2024 Workshops OH
Stephanie Claussen
Shaky Hands, Racing Heart
Whether it’s a low-key background setting or a high-pressure solo performance, playing in front of others feels different than playing in the privacy of home. In this workshops we’ll talk through the art of performing: how to practice performing ahead of time, what mindset to cultivate, how expectations can impact the performance, and how to deal with physical symptoms of nerves. This will be a hands-on workshop with the opportunity (though not a requirement) to play for the other participants to test these performance tips and tricks. Open to all.
Muffling and Flat Hand Techniques: where and how to use them
Virginia Woolf once said, “One must learn to be silent just as one must learn to talk.” Harp is an instrument where the strings ring freely unless we silence them. In this workshop we will learn how to use muffles to bring clarity to your melodies, to add rhythm and definition to your bass, and to avoid buzzing. We’ll cover the techniques to play flat octaves, walking bass, and brush muffles. Lastly we’ll learn how to interpret written muffles in sheet music and discuss where you might want to add a little bit of silence into your own arrangements. Handouts provided. Intermediate to advanced.
Maintaining a repertoire: how to learn and retain a body of harp music
Join us for methods of reviewing pieces, what mindset to cultivate when coming back to old pieces, as well as emphasizing skills (such as improvisation, ear training and sight reading) that can help with playing pieces that aren't as polished. Open to all.
Hannah Flowers
Beyond the Jigs and Reels: Lovely Contemporary Irish Tunes
Learn some modern tunes to expand your repertoire! The Irish tradition offers a wealth of newly composed tunes that are beautiful on the harp. In this workshop, Hannah will teach several modern Irish tunes that are not dance tunes but suit the harp perfectly. There will be a waltz, a slower tune, and a tune or two out of the ordinary.
Sing ‘n Play: The Art of Self-Accompaniment on the Irish Harp
Do you love to sing? And you do you also play the harp? Learn how to sing and play at the same time, or improve your harp accompaniment skills. Hannah will offer specific ideas for accompaniment patterns to get you started, and then you will explore improvisational techniques and strategies together in a supportive and encouraging environment.
Celtic Elegance: Exploring the Charms of Irish Waltzes
Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Irish waltzes during this workshop with Hannah Flowers. This approachable tune type is an excellent gateway into the vibrant world of Irish dance tunes. From the compositions of Turlough O’Carolan to more recent pieces, the Irish tradition offers some beautiful waltz melodies. In this workshop, Hannah will teach several Irish waltzes, from older tunes to more modern compositions, discuss left hand accompaniment patterns, musicality, and rhythm.
Robbin Gordon-Cartier
All that Jazz
You have wanted to add a new dimension to your repertoire but don’t know where to start. Let’s explore jazz repertoire for many levels and get the tools to approach this style of playing.
Practice Makes You Perfect
Come explore techniques and ideas for not just getting the most out of your practice time but finding yourself in the music you practice. Get the most out of your practice by focusing on the strengths that are yours to develop! Open to Companions.
Downsizing and Upgrading at the Same Time: The Benefits of Going Digital
As harpists, we have to carry many things to our gigs. Harp, harp dolly, bench, music stand, strings, tuner, tuning key, light and music. How liberating it is to be able to not drag in the big case of music and to have access to music that is not even in your library yet.
Come to this workshop with your questions, experiences and ideas! We will go over the basic starter pack and add favorite shortcuts/enhancements to show that going digital can be both easy and helpful. Let’s go – it’s 2024!!!!
Open to Companions.
Kim Robertson
Improv for Introverts
If you're a shy performer who worries too much about making mistakes, learn some helpful practical tools to help you achieve more freedom and confidence in your playing. Kim will share some chord vamps, right hand riffs (patterns) and improv-safety nets, along with some tips for creating your own improvisations and how to add them to your arrangements. All levels welcome. Reference worksheet provided but no need for sight-reading.
Lullabies for Lap Harp
The sweet simplicity of lullabies are especially well-suited to lap harps. The bell-like tone of a little harp can evoke the nostalgic sound of a music box and create a soothing balm for any listener. Kim will share some of her favorite lullabies for lap harp along with some ideas for simple accompaniment patterns that help create a calm, rhythmic pulse. All levels welcome. Tunes will be on lead sheets. Bring your small harp!
International Hymns
From ancient to modern times, hymns have been a foundation of traditional music all over the world. Kim will share a sampling of beautiful hymns from around the globe, along with some simple arranging ideas to help bring out the sacred beauty of the melodies. All levels welcome. Tunes will be on lead sheets.
