Excitement is building!

I am very excited to be departing for Harpa 2015 - Scotland!  I will be in the impressive company of 14 other delightful people and I can't wait to get on the road! I'm throwing the last few things into my luggage, nestling my harp into its travel case and preparing to depart. 

We'll post some from the road - but remember we're on vacation so we'll post when we can and what we've got - and we'll look forward to telling you about it when we get back!

Sometimes you just want to control the clock

I never did get to post last week.  It was one of those weeks that was just too full. Something had to give. 

Last week, I chose to practice. Just like everyday, I specifically allotted time to spend at my harp.

Because the week was busy, I had to chivvy time out of other places to get things accomplished.  

I chose to practice. Or more accurately, I protected the practice time and let other things slide.   

I chose to not let practice get shifted off the schedule.  I cut back on other things - sleep got short shrift too, and I didn't write to you.

I'm happy with my choice.  I'm equally happy that I consciously put practicing on the front burner.  

 

Hopefully the coming weeks will be calmer and more controlled! And I hope when presented with the options, you chose to practice too!

Southern Maryland Celtic Festival Harp Competition – this weekend!

Come join us at the Southern Maryland Celtic Festival Saturday, 25^th April. Rain or shine, we’ll be in the Breckenridge building (that’s right – no tent or lean-to for us – we’re in a real building with walls and ceilings!)

Our judge this year is the fabulous Sharon Knowles, a Scottish Harp Society of America Distinguished Judge – we are so fortunate to have her!  Sharon will also be teaching a workshop – so even if you’re not inclined to compete, bring your harp along anyway and learn a new tune.  In addition, we’ll have a Harp Circle so please join us for that as well.  And if you’ve got your harp there anyway, you could also stay for the Ceilidh at the end of the day!

Remember if you are planning to compete, buy a Harp Competition ticket.  You can get there either by going to the Harp page of the Celtic Society of Southern Maryland (CSSM) website  (http://www.cssm.org/events/festival/competitions/highland-harping/) or from the general ticket page (http://www.cssm.org/tickets/) and be certain to click on the Harp Competition button).  If you have fans (friends, family) coming they can buy regular tickets

And if you’re coming with your harp but not competing, buy a regular ticket (there is no price difference).  If you’re not sure, buy a competition entry ticket and we’ll sort it out on the day. 

Arrival registration will start at 0930 and the competition will begin at 1000.

Don’t forget you’ll need to download, complete, and bring the signed Hold Harmless as well.  Once at the competition, we’ll assure that your SHSA membership is up to date (remember that it will be $18 for the calendar year, check payable to SHSA is a great idea!).  Rules state that the first to register is last to play in each category, so get online and get registered!

Weather is predicted to be fine and cool – if you have questions, you know how to get ahold of me – just ask!  I’ll look forward to seeing you there!

Summer’s a’comin' in

While it’s all well and good to be planning, dreaming and thinking about the upcoming opportunities that summer brings, you’ve got to be ready before it gets here!

I think the “workout to look good in your bikini” stories and catalog layouts are a good point in time to start preparing yourself so you can be ready for all the fun that summer workshops bring.  But “what could you possible do to prepare to have fun?” you might ask.  The best answer is, “Plenty!”

Here are five things you can do to be sure you’re ready to focus on learning instead of focusing on how you don’t feel well:

1. Start doing  legwork – spend an appropriate amount of your practice time working on the things you need to work on – scales, chords, transitions, speed, agility, sight reading – whatever “legwork” you need to have in your head and in your hands so you’re ready to learn and don’t have to be watching the basics.
2. Build your stamina – most of us don’t have the luxury of spending an entire day at our harps – which also means me probably don’t have the stamina to be at our harps all day.  Start early from where you are with practicing and SLOWLY build up to a much longer time on the bench. Practice sitting, upright, in good alignment and with your harp.
3. Build your strength -  most of us don’t get to spend a long time playing so while building up your stamina, play gently to allow your fingers to build strength (and to toughen up those callouses) so you have the tolerance to spend all that time not just sitting at your harp but also playing it.
4. The best beginning comes out of a good ending – start mindfully stretching after each practice. Build in time in your schedule and in your thinking to actively stretch yourself after sitting and working hard at your harp.  Be sure to work all the areas you exercised including your neck, shoulders, legs and glutes – and don’t forget your arms and fingers!
5. Thimk – be sure to spend some of each practice time practicing practicing.  Build within yourself good habits that allow you to spend your workshop time actually learning something.  Spend this pre-workshop time identifying what you need help with so you can ask questions of the workshop tutors and be aware of your strengths and weaknesses so you can build from what you learn. 

Being prepared for the arduous work of having fun will help you have a more enjoyable time and will assure that your time and money were well spent on the workshop you chose!