Week 1 (April 28 - May 4) In honor of May I have been reviving Samradh Samradh (Summer Summer) which is an easy little tune, but for some reason I never learned it fully. It was taught to me 15 years ago by Janet Harbison when I took her week long harp intensive in the Antrim Glens.
I've also been learning The Shire Song (Concerning Hobbits) and though I've spent a lot of time on it the second longer and more complicated part is still barely formed. I can play the first part and then go into another tune, but really should learn the whole thing properly.
I really jumped the gun with my busking idea as the weather has been windy and cold and a bit wet. I went walking yesterday in the Dales and needed gloves, hat, scarf, multiple layers. So yeah, I'll leave it til temps and conditions are more summery.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Wednesday is the day....
....that we'll visit a local recording studio, so you would think that all practice would be focused on our 3-4 songs. Haha, all these other hornpipes and jigs from a new collection I got seem to be taking over. I am not a big believer in over-practicing, though; going over and Over and OVER something seems to make me a little TENSE (!) so it's probably just as well. Here is the CD cover or label I'm thinking of using, there seems to be no copyright involved:
Thank you both for your encouragement. It was a wild few hours, and I certainly learned a lot! The studio is known for acoustic recordings, but I think I was their first harper - I said I wanted to set up somewhere in the studio where there were no verticals behind the harp strings, and the engineer had to stop and think about it for a bit. I was not as nervous as I sometimes am when I play out, and after a few re-starts I realized: where else can you make mistakes and know that they'll be cleaned up in the mixing? Ugh, I think it's time to have my harp re-strung, although maybe when I hear the master the strings will sparkle a little more. We were so busy listening and experimenting that we forgot to take photos. But that's OK- at least we'll have a 3-track CD that we can use as PR/give away to friends. My new, USB-charging tuner is on its way, so thanks for that idea as well. A quick question: when you travel long-distance with your harp underneath a hatchback window, doo you use a space blanket to reflect the heat? I would be swearing up a storm if I was on my way to Parsipanny and heard popping strings behind me......
Thursday - Nothing, not one string was vibrated on this day.
Friday - Beginning to sight-read through a recent mail delivery: Irish Dance Tunes for all Harps. So many songs that I have heard before but never knew by name. Hate, hate, hate paying attention to fingering, but love that someone has done much of it for me and most is so comfortable. Going away for the weekend, and back to school next Monday, so this is it as far as intense practicing for a while.
Saturday - Home early, ran through a few just-sight-read songs. New tuner arrived in the mail, can't wait 'til the battery is charged. Made a business card. That's it. Happy Saturday!
Thursday - Nothing, not one string was vibrated on this day.
Friday - Beginning to sight-read through a recent mail delivery: Irish Dance Tunes for all Harps. So many songs that I have heard before but never knew by name. Hate, hate, hate paying attention to fingering, but love that someone has done much of it for me and most is so comfortable. Going away for the weekend, and back to school next Monday, so this is it as far as intense practicing for a while.
Saturday - Home early, ran through a few just-sight-read songs. New tuner arrived in the mail, can't wait 'til the battery is charged. Made a business card. That's it. Happy Saturday!
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Amid Distractions....
Yes, well a kitten is a mighty distraction (a mite of distraction?) - but he likes the harp already. He is mostly black with a bit of white, a real tuxedo cat, and has chosen the black (and white keyed) piano as his 'safe' place. Obviously young Ernest has a sense of style.
Sunday - 21 I am about to practice - although probably first I'll go over my tunes for my Clare class. There's a third optional tune and likely I'll tackle that too. Then I'll go off and play them on the c'tina and that may be it for music. Duangare Castle, the O'Mahoney hornpipe, and...... Oh, I'll come back with the other name. And I will review what I can remember of The Sheep in the Boat, both air and jig. The jig is a Junior Crehan composition and I have it in the book his daughter put together too. Can't remember what key he has it in in there, something a bit higher than D I bet, to avoid the low notes for the fluters and pipers.
