Hmm, played for an hour this morning, mostly old favorites because I'm trying to make things more 'musical' and less like a fingering perfection. Did review Lisdoonvarna/Quaker/Morrison's Jig, which are OK if you like the slowest possible tempo. Playing quickly and nimbly is my downfall, mainly because of stage fright. Am thinking of moving the harp to a new room everyday to get more comfortable in new settings. Also hoping to continue making Tuesday 'Super Slow Tuesday' : everything at half-speed to check fingering, phrasing and the like. But the biggest goal is to play for 20 solid minutes every day. Time will tell.......
Tuesday- I can post on my own page? Magnificent! Thanks, as usual.
Tuesday-International Slow Day here in Hillsborough. My favorite! Checked fingering/phrasing/volume/tempo, etc. No wrong notes at slow speed, so you feel really good when you're done, too. Read through Rights of Man, which I haven't played for ages, and Little Beggarman.
Wednesday - Lisdoonvarna, Morrison, Quaker looking good. Rights of Man if I choose a slow, slow speed. Waiting (and waiting...) for my husband to learn a new 'A' section of Swan Lk 243 and the alto notes in Ashokan Farewell, and getting privately impatient, time for me to move on to something new.
Thursday & Friday - Away at a teaching conference, no harping at all :((.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
A new week for Lucy
The competition:
Sunday - 31 March Off to a good start this morning, despite being slightly worse for the wear from a rare night out.......
Met with two friends in the am to practice for our micro-gig, truly, more of a house party where the host wants those of us who normally are too shy to play anything to step up to the plate..... so we are trying.
I'm going to play Amongst Friends and Miss Johnson's solo - the second followed by George White's with my two friends, flute and fiddle playing too. The flute friend will play Salute to Baltimore which then fiddle and me on c'tina will follow with Devanney's Goat and then we will all three play Trip to Athlone/Garrett Barry's. And that will be our whole set! Our fiddle friend refuses to play anything solo, wise maid that she is!
Monday - 1 April I did play the concertina quite a bit yesterday, meeting up with my friend Beth. We take a class with Benedict Kohler and Hilari Farrington at The Summit School in Montpelier - been doing that now for several years - and we were reviewing last year's tunes...... I'm always amazed when I can remember a tune at all. Then at home I played through the 3 tunes for the micro gig on the harp one last time because......
Tuesday - 2 April ..... today I am en route to Sarasota Florida - now wait, before you groan and moan , I am going to be working most of the time. But I do have my old harp, Andee, the Dusty is down there, so I will get to play some and I have my concertina with me. They always unpack it totally at the airport and have to hem and haw over it - I'm sitting in a coffee shop in Burlington now - I always call it a 'little accordion' never a concertina which makes them all panic. It's possible I'll play a little something tonight, but equally likely that I won't!
Wednesday - 3 April - The Dusty took a couple of tunings, but might be settling down now. Mostly ran through the usual tunes I've been working on lately.
Thursday - 4 April - Inspired by Andee I've returned to that marvelous hornpipe - The Tailor's Twist, otherwise I'm still at work on the same five tunes...... Amongst Friends may be shifting into that long term place, which feels great!
Friday - 5 April - Put in some time in the evening- maybe a half hour - mostly on The Tailor's Twist......
Saturday - 6 April
Sunday - 31 March Off to a good start this morning, despite being slightly worse for the wear from a rare night out.......
Met with two friends in the am to practice for our micro-gig, truly, more of a house party where the host wants those of us who normally are too shy to play anything to step up to the plate..... so we are trying.
I'm going to play Amongst Friends and Miss Johnson's solo - the second followed by George White's with my two friends, flute and fiddle playing too. The flute friend will play Salute to Baltimore which then fiddle and me on c'tina will follow with Devanney's Goat and then we will all three play Trip to Athlone/Garrett Barry's. And that will be our whole set! Our fiddle friend refuses to play anything solo, wise maid that she is!
Monday - 1 April I did play the concertina quite a bit yesterday, meeting up with my friend Beth. We take a class with Benedict Kohler and Hilari Farrington at The Summit School in Montpelier - been doing that now for several years - and we were reviewing last year's tunes...... I'm always amazed when I can remember a tune at all. Then at home I played through the 3 tunes for the micro gig on the harp one last time because......
Tuesday - 2 April ..... today I am en route to Sarasota Florida - now wait, before you groan and moan , I am going to be working most of the time. But I do have my old harp, Andee, the Dusty is down there, so I will get to play some and I have my concertina with me. They always unpack it totally at the airport and have to hem and haw over it - I'm sitting in a coffee shop in Burlington now - I always call it a 'little accordion' never a concertina which makes them all panic. It's possible I'll play a little something tonight, but equally likely that I won't!
Wednesday - 3 April - The Dusty took a couple of tunings, but might be settling down now. Mostly ran through the usual tunes I've been working on lately.
