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