Monday - 22 - Kind of obliged to work on the above tunes - and added the 'optional' hornpipe Tuamgraney Castle which I liked. On the CD they gave us, however, are two barndances that I am MAD about - think will sound GREAT on the harp or c'tina - Joe Bane's and the Gypsy Princess - Jack Talty playing with someone else, two concertinas, just gorgeous. I know a beautiful slow reel on the harp called Joe Bane's, a real killer, that I got off a Kate MacNamara c'tina album. Lots of good cross-over. I did moodle a bit with the Sheeps and got that same feeling of hopelessness I've always had about them, that I'll never quite get them right. It's very odd how some tunes just never make it into your repertoire despite quite a lot of work.
Tuesday - 23
Wednesday - 24
Thursday - 25
Friday - 26
Saturday - 27 The reality is...... busy busy week and with the Clare class, I have to settle down and learn those tune, jigs this week - one of them, the Humours of Kilclogher is very harp friendly. The others are fine, most jigs are, Patsy Geary's and...... Rooms of Dooagh which is certainly quite a name.
Sunday - 21 I am about to practice - although probably first I'll go over my tunes for my Clare class. There's a third optional tune and likely I'll tackle that too. Then I'll go off and play them on the c'tina and that may be it for music. Duangare Castle, the O'Mahoney hornpipe, and...... Oh, I'll come back with the other name. And I will review what I can remember of The Sheep in the Boat, both air and jig. The jig is a Junior Crehan composition and I have it in the book his daughter put together too. Can't remember what key he has it in in there, something a bit higher than D I bet, to avoid the low notes for the fluters and pipers.
Monday - 22 - Kind of obliged to work on the above tunes - and added the 'optional' hornpipe Tuamgraney Castle which I liked. On the CD they gave us, however, are two barndances that I am MAD about - think will sound GREAT on the harp or c'tina - Joe Bane's and the Gypsy Princess - Jack Talty playing with someone else, two concertinas, just gorgeous. I know a beautiful slow reel on the harp called Joe Bane's, a real killer, that I got off a Kate MacNamara c'tina album. Lots of good cross-over. I did moodle a bit with the Sheeps and got that same feeling of hopelessness I've always had about them, that I'll never quite get them right. It's very odd how some tunes just never make it into your repertoire despite quite a lot of work.
Tuesday - 23
Wednesday - 24
Thursday - 25
Friday - 26
Saturday - 27 The reality is...... busy busy week and with the Clare class, I have to settle down and learn those tune, jigs this week - one of them, the Humours of Kilclogher is very harp friendly. The others are fine, most jigs are, Patsy Geary's and...... Rooms of Dooagh which is certainly quite a name.
April 21 - 27 and I'm off all week!
Yeah, so lots of time to practice! And of course if there is a sunny warm-ish day I'll do my busking.
Sunday Coming to grips now with Sheep in the Boat air followed by the jig. Went over the chords with Mike and he said they all sounded fine.
Monday Had the harp ladies over today for a rehearsal. We went over some of our old stuff as it's been a while since we met up and I usually don't play the group's stuff unless I'm practicing for something specific.
A bit fed up with the weather forecast as it now seems to be showing cloudy with chance of rain and quite cool over the next few days.
Here is a photo from the last open mic we went to a couple weeks ago. I also wanted to see if I could figure out how to get a photo on here.
And here's a pic from the farmer's market last August.
The 3 photos above are of the group I play with Pennine Harps. This was from two summers ago, our group has gained two more harpers since then.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday I have been practicing assorted stuff all week.
Yesterday, in preparation for my busking (which is today--yikes!) I decided to go through all my stuff including those I haven't played in a long time. I skipped over the pieces that would require way too much work at the moment and concentrated on those that I could get back into playability with not too much effort.
However, about of a third of the way through this project I was struck with the uncontrollable desire to learn "The Shire Song" (Theme from LOTR). Why I never thought to learn this 10 years ago I have no idea as my entire life back then was secretly about elves, fairies, and all things fantasy. It's not very difficult, I've got the first bit which can be played on it's own. Will eventually learn the next part which is a bit harder.