Thursday - 4 April - Inspired by Andee I've returned to that marvelous hornpipe - The Tailor's Twist, otherwise I'm still at work on the same five tunes...... Amongst Friends may be shifting into that long term place, which feels great!
Friday - 5 April - Put in some time in the evening- maybe a half hour - mostly on The Tailor's Twist......
Saturday - 6 April
Andee's week March 31 - April 6
I decided I would do a quick intro to myself since there may be new members joining us who don't know me. .
I took lessons with Kathy DeAngelo for 10 years. About 7 years into those lessons they became, for the most part fiddle lessons. During this time I met Lucy and Laura who were also taking lessons with Kathy. I lived in Philadelphia at the time, but 6 years ago I moved to Leeds, England (married a Brit).
I do miss all my old harp friends! This little group will not only boost me to practice more but I love that it has re-connected me to some old friends and also new friends will be made, I'm sure!
My repertoire is 99% Irish , a sprinkling of Scottish, and a few bits and pieces. Mike and I go to a regular open mic night (acoustic and very folk-friendly) which keeps me practicing, updating, and revising my repertoire. In summer we go to Kilfenora, West Clare for 2 weeks and it's full-on sessions (but my fiddling needs to be brought back up to that standard again), hopefully this year I'll be able to participate a bit more in the sessions. Mike plays guitar and mandolin.
Sunday Getting a fair bit practiced today. Besides much of what I practiced last week I also had a run through of Miss Hamilton, All Around the Faery Fort / The New Broom, Carolan's Concerto, Down By the Salley Gardens / Kitty's Wedding. Mike played with me for a while on some new ones and a few old ones and had some good suggestions for me regarding alternate chords, as well as tempo and emphasis. He's good like that!
Wednesday Ahhhhh! What have I done? I've decided to compete in the Northern Regional Comhaltas Fleadh! I didn't even know it was happening (this Saturday! Right here in Leeds!) until a new acquaintance of mine told me. I sort of decided on the spot I'd do it.
So that gives me 3 evenings (after work) to decide which tunes I'm doing and to practice. Tonight I spent about an hour going through stuff. So far I've decided to do Cooley's Hornpipe, either All Around the Faery Fort (barndance) *or* O'Sullivan's March, for a reel it's a choice between Kitty's Gone a Milking, The Temperance Reel, or the Morningstar Reel, and my fourth piece will be Were You at the Rock?.
I'll have Mike help me decide which pieces to do out of my choices.
I am terrified and excited. Kathy says, "Just have fun" but I don't think it will be fun--but it will be an experience that's for sure!
Thursday Was coughing a lot a work, getting a bit worried. By the time I got home I ate something and got straight into bed. Called out sick on Friday which I never do. Coughing, sneezing. achey, fever, headache, the whole shebang. It's now Saturday morning (the day of the fleadh) and I'm feeling a lot better, can actually get out of bed but lost my practice time Thursday and Friday night. Plus still not nearly 100% better.
Yeah only 3 days to get nervous about it was kind of nice. But I will do it next year and so now I have a year to prepare and a year to get nervous about it! I really do want to do it, I hope they hold it in Leeds next year as well.
I took lessons with Kathy DeAngelo for 10 years. About 7 years into those lessons they became, for the most part fiddle lessons. During this time I met Lucy and Laura who were also taking lessons with Kathy. I lived in Philadelphia at the time, but 6 years ago I moved to Leeds, England (married a Brit).
I do miss all my old harp friends! This little group will not only boost me to practice more but I love that it has re-connected me to some old friends and also new friends will be made, I'm sure!
My repertoire is 99% Irish , a sprinkling of Scottish, and a few bits and pieces. Mike and I go to a regular open mic night (acoustic and very folk-friendly) which keeps me practicing, updating, and revising my repertoire. In summer we go to Kilfenora, West Clare for 2 weeks and it's full-on sessions (but my fiddling needs to be brought back up to that standard again), hopefully this year I'll be able to participate a bit more in the sessions. Mike plays guitar and mandolin.
Sunday Getting a fair bit practiced today. Besides much of what I practiced last week I also had a run through of Miss Hamilton, All Around the Faery Fort / The New Broom, Carolan's Concerto, Down By the Salley Gardens / Kitty's Wedding. Mike played with me for a while on some new ones and a few old ones and had some good suggestions for me regarding alternate chords, as well as tempo and emphasis. He's good like that!
Wednesday Ahhhhh! What have I done? I've decided to compete in the Northern Regional Comhaltas Fleadh! I didn't even know it was happening (this Saturday! Right here in Leeds!) until a new acquaintance of mine told me. I sort of decided on the spot I'd do it.
So that gives me 3 evenings (after work) to decide which tunes I'm doing and to practice. Tonight I spent about an hour going through stuff. So far I've decided to do Cooley's Hornpipe, either All Around the Faery Fort (barndance) *or* O'Sullivan's March, for a reel it's a choice between Kitty's Gone a Milking, The Temperance Reel, or the Morningstar Reel, and my fourth piece will be Were You at the Rock?.