Tiffany Schaefer
Ear Training 101
If you believe you cannot learn by ear and must rely on sheet music, you might be surprised! You’ve been learning by ear since you were small – when you learned to sing the ABCs. From recognizing intervals, to shapes on the harp, to good fingering practices, Ear Training 101 will focus on transferring your existing aural learning skills to the harp. Handouts provided. All Levels.
Getting Hands to Work Together
Learning the harp as an adult can be a challenge – especially if it’s your first instrument, or you’re coming to the harp from a single-line melody instrument. Wondering how to get both of your hands to do two separate things at once? In this workshop we will explore tips, tricks and exercises to get each hand playing confidently. Handouts provided. Beginner Level.
Back to Basics: Music Theory & Beginning Arranging
Major? Minor? Diminished? sus2? Chord progressions? In this class we will demystify these terms and more. You will learn the basics of what makes a chord major, minor, diminished or augmented, what chord progressions are available to you in a given key, and how to plug these chords into a well-known, simple melody. These skills are the groundwork to becoming a self-reliant arranger. Handouts provided. All Levels.
Denise Grupp-Verbon (Tapestry)
Thursday Special Workshop: Your Creative Muse
Where do you find your inspirations? How do you craft a new project? Join us for a discovery of ideas and unusual sources in your approach to songwriting, making your very own arrangements and even practicing! All levels are always welcome on Thursday evenings!
Loving my Scales and Arpeggios
Revealing the joy and learn to use scales and arpeggios, not just for technique, but also for creating and expanding your arrangements and repertoire! Beginning theory knowledge helpful.
Write your very own Lead Sheet!
We will discover how to add chords to a melody, and then explore and expand awesome options from there! Beginning theory knowledge helpful.
Thom Dutton
Self Accompanied Singing
We will be exploring ways to identify each persons' strengths and using those strengths to develop and create unique accompaniments. Ideas will be shared on how to maintain good vocal technique while playing harp. Examples will be given on ways to bring variety to your accompaniments. All levels and companions welcome.
Carol Kappus
The Magic Hands System
Want to experience more stability in your playing? More flow? Here’s a chance to try my Magic Hands system in a live workshop!
In the first 60 minutes, I will lead you through how the Magic Hands system works and how to build it into your hands. Then after a short rest break, I'll will teach you a few tunes by ear using this system, which might be totally different than what you have been doing so far, and show you how to use this in any new tune you are learning.
You will receive a packet of information about the shapes and chords we will be working with and some tunes you can learn by using these shapes. If you are still thinking like a pianist, in other words note by note, this will let you experience a totally different way to think about placing your hands. Come experience the Magic!
Make It Your Own
Learn how to take that tune you find someplace and make your own beautiful arrangement of it. We’ll start with the famous page Greensleeves arrangement in Sylvia Woods Teach Yourself book and see how far we can go with it and then do the same with as many tunes as time allows. This will be a fun, hands on class with loads of ideas for tricks and techniques to turn that ordinary tune into something special and very much your own.
Karen Peterson
Got Modes?
Use your levers to hear exactly what makes Ionian different from Mixolydian, Aeolian different from Dorian, and more. Spice up your technical exercises by putting them in a different mode. Learn the flavor notes and two essential chords that give the characteristic sound to each mode. Past attendees of this workshop say this is what finally allowed them to "get modes." F# and C# levers will be used. No music theory necessary. All levels.
Escape Routes & Coverups
You're playing for a friend, a patient, or a crowd. Suddenly, you lose your place, forget what comes next, hit a note you didn't expect, or discover that a lever must not be set correctly. Learn how to fake out the audience by hiding the mistake, getting back on track, and projecting a calm demeanor through it all. I will show you how to incorporate these techniques into your practice so that they become second nature. Hands on. All levels.
Introduction to the Double-Strung Harp
Curious about what it's like to have two sets of strings? Just got your first double and don't know what to do next? Find out how to see both hands without going cross-eyed. Get a taste of what makes the double-strung special: accompaniment that doesn't crash into the melody (twice the strings in half the space!), easier improvising, and delightful echoes. Start a plan for how to adjust your single-course repertoire to your double. Open to all.
Jo Lynn Rhodes
Practice, Performance, and Praise
This workshop is designed to explore tips and tricks to choosing music to practice with performing in mind. We will discuss different types of performance settings, as well as learn how to read a lead sheet, and easily adapt hymns to the harp. Beginner to intermediate levels, bring your harp and join the fun!