Saturday Well the typical English weather has prevented me from busking yesterday. It was windy and cold! I went for a walk and had to wear gloves it was that chilly. And today, while bright is promising to be cold and windy again....
Sunday Coming to grips now with Sheep in the Boat air followed by the jig. Went over the chords with Mike and he said they all sounded fine.
Monday Had the harp ladies over today for a rehearsal. We went over some of our old stuff as it's been a while since we met up and I usually don't play the group's stuff unless I'm practicing for something specific.
A bit fed up with the weather forecast as it now seems to be showing cloudy with chance of rain and quite cool over the next few days.
Here is a photo from the last open mic we went to a couple weeks ago. I also wanted to see if I could figure out how to get a photo on here.
And here's a pic from the farmer's market last August.
The 3 photos above are of the group I play with Pennine Harps. This was from two summers ago, our group has gained two more harpers since then.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday I have been practicing assorted stuff all week.
Yesterday, in preparation for my busking (which is today--yikes!) I decided to go through all my stuff including those I haven't played in a long time. I skipped over the pieces that would require way too much work at the moment and concentrated on those that I could get back into playability with not too much effort.
However, about of a third of the way through this project I was struck with the uncontrollable desire to learn "The Shire Song" (Theme from LOTR). Why I never thought to learn this 10 years ago I have no idea as my entire life back then was secretly about elves, fairies, and all things fantasy. It's not very difficult, I've got the first bit which can be played on it's own. Will eventually learn the next part which is a bit harder.
Saturday Well the typical English weather has prevented me from busking yesterday. It was windy and cold! I went for a walk and had to wear gloves it was that chilly. And today, while bright is promising to be cold and windy again....
Sunday, April 14, 2013
12 harps and harpers in the room!
Sunday Today I practiced for about an hour and a half (lots of stuff, old and new) before going to the play-together at my friend Pam's house. I was wondering if we'd break our record (February saw 10 harps in one room) and we did as we had 12! Pam taught us a few Welsh tunes and we had tea and Welsh cakes. It was a lovely time.
I got some nice comments on the wonderful tone of my Dusty and someone even said it sounded as if it was amplified. I love my Dusty and it's come a long way with me, nearly from the very beginning. I almost feel ungrateful when I say I wish it had two more strings in the bass.
Monday Open mic night again tomorrow night, running through a few things to see what I'll play. At the moment I think it will be Mist Covered Mountain / Cliffs of Moher, Cooley's / Tailor's Twist, The Leaving of Liverpool (maybe), The Foggy Dew / Rights of Man.
Practiced a few more things, still looking for something to go with Nova Scotia Reel. I might put it with Egan's Polka for now. Had a look at an old barndance Paddy Mc Ginty's Goat which makes me laugh to myself for two reasons. One, it has some naughty lyrics to it and two, I once played it as a recessional at a wedding due to the priest (reverend?) putting me on the spot at the very last minute!
Wednesday I now have committed myself to busking in front of my shop. All of the money will go to our shop (it's a charity). My area manager is encouraging shops to do something for this 'shop of the week' thing which is generating feel-good stories and extra revenue for the charity. One of the managers got sponsored to do a sky dive and made loads of money for her shop. This will be my contribution. I'm planning on doing it next week as the weather is supposed to be nice, in fact a "heatwave" is predicted--this means temps of 70 degrees! Gonna get my busking head on today and make a sign with our official logo so people will know I'm not keeping the money--it goes to the charity.
Driving myself crazy working on Anach Cuain and the jig Sheep in the Boat all day. I've got the ABCs and am trying to get my timing down by playing with countless recordings and youtube videos. But the one version that is alluding me is Kevin Crehan's which is unfortunate as I would think that one would be pretty right on. Maybe it's just hard aligning the harp with the fiddle. Have found a really good box version that flows nicely. Not crazy about my chords as I think they need more variation, but Mike should be able to help me with that later. I think I better work on something else as it's now Thursday.