I'll have Mike help me decide which pieces to do out of my choices.
I am terrified and excited. Kathy says, "Just have fun" but I don't think it will be fun--but it will be an experience that's for sure!
Thursday Was coughing a lot a work, getting a bit worried. By the time I got home I ate something and got straight into bed. Called out sick on Friday which I never do. Coughing, sneezing. achey, fever, headache, the whole shebang. It's now Saturday morning (the day of the fleadh) and I'm feeling a lot better, can actually get out of bed but lost my practice time Thursday and Friday night. Plus still not nearly 100% better.
Yeah only 3 days to get nervous about it was kind of nice. But I will do it next year and so now I have a year to prepare and a year to get nervous about it! I really do want to do it, I hope they hold it in Leeds next year as well.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Hello from Pam
Hello to everyone, and thanks so much for including me as a blog contributor. I am Pam, down a looooooong dirt road in western New Hampshire. I'm a public school music teacher and a keyboard player in a local band. But what I think about, listen to, and practice the most is Celtic harp music. I have only been playing for about three years. I took a year's worth of lessons with a nearby pedal harpist, but now I work on my own, which means that there are probably big holes in my repertoire and technique; I know I should care more, but honestly, I love how things are working out! There are no other harpists near me, but that's fine - I play out with my guitarist husband as ThistleWood, sometimes accompany a local madrigal group, and have just started working with a local flutist. (Sorry, flautist sounds so....la-dee-dah!).
Like probably most of you, I have pieces almost ready for performance, in-the-works, and in-my-dreams. I'm hoping that putting up a public rehearsal schedule will inspire me to move those last 2 categories along. Here is what I'll be doing this weekend, my prime rehearsal time:
* putting the finishing touches on Catriona McKay's Swan Lk 243
* trying to memorize K. Robertson's Fhear a Bhata
* working on 3 arrangements that our ThistleWood duo would like to record: Sue Richard's Baptist Johnson, Planxty Drew and our own arrangement of something else (Scarborough Fair? The Grenadier and the Lady???)
* My new pieces are 3 shorties: Road to Lisdoonvarna, Merrily Kiss the Quaker and Morrison's Jig.
It's a beautiful day, and I want to sit and read in the sun while the last batch of sap boils down. And it's already 1:00! But I'll get to that harp after I post this.
Thanks for reading with me. Happy Easter!
Like probably most of you, I have pieces almost ready for performance, in-the-works, and in-my-dreams. I'm hoping that putting up a public rehearsal schedule will inspire me to move those last 2 categories along. Here is what I'll be doing this weekend, my prime rehearsal time:
* putting the finishing touches on Catriona McKay's Swan Lk 243
* trying to memorize K. Robertson's Fhear a Bhata
* working on 3 arrangements that our ThistleWood duo would like to record: Sue Richard's Baptist Johnson, Planxty Drew and our own arrangement of something else (Scarborough Fair? The Grenadier and the Lady???)
* My new pieces are 3 shorties: Road to Lisdoonvarna, Merrily Kiss the Quaker and Morrison's Jig.
It's a beautiful day, and I want to sit and read in the sun while the last batch of sap boils down. And it's already 1:00! But I'll get to that harp after I post this.
Thanks for reading with me. Happy Easter!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Andee's Week March 24 - 31
Well I now have a new manager at work, and while I'm still full-time for the next two weeks, at least I'm full-time doing the job of one person, not two. However, I still haven't managed to practice yet this week! I spent Sunday napping, I was that exhausted (you'd think I was still anemic, but I'm not) from work.
Tomorrow (Thursday) is my day off so I am going to practice loads! Watch this space...
I've also *got* to do some fiddle practicing as I should be a lot further along by now! There is a gentleman (in Ireland) who is both a harper and a fiddler (Paul Dooley) who, every year since I *stopped* playing my fiddle in sessions turns to me husband while pointing at me and says, "Doesn't that lady play the fiddle?". Mikee then replies, "That's no lady, that's my wife!" It has become a bit of a joke these past 5 years or so and now I have promised to bring my fiddle to the session this coming summer. All I need to do is get those tunes back under my fingers again (easy, right?). Well it's 7 months on and Ireland is 5 months away....I've got a lot of practicing to do! (By the way, he never brings his harp to sessions. He plays on a wire strung harp he made himself.)
Thursday Getting a good amount of harping and fiddling in today. Working on a lot of the same harp stuff as last week, plus did a run through of Cooley's and Tailor's Twist hornpipes. My Leaving of Liverpool is sounding much much better thanks to playing along with a youtube video of an American Irish band who actually sing and play it in the same key that I do--always a plus!
