to tour Scotland with our amazing guide and driver - native (and harp appreciator) David Leitch.  And I really look forward to sharing Scottish tunes each day!  David continues to build on the resounding success of his customized Scottish Highlands and Islands tours, and we have worked together to expand his tour to include elements that inspired the tunes that harpers love to play.

For all the updates and information, go to https://www.jeniuscreations.com/announcing-the-h…ds-trip-for-2020 

Meet me in Parsippany!

Blogspotters - as promised, from now on, I'll post a snippet and a link here but the blog is moved to my website and I hope you'll join us there.  Subscribing is easy, subscribe and get an email reminder of the latest posts, the occasional free content, and more as we continue to grow.  As always, sharing my thoughts, occasionally offering a travel opportunity, book or CD. 

I hope you’re planning on participating in the Somerset Folk Harp Festival July 18-21 2019 in Parsippany, NJ.  I am so very much looking forward to being there!

The rest of the story is here: https://www.jeniuscreations.com/meet-me-in-parsippany/

OSAS 2019 - Having a blast!

Blogspotters - I have been gradually nudging you to move over to the blog on my website.  Please go over there and subscribe (on the upper left of the screen) so you don't miss anything.  That platform just gives us more functionality, so after 30 June I'll post the link here to the blog posted there.  Save yourself the step and head over to subscribe - which gets you an email reminder of the latest posts, the occasional free content, and more as we continue to grow.  As always, sharing my thoughts, occasionally offering a travel opportunity, book or CD. 
 
Teaching, learning, having fun and more fun! Just a little photo montage (some phots unceremoniously swiped from Ruth Pearce's facebook page - she's taking some great photos when I was in the middle of something and wasn't able to capture it!).  I am so fortunate to be teaching some incredible talent - Sue Richards, Rachel Hair and Rachel Clemente!

If you aren't here - you're missing out - start planning for 2020!

Off to Ohio

Blogspotters - I have been gradually nudging you to move over to the blog on my website.  Please go over there and subscribe (on the upper left of the screen) so you don't miss anything.  That platform just gives us more functionality, so after 30 June I'll post the link here to the blog posted there.  Save yourself the step and head over to subscribe - which gets you an email reminder of the latest posts, the occasional free content, and more as we continue to grow.  As always, sharing my thoughts, occasionally offering a travel opportunity, book or CD. 

Is not a tune title (although it could be!).

I’m so excited to be leaving for Ohio soon.  I'll be teaching at the Ohio Scottish Arts School!  An entire week of tunestunestunes and funfunfun!  I have some cool tunes, some new lesson items, and a crazy idea that just might work (a la McGiver).

Loads of excellent people, wonderful music, and lots of learning – can’t wait!  Oh, and snacks :-) 

And before that, the Ohio Scottish Games hosting this year's US National Scottish Harp Championship^TM.  It's going to be a jam-packed week!

And a long drive - what a great time for a variety of types of practicing.  There's listening to music, rehearsing in my head, "tapping out" the melody against the steering wheel, and my favorite - listening to something completely different looking for new ideas for arranging.

How do you use your car time? Let me know in the comments.

Next week – scenes from OSAS!