I got some nice comments on the wonderful tone of my Dusty and someone even said it sounded as if it was amplified. I love my Dusty and it's come a long way with me, nearly from the very beginning. I almost feel ungrateful when I say I wish it had two more strings in the bass.
Monday Open mic night again tomorrow night, running through a few things to see what I'll play. At the moment I think it will be Mist Covered Mountain / Cliffs of Moher, Cooley's / Tailor's Twist, The Leaving of Liverpool (maybe), The Foggy Dew / Rights of Man.
Practiced a few more things, still looking for something to go with Nova Scotia Reel. I might put it with Egan's Polka for now. Had a look at an old barndance Paddy Mc Ginty's Goat which makes me laugh to myself for two reasons. One, it has some naughty lyrics to it and two, I once played it as a recessional at a wedding due to the priest (reverend?) putting me on the spot at the very last minute!
Wednesday I now have committed myself to busking in front of my shop. All of the money will go to our shop (it's a charity). My area manager is encouraging shops to do something for this 'shop of the week' thing which is generating feel-good stories and extra revenue for the charity. One of the managers got sponsored to do a sky dive and made loads of money for her shop. This will be my contribution. I'm planning on doing it next week as the weather is supposed to be nice, in fact a "heatwave" is predicted--this means temps of 70 degrees! Gonna get my busking head on today and make a sign with our official logo so people will know I'm not keeping the money--it goes to the charity.
Driving myself crazy working on Anach Cuain and the jig Sheep in the Boat all day. I've got the ABCs and am trying to get my timing down by playing with countless recordings and youtube videos. But the one version that is alluding me is Kevin Crehan's which is unfortunate as I would think that one would be pretty right on. Maybe it's just hard aligning the harp with the fiddle. Have found a really good box version that flows nicely. Not crazy about my chords as I think they need more variation, but Mike should be able to help me with that later. I think I better work on something else as it's now Thursday.
Practice makes Perfect?
I need to take one of those Candace Dunham workshops at Somerset - get rid of your sloppy habits, practice carefully, etc, etc. Is there anyone else here who gets a little ADHD-ish when they play? I make promises to myself: no you can't move on to another song until you can play A Fig for a Kiss at a pretty good clip with absolutely NO mistakes. But honestly, I want to hear how Kiss the Quaker is doing, what's one or more little mistake? I guess what I'm saying is that I'm not very disciplined. Which is what I will try to work on this week, and I think my knee needs 3 more days at home, so it's the perfect time to be more careful. I would like to play 4 songs perfectly at a moderate speed: Fig, Quaker, Geese in the Bog, Lisdoonvarna......argh, too much, I know..........
Sunday - played for more than an hour, skipping back and forth between those 4 songs, as well as my regulars. Wondered: if I played from memory and watched my hands, wouldn't I be more accurate? Seesaw humidity makes tuning difficult and me fractious.
Monday - played more almost 2 hours, and was extremely dedicated about checking fingerings instead of doing whatever I wanted. Husband asked if we wanted to take our guitar/harp duo into a recording studio to make a demo CD. Nervous but excited at the possibility. We worked together on Swan Lk 243 and Ashokan, were pleased with our duet decisions and the parallel harmony we worked out. Wish it took something other than knee surgery to get me time enough to play this long on a weekday.
Tuesday-slow Pracrtice Day, so of course everything went well. Since I'm home recuperating, spent a lot of time on YouTube, listening to versions of Fig, Geese, etc. Everyone's playing is so fast! JP has reserved local recording studio time to make a 3-tune demo, useful for bookings. Since I don't think we've played Swan Lk 243 even once without fixing or changing something, this sounds like a train wreck waiting to happen, but still I am excited. I thought his idea about wearing 'click track' headphones to keep our tempo regulated was for the birds - who wants harp music to run like a well-regulated machine??