Scared the cat away with my fiddling, ran through a few hornpipes, jigs, reels just to see if I still had them under my fingers. A bit of slumming as Lucy says. Went back and forth between my old fiddle and my new fiddle. The old fiddle is actually new and the new fiddle is actually old. I acquired it recently and found out it's over 150 years old!
Friday Immediately after work and a quick dinner we ran out to see the great Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill in concert! So no time to practice. Kathy, if you are reading this, during intermission I told Mike the story of Emma's reaction to "Would you like to hear Martin and Dennis come back out for another set?" and then Emma who had been patiently enjoying and enduring the concert (she was still a little girl at the time) and was fully aware of just how long a Martin and Dennis set could be, shouted "Nooooooooo!"
I love that story! Anyway, great concert of course and he played a few of my favorites including "Tell Her I Am" which I'm pretty sure I had it down as a slip jig and I think he plays it as a slip jig on his CD, but played it as a jig last night. Gotta brush up on that one! He played it with Gallagher's Frolics.
Tomorrow (Thursday) is my day off so I am going to practice loads! Watch this space...
I've also *got* to do some fiddle practicing as I should be a lot further along by now! There is a gentleman (in Ireland) who is both a harper and a fiddler (Paul Dooley) who, every year since I *stopped* playing my fiddle in sessions turns to me husband while pointing at me and says, "Doesn't that lady play the fiddle?". Mikee then replies, "That's no lady, that's my wife!" It has become a bit of a joke these past 5 years or so and now I have promised to bring my fiddle to the session this coming summer. All I need to do is get those tunes back under my fingers again (easy, right?). Well it's 7 months on and Ireland is 5 months away....I've got a lot of practicing to do! (By the way, he never brings his harp to sessions. He plays on a wire strung harp he made himself.)
Thursday Getting a good amount of harping and fiddling in today. Working on a lot of the same harp stuff as last week, plus did a run through of Cooley's and Tailor's Twist hornpipes. My Leaving of Liverpool is sounding much much better thanks to playing along with a youtube video of an American Irish band who actually sing and play it in the same key that I do--always a plus!
Scared the cat away with my fiddling, ran through a few hornpipes, jigs, reels just to see if I still had them under my fingers. A bit of slumming as Lucy says. Went back and forth between my old fiddle and my new fiddle. The old fiddle is actually new and the new fiddle is actually old. I acquired it recently and found out it's over 150 years old!
Friday Immediately after work and a quick dinner we ran out to see the great Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill in concert! So no time to practice. Kathy, if you are reading this, during intermission I told Mike the story of Emma's reaction to "Would you like to hear Martin and Dennis come back out for another set?" and then Emma who had been patiently enjoying and enduring the concert (she was still a little girl at the time) and was fully aware of just how long a Martin and Dennis set could be, shouted "Nooooooooo!"
I love that story! Anyway, great concert of course and he played a few of my favorites including "Tell Her I Am" which I'm pretty sure I had it down as a slip jig and I think he plays it as a slip jig on his CD, but played it as a jig last night. Gotta brush up on that one! He played it with Gallagher's Frolics.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Laura: Happy Harping
Yes Lucy, I think this is working....I also didn't practice every day but I practiced more than I would have. Last week I mixed it up a bit. I am still working on:
The Green Fields of Woodford
Molly St. George
I also played some oldies but goodies for us Delaware Valley Harp Orchestra players:
Glass of Beer
The Downfall of Paris
My goal for this week would be to do some singing with the harp....I keep saying I am going to do it but I never do....
Happy harping this week y'all :0)
The Green Fields of Woodford
Molly St. George
I also played some oldies but goodies for us Delaware Valley Harp Orchestra players:
Glass of Beer
The Downfall of Paris
My goal for this week would be to do some singing with the harp....I keep saying I am going to do it but I never do....
Happy harping this week y'all :0)
Lucy's week March 24-30
Lucy checks in for another week.
I did practice a little last week, not what I always hope for, but more than I might have, so I think this is working. The main thing is to keep playing the three tunes for the 14th April do. I've settled on the three listed below in the Monday space. But I also hope to keep working on some other things: the two double jigs - Boys of the Town &Woodford, as well as starting to get the melody of the hornpipe Kitty's Wedding, which is great on the harp under my fingers.
Sunday 24 March - I think I played the three tunes listed below at least one time through....
Monday 25 March - Worked quite hard on Amongst Friends, Miss Johnson's (reel) and George White's (reel). Will probably work on them a bit more as I am playing the first two solo at a 'do' on April 14.... I'll be joined by a flute and fiddle for GW's. Nailbiter for me as I am a shy performer. Lots of slumming with the concertina today.
Tuesday 26 March - At the risk of repeating myself..... I did play for maybe a half hour, and pretty much the same tunes as mentioned above. Also slumming on the c'tina as it was a kitchen session night. So lots of music. I took a workshop with Mary McNamara last spring and still haven't really learned those tunes, and they are marvelous ones, so I worked a bit on them.