Wednesday- Concentrated on the 3 songs we'll record (swan lk 243, Ashokan, Planxty Drew), doing a lot of re-arranging of Ashokan in particular. A good rehearsal with JP after dinner, although he would rather sub. Trip to Sligo for Planxty Drew, and I guess I've agreed. Since 2 of these are NOT dance tunes, I will appreciate the rhythmic freedom. Have moved the harp from the upstairs 'music room' to the dining room; now it's my job to re-position it every day, to get used to different placement. Of course, moving means tuning....and retuning....and retuning......
Thursday - A crappy AM Doctor visit, and then home to just read and lie down. Evening rehearsal with the guitar dude, made some great changes to our arrangements. Picked CD cover or labels, still not sure how this works. Watched details of Massachusetts madness and read a great L. Bernstien quote: This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before. Decided that this is my new motto.
Sunday - played for more than an hour, skipping back and forth between those 4 songs, as well as my regulars. Wondered: if I played from memory and watched my hands, wouldn't I be more accurate? Seesaw humidity makes tuning difficult and me fractious.
Monday - played more almost 2 hours, and was extremely dedicated about checking fingerings instead of doing whatever I wanted. Husband asked if we wanted to take our guitar/harp duo into a recording studio to make a demo CD. Nervous but excited at the possibility. We worked together on Swan Lk 243 and Ashokan, were pleased with our duet decisions and the parallel harmony we worked out. Wish it took something other than knee surgery to get me time enough to play this long on a weekday.
Tuesday-slow Pracrtice Day, so of course everything went well. Since I'm home recuperating, spent a lot of time on YouTube, listening to versions of Fig, Geese, etc. Everyone's playing is so fast! JP has reserved local recording studio time to make a 3-tune demo, useful for bookings. Since I don't think we've played Swan Lk 243 even once without fixing or changing something, this sounds like a train wreck waiting to happen, but still I am excited. I thought his idea about wearing 'click track' headphones to keep our tempo regulated was for the birds - who wants harp music to run like a well-regulated machine??
Wednesday- Concentrated on the 3 songs we'll record (swan lk 243, Ashokan, Planxty Drew), doing a lot of re-arranging of Ashokan in particular. A good rehearsal with JP after dinner, although he would rather sub. Trip to Sligo for Planxty Drew, and I guess I've agreed. Since 2 of these are NOT dance tunes, I will appreciate the rhythmic freedom. Have moved the harp from the upstairs 'music room' to the dining room; now it's my job to re-position it every day, to get used to different placement. Of course, moving means tuning....and retuning....and retuning......
Thursday - A crappy AM Doctor visit, and then home to just read and lie down. Evening rehearsal with the guitar dude, made some great changes to our arrangements. Picked CD cover or labels, still not sure how this works. Watched details of Massachusetts madness and read a great L. Bernstien quote: This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before. Decided that this is my new motto.
Lucy Ponders Performance Anxiety
So yes, this is the day I have a tiny concert, really just a gathering of friends and a few extras, but even that seems to push my nervous buttons. I find it ONLY applies to playing completely solo. Provided I am playing with someone else and know that I know the tunes, I can do pretty well, unless it is a room full of total strangers..... Another thing that happens is that I'll start out great and at the very moment I think, I'm doing OK! then I mess up. But how to keep from having that thought?
One idea I've had lately that seems to help and perhaps I've mentioned it is that I do think I've put myself in the role of having to 'hold up' the music, instead of trusting the music itself and letting it hold me up as I play. I've been trying to keep that thought in mind when I play with others at a session , or someone asks me to start a tune. Also reminding myself that even the simplest tune is beautiful and so what if we have all played Fanny P. a million times, a million more wouldn't be too many, would it? It's funny to think that I get sort of stuck on myself - I feel so humble about the music in general, but that is the point, the music itself is wonderful and amazing all I have to do is go with it, let it happen, right????
Sunday April 14 - The concert is later today...... have to tune, have to tidy myself up..... I'll run through the tunes once or twice but that will be IT. Will post later.
LATER. It went extremely well! And a fun session afterwards.
Monday April 15 - Worked on Tailor's Twist - ah I see you play it with Cooley's, so I'll get on that too - I'm a bit lost now that the concert is done.
Tuesday April 16 - Our spring class with Hilari and Benedict starts "Music of County Clare" Harooo!!! This means that I will probably be mostly playing the concertina as I desperately try to learn new tunes in time for class. At least two per week. Often, since the fam aren't too keen on the 'tina I use the harp to learn the melody. It's all by ear Pam - H & B make CD's for us, playing the tune medium and slow, and then with examples of how others play the tunes. Very cool.
Wednesday April 17- My husband's birthday and guests coming and all sorts of folderol. Practice of any kind highly unlikely.
Thursday April 18 - I'm working on The Tailor's Twist and I got Cooley's out - I almost had that one nailed down a few years ago and then dropped it. I'm kind of distracted at the moment because we got a new kitten today!!!!!! Ernie. He is a 'tuxedo' cat and has chosen the black piano as his 'safe' place.
Friday April 19- Today besides playing with Ernie and doing the things I was supposed to do (but not all of them) I also had to spend time learning my new class tunes, Duangare Castle (Fling) and Kitty O'Mahoney (hornpipe).... As I often do, I'm learning the melodies first on the harp then I'll go out to my studio (unless everyone goes out) to practice the tunes on the c'tina.
Saturday April 20 -
One idea I've had lately that seems to help and perhaps I've mentioned it is that I do think I've put myself in the role of having to 'hold up' the music, instead of trusting the music itself and letting it hold me up as I play. I've been trying to keep that thought in mind when I play with others at a session , or someone asks me to start a tune. Also reminding myself that even the simplest tune is beautiful and so what if we have all played Fanny P. a million times, a million more wouldn't be too many, would it? It's funny to think that I get sort of stuck on myself - I feel so humble about the music in general, but that is the point, the music itself is wonderful and amazing all I have to do is go with it, let it happen, right????
Sunday April 14 - The concert is later today...... have to tune, have to tidy myself up..... I'll run through the tunes once or twice but that will be IT. Will post later.
LATER. It went extremely well! And a fun session afterwards.
Monday April 15 - Worked on Tailor's Twist - ah I see you play it with Cooley's, so I'll get on that too - I'm a bit lost now that the concert is done.
Tuesday April 16 - Our spring class with Hilari and Benedict starts "Music of County Clare" Harooo!!! This means that I will probably be mostly playing the concertina as I desperately try to learn new tunes in time for class. At least two per week. Often, since the fam aren't too keen on the 'tina I use the harp to learn the melody. It's all by ear Pam - H & B make CD's for us, playing the tune medium and slow, and then with examples of how others play the tunes. Very cool.
Wednesday April 17- My husband's birthday and guests coming and all sorts of folderol. Practice of any kind highly unlikely.
Thursday April 18 - I'm working on The Tailor's Twist and I got Cooley's out - I almost had that one nailed down a few years ago and then dropped it. I'm kind of distracted at the moment because we got a new kitten today!!!!!! Ernie. He is a 'tuxedo' cat and has chosen the black piano as his 'safe' place.
Friday April 19- Today besides playing with Ernie and doing the things I was supposed to do (but not all of them) I also had to spend time learning my new class tunes, Duangare Castle (Fling) and Kitty O'Mahoney (hornpipe).... As I often do, I'm learning the melodies first on the harp then I'll go out to my studio (unless everyone goes out) to practice the tunes on the c'tina.
Saturday April 20 -
Monday, April 8, 2013
Andee's week 7th April - 13th April
Well I'm over my fever now, I guess as Lucy said, this wasn't the year to do the fleadh. It'll be in Manchester next year, so hopefully I'll be able to make it then. I heard there was only one other harp in the over 18s.
Sunday Still too fevered to get out of bed for very long.
Monday Resting after a tough day at work.
Tuesday My day off; lots of time to practice. Watch this space.
So it's open mic night tonight so I'm just concentrating on what I'll play tonight. Cooley's / Tailor's Twist hornpipes and All Around the Faery Fort / The New Broom (barndances) and Miss Hamilton (Cornelius Lyons piece) and The Temperance / Morning Star reels. Have also played the other things I was going to play at the fleadh--O'Sullivan's March and yet again Were You at the Rock.