Wednesday 27 March - now I am repeating myself. Played the tunes of the week, nothing else.
Thursday 28 March - Didn't play at all. Ran through the Mary McN '99' jig and that was IT.
Friday 29 March - Did get through the 3 tunes for the micro-gig and also a few runs through the double jigs. I am being quite faithful to this little set of tunes, I must say.
Saturday 30 March - Starting today with the concertina - the family is out which means I can be in the living room! While the cats are away the mice do play!
Today's photo is to show my efforts to stay organized..... one of my notebooks.
I did practice a little last week, not what I always hope for, but more than I might have, so I think this is working. The main thing is to keep playing the three tunes for the 14th April do. I've settled on the three listed below in the Monday space. But I also hope to keep working on some other things: the two double jigs - Boys of the Town &Woodford, as well as starting to get the melody of the hornpipe Kitty's Wedding, which is great on the harp under my fingers.
Sunday 24 March - I think I played the three tunes listed below at least one time through....
Monday 25 March - Worked quite hard on Amongst Friends, Miss Johnson's (reel) and George White's (reel). Will probably work on them a bit more as I am playing the first two solo at a 'do' on April 14.... I'll be joined by a flute and fiddle for GW's. Nailbiter for me as I am a shy performer. Lots of slumming with the concertina today.
Tuesday 26 March - At the risk of repeating myself..... I did play for maybe a half hour, and pretty much the same tunes as mentioned above. Also slumming on the c'tina as it was a kitchen session night. So lots of music. I took a workshop with Mary McNamara last spring and still haven't really learned those tunes, and they are marvelous ones, so I worked a bit on them.
Wednesday 27 March - now I am repeating myself. Played the tunes of the week, nothing else.
Thursday 28 March - Didn't play at all. Ran through the Mary McN '99' jig and that was IT.
Friday 29 March - Did get through the 3 tunes for the micro-gig and also a few runs through the double jigs. I am being quite faithful to this little set of tunes, I must say.
Saturday 30 March - Starting today with the concertina - the family is out which means I can be in the living room! While the cats are away the mice do play!
Today's photo is to show my efforts to stay organized..... one of my notebooks.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Lucy writes, well well, well another week and St Patrick's Day to boot.....
So far no music today but I fell down walking the dog and whacked the small of my back and it is sore, so I am being very lazy and quiet, but I think I will play soon. So what should it be? Well, I think I have to keep on keeping on with the two double jigs. (Woodford and Boyz).
This week's photo has nothing to do with irish music, but evokes something magical - as if there are water sprites at work in our local river. Irish music has a lot of magic in it, so that works for me!
Sunday 17 March - A run through of Woodford
Monday 18 March I did play I did I did - the two double jigs, Woodford and Boyz - and I rilly have to tune again. Later in the evening I played a couple of hornpipes, just the melody, that I am learning on the concertina -- this because the daughter can do homework when I play the harp, but not when I'm playing the concertina..... they are, just for interest, The Good-Natured Man and Kitty's Wedding. Kitty's Wedding is actually quite wonderful on the harp and I'm tempted to add it to the 'must learn' list.
Tuesday 19 March - Worked a little on the double jig set. I think the left hand of Woodford is finally beginning to settle in..... Otherwise, I was reviewing concertina tunes I'm supposed to know as my class starts up in April sometime....
Wednesday 20 March - Caught up in dealing with financial stuff - it is that time of year - I've only managed to play Amongst Friends - that being the tune I'm playing at this 'thing' in mid-April..... argh.
Thursday 21 March - so far I have not played a thing, working at the local library most of the day. And now I'm sort of tired.
Friday 22 March - Spent 4 1/2 hours driving my little darling around to appointments and D&D -- I did have my teeth cleaned and finished a book while waiting..... I played Amongst Friends once and then Miss Johnson's and half of George White's and was out of time.
Saturday 23 March
And now we are three! Big welcome to Laura.
So far no music today but I fell down walking the dog and whacked the small of my back and it is sore, so I am being very lazy and quiet, but I think I will play soon. So what should it be? Well, I think I have to keep on keeping on with the two double jigs. (Woodford and Boyz).
Sunday 17 March - A run through of Woodford
Monday 18 March I did play I did I did - the two double jigs, Woodford and Boyz - and I rilly have to tune again. Later in the evening I played a couple of hornpipes, just the melody, that I am learning on the concertina -- this because the daughter can do homework when I play the harp, but not when I'm playing the concertina..... they are, just for interest, The Good-Natured Man and Kitty's Wedding. Kitty's Wedding is actually quite wonderful on the harp and I'm tempted to add it to the 'must learn' list.
Tuesday 19 March - Worked a little on the double jig set. I think the left hand of Woodford is finally beginning to settle in..... Otherwise, I was reviewing concertina tunes I'm supposed to know as my class starts up in April sometime....