Can I say my hands feel like big fat stiff cold sausages? Never before had I had this problem, even in cold weather (it is still very cold here). My elegant 33 year old very-young-and-not-nearly-middle-aged harp hands have now become 49 year old-old-lady harp hands and I do not like it one bit. Not One Bit.
Wednesday and Thursday I've been practicing lots of bits and pieces also running through some stuff on the fiddle. Starting to teach myself the jig 'Tell Her I Am' (which I already know on the fiddle) on the harp. It's one of my faves that Martin Hayes does and I was hoping he'd play it in concert and he did inspired me to try it on the harp. He puts it with Gallagher's Frolics and I already can play that, so perfect set.
Refreshing myself on the Junior Crehan hornpipe 'Her Long Golden Hair Was Hanging Down Her Back' which I learned about a year ago. It's sort of hard so I'm proud of myself for sticking that one out. I love the tune. Love Junior Crehan tunes in general and may learn the air An an Chuin (spelling wrong) which the jig of the same name is derived from. Haven't got too far on that one yet.
Sunday Still too fevered to get out of bed for very long.
Monday Resting after a tough day at work.
Tuesday My day off; lots of time to practice. Watch this space.
So it's open mic night tonight so I'm just concentrating on what I'll play tonight. Cooley's / Tailor's Twist hornpipes and All Around the Faery Fort / The New Broom (barndances) and Miss Hamilton (Cornelius Lyons piece) and The Temperance / Morning Star reels. Have also played the other things I was going to play at the fleadh--O'Sullivan's March and yet again Were You at the Rock.
Can I say my hands feel like big fat stiff cold sausages? Never before had I had this problem, even in cold weather (it is still very cold here). My elegant 33 year old very-young-and-not-nearly-middle-aged harp hands have now become 49 year old-old-lady harp hands and I do not like it one bit. Not One Bit.
Wednesday and Thursday I've been practicing lots of bits and pieces also running through some stuff on the fiddle. Starting to teach myself the jig 'Tell Her I Am' (which I already know on the fiddle) on the harp. It's one of my faves that Martin Hayes does and I was hoping he'd play it in concert and he did inspired me to try it on the harp. He puts it with Gallagher's Frolics and I already can play that, so perfect set.
Refreshing myself on the Junior Crehan hornpipe 'Her Long Golden Hair Was Hanging Down Her Back' which I learned about a year ago. It's sort of hard so I'm proud of myself for sticking that one out. I love the tune. Love Junior Crehan tunes in general and may learn the air An an Chuin (spelling wrong) which the jig of the same name is derived from. Haven't got too far on that one yet.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Oxycodone AND practicing?
Wednesday is the date of my second knee arthro this year (I'm thinking it's just time for a new knee!) and I am curious to know how my practicing will be affected. More crunchy bits being removed probably means more medication/more time off from work - will I haul myself over to practice, keeping the leg both straightened and elevated? I didn't take more than 2 Oxys last time, because I hate the fuzzy way I feel on them. But my guitarist husband - please, I'm changing my mention of him to just JP -and I have worked out a beautiful harmony on Ashokan, and if I don't keep playing it, it will all go down the tubes. I'll probably be housebound for a week, so I'd love to play 90 minutes a day, with lots and lots of sight reading. Wish me luck!
Monday - Ugh, ugly day with the knee at work; who wants to cry in front of their students? Heading upstairs now to practice, though. My 2 new favorite songs are A Fig for a Kiss and Geese in the Bog. Hope to have Boys of Ballisodare firmly under my fingers by Friday, too. Does anyone have ideas for increasing speed besides being patient and beginning slowly? (Maybe I don't have the patient part quite down yet....) The Mister came up to speed on Ashokan - now I am the slacker!
Tuesday - Stayed home from work after Monday's knee episodes. Played the harp for a little more than an hour. Worked on the songs listed above; decided to improve on some given fingerings and ornaments with good-for-my-ego results! Decided to retire, play the harp all day, and watch the $ roll in. Then reality set in....
Wednesday - The day of the dreaded knee surgery. No harp strings plucked as a result. Looking forward to three sick days and lots of playing.
Monday - Ugh, ugly day with the knee at work; who wants to cry in front of their students? Heading upstairs now to practice, though. My 2 new favorite songs are A Fig for a Kiss and Geese in the Bog. Hope to have Boys of Ballisodare firmly under my fingers by Friday, too. Does anyone have ideas for increasing speed besides being patient and beginning slowly? (Maybe I don't have the patient part quite down yet....) The Mister came up to speed on Ashokan - now I am the slacker!
Tuesday - Stayed home from work after Monday's knee episodes. Played the harp for a little more than an hour. Worked on the songs listed above; decided to improve on some given fingerings and ornaments with good-for-my-ego results! Decided to retire, play the harp all day, and watch the $ roll in. Then reality set in....
Wednesday - The day of the dreaded knee surgery. No harp strings plucked as a result. Looking forward to three sick days and lots of playing.
And Lucy harps on
It's interesting playing a nylon stringed harp after a steady diet of the carbon fiber. Not only is the sound softer and 'wider' with the nylon, but the feeling under the fingers is dramatically different. My fingers get sore more quickly from the nylon - they seem less bouncy and more resistant so I think I pull harder on them. Which brings me to another observation. When I play, it's hard to describe, but the actual touching of the strings evokes a physical response in me - that is - it is hugely satisfying in some way I can't describe. I always feel 'better' in some obscure way after I practice, even when it wasn't a very good practice. I don't have this sensation from the concertina buttons!
Sunday April 7 - slightly frustrating practice - very tired and clumsy for some reason - worked on the two double jigs - boyz and green fields. Run through of Amongst Friends too - the event is Sunday the 15th which is beginning to loom and make my palms sweat.
Monday April 8 Tuesday April 9 Wednesday April 10 played the pieces I'm playing in the 'concert' on Sunday and the double jigs a few times each day.
Thursday April 11 - No playing, travel day
Friday April 12 - Home in VT. Tired and getting NERVOUS about Sunday. Argh. Haven't practiced yet but I hope to.
Saturday April 13 - I did practice my 'concert' tunes (now the person organizing it has started calling it that......) and also worked on The Tailor's Twist - Hoping that this time maybe I'll stick with it long enough to 'get' it!
Here is my first harp, my faithful Dusty. I had my first lesson with Kathy on a terrible little harp - one of those Paki things - and as I looked around her house, I saw immediately that I would have to get a 'real' harp. Which I did almost the next day. I never spend money on anything except books normally (I mean beyond what a person has to have to live) and my husband was flabbergasted that I just went out and did it. "You must be really into this harping thing!" was all he could say.
(Understatement of the decade. )
Sunday April 7 - slightly frustrating practice - very tired and clumsy for some reason - worked on the two double jigs - boyz and green fields. Run through of Amongst Friends too - the event is Sunday the 15th which is beginning to loom and make my palms sweat.
Monday April 8 Tuesday April 9 Wednesday April 10 played the pieces I'm playing in the 'concert' on Sunday and the double jigs a few times each day.
Thursday April 11 - No playing, travel day
Friday April 12 - Home in VT. Tired and getting NERVOUS about Sunday. Argh. Haven't practiced yet but I hope to.
Saturday April 13 - I did practice my 'concert' tunes (now the person organizing it has started calling it that......) and also worked on The Tailor's Twist - Hoping that this time maybe I'll stick with it long enough to 'get' it!
Here is my first harp, my faithful Dusty. I had my first lesson with Kathy on a terrible little harp - one of those Paki things - and as I looked around her house, I saw immediately that I would have to get a 'real' harp. Which I did almost the next day. I never spend money on anything except books normally (I mean beyond what a person has to have to live) and my husband was flabbergasted that I just went out and did it. "You must be really into this harping thing!" was all he could say.
(Understatement of the decade. )
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