Wednesday 20 March - Caught up in dealing with financial stuff - it is that time of year - I've only managed to play Amongst Friends - that being the tune I'm playing at this 'thing' in mid-April..... argh.
Thursday 21 March - so far I have not played a thing, working at the local library most of the day. And now I'm sort of tired.
Friday 22 March - Spent 4 1/2 hours driving my little darling around to appointments and D&D -- I did have my teeth cleaned and finished a book while waiting..... I played Amongst Friends once and then Miss Johnson's and half of George White's and was out of time.
Saturday 23 March
And now we are three! Big welcome to Laura.
Andee: March 17 - 24
Sunday St. Pat's Day! Got to practicing late in the day due to being struck down with the worst cramps ever (sorry if that is TMI!), glad I didn't have any gigs today.
Been working on my recent new tunes (the ones I practiced last week) plus did a quickie review of Flying to the Fleadh (still have it under my fingers thank goodness) and am now doing a review of Novia Scotia Reel (it's on John and John's CD) which sounds really good if you do a D drone on the B part in the left hand the last time through (rather than the G) which is what they do and then go into a tune in G, don't remember what I used to put with it so will try a few G reels to see what sounds good with it. Well it sounds good as the first tune then going into Come West and then Mountain Rd.
Monday No practice. :-(
Tuesday It's my day off so I can get lots of practicing in. It's also open mic night tonight so I'm concentrating mostly on what I plan to play tonight:
Nova Scotia Reel / Come West Along the Road / Mountain Road
Were You at the Rock?
George White's / Man of the House
Father O'Flynn / MacAllistrum's March
I may hit on a few other things as well which could serve as back-ups since I'm maybe not 100% confident with all of the above.
Wednesday I practiced so much on Tuesday I split the skin on my right thumb and it hurts! Plus didn't get back from the open mic til late--only a few hours sleep so no practice tonight--taking it easy and letting my thumb heal.
Thursday and my birthday! It's been a hectic day so far (I worked today) and we haven't had dinner yet so we will see if I get any practicing in today....
I did get a bit of playing in on my birthday. Mike helped me with 'The Leaving of Liverpool', which is a really simple song, but he noticed that it wasn't flowing and the phrasing was out of synch with the way it would be sung. My left hand was determining the phrasing rather than the other way around. I|t was a good insight. Now I've got to play along with a recording (or a youtube) of it to get it right.
Sunday St. Pat's Day! Got to practicing late in the day due to being struck down with the worst cramps ever (sorry if that is TMI!), glad I didn't have any gigs today.
Been working on my recent new tunes (the ones I practiced last week) plus did a quickie review of Flying to the Fleadh (still have it under my fingers thank goodness) and am now doing a review of Novia Scotia Reel (it's on John and John's CD) which sounds really good if you do a D drone on the B part in the left hand the last time through (rather than the G) which is what they do and then go into a tune in G, don't remember what I used to put with it so will try a few G reels to see what sounds good with it. Well it sounds good as the first tune then going into Come West and then Mountain Rd.
Monday No practice. :-(
Tuesday It's my day off so I can get lots of practicing in. It's also open mic night tonight so I'm concentrating mostly on what I plan to play tonight:
Nova Scotia Reel / Come West Along the Road / Mountain Road
Were You at the Rock?
George White's / Man of the House
Father O'Flynn / MacAllistrum's March
I may hit on a few other things as well which could serve as back-ups since I'm maybe not 100% confident with all of the above.
Wednesday I practiced so much on Tuesday I split the skin on my right thumb and it hurts! Plus didn't get back from the open mic til late--only a few hours sleep so no practice tonight--taking it easy and letting my thumb heal.
Thursday and my birthday! It's been a hectic day so far (I worked today) and we haven't had dinner yet so we will see if I get any practicing in today....
I did get a bit of playing in on my birthday. Mike helped me with 'The Leaving of Liverpool', which is a really simple song, but he noticed that it wasn't flowing and the phrasing was out of synch with the way it would be sung. My left hand was determining the phrasing rather than the other way around. I|t was a good insight. Now I've got to play along with a recording (or a youtube) of it to get it right.
Laura Says Play that harp!
Hi all and Happy St. Patrick's Day.
I started my day by practicing The Green Fields of Woodford and Molly St. George. Thank you girls, for inspiring me to sit down and do what I love doing.....play that harp!
Laura
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
ANDEE'S Post: March 10-17!
I have finally made it to the blog! First of all so good to be back in touch with Lucy! And Laura, you too!
For me, Sunday feels more like the last day of the week, not the first--but no big deal as I didn't practice Sunday anyway--too busy with Mike's mum as it was Mother's Day here in the UK and we spent the day with her.
Monday was a total loss as I worked late, came home and cooked dinner and by the time we had eaten and the dishes were washed up it was after 9:00 and I was truly tired! I've been doing the job of two people for the last month at work and this is going to continue for another three weeks. I am both manager and assistant at my shop. When the new manager starts in three weeks I will have more time for the rest of life!
Tuesday (today) is my day off and I will be practicing off and on all day. Will post more later today with what I've practiced and my plans for the rest of the week.
Well, so far today I have worked on a few recently learned tunes: The Foggy Dew (and The Rights of Man), Amhran na Leabhar, and Were You at the Rock. I have reviewed George White's / Man of the House, Come West Along the Road / The Mountain Road.
As a result of looking at a youtube video Kathy posted I am now working on Mac Allistrum's March and putting in that cool descending bass line that the Belfast Harp Orchestra does. They also seem to drop out the C part which is good because for some reason I can't get that part to flow, so doing BHO style!
I now have the C part flowing OK (listened to a few other versions on youtube to help me along. Done for today, I think.
Wednesday I have practiced Mac Allistrum's March for 15 minutes before dinner. Now thinking of what to put it with. It's in 6/8 so a jig would work....
Practiced for 40 minutes after dinner; have paired MacAllistrum's up with Father O'Flynn (playing MacAllistrum's first in the set.)
Thursday I didn't practice at all. Hair appointment after work and then dinner--too tired! I was in bed by 9:30.\
I have finally made it to the blog! First of all so good to be back in touch with Lucy! And Laura, you too!
For me, Sunday feels more like the last day of the week, not the first--but no big deal as I didn't practice Sunday anyway--too busy with Mike's mum as it was Mother's Day here in the UK and we spent the day with her.
Monday was a total loss as I worked late, came home and cooked dinner and by the time we had eaten and the dishes were washed up it was after 9:00 and I was truly tired! I've been doing the job of two people for the last month at work and this is going to continue for another three weeks. I am both manager and assistant at my shop. When the new manager starts in three weeks I will have more time for the rest of life!
Tuesday (today) is my day off and I will be practicing off and on all day. Will post more later today with what I've practiced and my plans for the rest of the week.
Well, so far today I have worked on a few recently learned tunes: The Foggy Dew (and The Rights of Man), Amhran na Leabhar, and Were You at the Rock. I have reviewed George White's / Man of the House, Come West Along the Road / The Mountain Road.
As a result of looking at a youtube video Kathy posted I am now working on Mac Allistrum's March and putting in that cool descending bass line that the Belfast Harp Orchestra does. They also seem to drop out the C part which is good because for some reason I can't get that part to flow, so doing BHO style!
I now have the C part flowing OK (listened to a few other versions on youtube to help me along. Done for today, I think.
Wednesday I have practiced Mac Allistrum's March for 15 minutes before dinner. Now thinking of what to put it with. It's in 6/8 so a jig would work....
Practiced for 40 minutes after dinner; have paired MacAllistrum's up with Father O'Flynn (playing MacAllistrum's first in the set.)
Thursday I didn't practice at all. Hair appointment after work and then dinner--too tired! I was in bed by 9:30.\
Sunday, March 10, 2013
It's a new week, wipe the sla..- I mean - strings clean and start anew. Tune. I did that yesterday, finally, and as always, marvel at how much, uh, better it sounds......
I have no idea at all what to put on the roster for this week. Amongst Friends is going to have to stay until this party in April, that is called "Playing Among Friends" so it's a natural choice. Gotta play it until I don't have to think at all anymore. Because Andee mentioned George White's I had to review that and all of a sudden I had a brainstorm that the reel I wanted to attach to it was Miss Johnson's which Patrick Ourceau taught at a workshop last summer...... So that leaves me wondering, should it be another go-around with Molly St. George? Or is it time to get back to one of my eternal Carolan challenges..... there are several I've been gnawing away on for years now.
Sunday March 10 So far all I've played the concertina because the family is out of the house and they all prefer it that way..... Aw.... I'm not that bad, am I? All I ended up doing was review of last week's tunes. I am going to choose a Carolan, but what?
Monday March11 Hmmm Off to play concertina this morning..... So now I've ended up doing the thing I do, which is scattering my energy around playing a little of this a little of that: reviewing last week's stuff, and I did play this week's tunes, except I can't decide on a Carolan tune so then I got distracted with Napoleon Crossing the Rhine. What hornpipe would go with that, that's where I really fell off the rails..... Maybe I could try it with The Rights of Man?
Tuesday March 12 So far I haven't played at all. I have 'decided' however that when I do, I will get back to work on Lord Galway's Lamentation which is coming along, but isn't at all solid yet. I haven't played much and probably won't but I did have a brainstorm about what to Play with Boys of the Town - namely - The Green Hills of Woodford - so two double jigs together in that order. Very nice transition. What the heck is a double jig anyway??
Wednesday March 13 So far..... not so much harp although I did play a bit of concertina. I think I have spring fever, my brain is very everywhere today. But I did manage to do the double jig combo once this morning and I think it really will be a nice fit. Still haven't tried the hornpipe combo, but just in my head it sounds good. Lots of in my head harping. Does that count?
Thursday March 14 I Played my double jigs a little bit...... still waiting for someone to tell me what makes a double jig a double jig.....
Friday March 15 Not sure how, but Friday got away with me totally. I know I played my new 'set' of reels, Miss Johnson's learned at a workshop from Patrick Ourceau and George White's. And I think I also worked a bit on my double jigs.
Saturday March 16 Not much today, I did, for some reason, play Fanny Power a couple of times, esp practicing playing those thirds on top the last time around. And my reel set and a little practice of The Green Hills of Woodford - really I can't play either of them without reviewing the left hand first, the melody is fine, but the left hand is very unsettled. I keep working on just 'knowing' what notes to play on the left, but it's not something that comes naturally to me. Anyhow, I doubt I'll play anymore tonight. And tomorrow is a new week.
Andee and I will each make our own weekly post..... and whichever of youse who comes along, we'll get you set up and signed in. So Come West Along the Road with us......
Andee and I will each make our own weekly post..... and whichever of youse who comes along, we'll get you set up and signed in. So Come West Along the Road with us......
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Have You Played Your Harp Today? Read Me First!!!
WELCOME! Celtic harpers all! The purpose of this blog is to see if we can't create a supportive community that works in a simple and straightforward way for those of us who, for one reason or another, aren't practicing enough.
You can lose your way practicing for all sorts of reasons, from moving to an isolated place where you have no teacher, to illness and too many distractions and obligations, to that unsettling moment, isn't it, when your teacher looks at you and says, "You know, I've taught you what you need to know. I can't, in good conscience, take money from you anymore."
You know she or he is right.
You know you still have an infinite amount to learn.
You hope workshops and gigs and gatherings will be enough to inspire and keep you sharp.
You have so many fine resolutions.
You will keep up with all your Carolan tunes.
You will learn those airs once and for all.
You will add more slip jigs to your repertoire.
You make lists.
You start strongly.
But then even if you do have the time without that weekly or bi-weekly lesson to focus on your good intentions come to.... if not nothing.... then less than you had hoped. A lot less.
This is crazy! you think - just when I start to get good I'm falling apart! You know what's missing: connection and a sense of accountability. The festivals, occasional get-togethers, the gigs that come and go - they are not quite enough to keep you going. And maybe you don't like playing publicly anyway, you just like to play for yourself. So why aren't you?
We've settled on a monthly entry - you can either edit it or add comments however works best for you. We like posting photos too!
MY GOALS THIS WEEK: MARCH 3-10...... hmmmmmm......... here's the problem..... I don't have any. Immediately my mind starts buzzing. What I have found works, sort of, is picking two or three tunes per week and focussing my efforts on them. At the end of the week I might or might not continue with all or some of those tunes. It doesn't mean I can't play other tunes, just that, when I sit down, I will try to play those first. (note use of the word 'try'). A lot of my practicing involves tune recovery by the way..... they constantly fall out of my head.....
From the Harper's Escape 2012 we learned:
1. Mo Ghile Mear - march - I've got the melody but keep losing track of the accompaniment.
One of my secret goals is to work at 'getting' handier at improvising...... this is a perfect tune for some noodling, especially starting easy and getting more involved. SO DO THAT. This is on the Harper's Escape 2012 CD
2. The Boys of the Town Double jig. In Grainne's book and easy to find on Youtube. (I'll add some links) A very cool tune.
3. The Glass of Beer Reel. This is 'tune recovery' - I learned this early on with Kathy Dangelo and I want to jazz up my left hand a little, the accompaniment I originally learned was very simple. So I'm always envious when others play it with more cool stuff! So..... that involves listening to Grainne play it and peeking in her book too for ideas. (It's on Between the Showers.)
Each person who 'joins' can be a 'contributor.' I invite you using your regular email address. If you want to be invited write me at Lucyavery@aol.com
From the Harper's Escape 2012 we learned:
1. Mo Ghile Mear - march - I've got the melody but keep losing track of the accompaniment.
One of my secret goals is to work at 'getting' handier at improvising...... this is a perfect tune for some noodling, especially starting easy and getting more involved. SO DO THAT. This is on the Harper's Escape 2012 CD
2. The Boys of the Town Double jig. In Grainne's book and easy to find on Youtube. (I'll add some links) A very cool tune.
3. The Glass of Beer Reel. This is 'tune recovery' - I learned this early on with Kathy Dangelo and I want to jazz up my left hand a little, the accompaniment I originally learned was very simple. So I'm always envious when others play it with more cool stuff! So..... that involves listening to Grainne play it and peeking in her book too for ideas. (It's on Between the Showers.)
Each person who 'joins' can be a 'contributor.' I invite you using your regular email address. If you want to be invited write me at Lucyavery@aol.com
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