You love playing music with other people but it’s almost impossible to know a million melodies. Learn the secrets of good accompaniment in traditional music. The modes used in Scottish and Irish traditional music will be discussed and you’ll get solid techniques to accompanying other instruments as well as ideas for playing in sessions by improvising chord patterns.

Level: Any.
Type: Hands-on
When: Sun. 9:00am
Where: Morris 8
Accessories: recording device

American folk music is a richly diverse source of repertoire for the harp. Kim will help you learn ideas and skills for adapting and arranging American roots music to the lever harp and putting your own spin on it. Examples will include Southern, Appalachian, Gospel, Western and a few Celtic melodies that have crossed over the pond to become American classics. Ability to read a lead sheet is helpful for this workshop.
1 MHTP CEU

Level: Int-Adv.
Type: Hands-on
When: Fri. 1:30pm
Where: Concert Hall
Accessories:

Nowadays, Scottish harpers are just as likely to play jigs and reels as the fiddlers and pipers are, but in the "old" days this wasn't the case. Learn about the "old" harp repertoire and the harpers who played it. Take advantage of William Jackson's expertise in interpreting and arranging his music. The music will be taught by ear but sheet music is provided at the end of the workshop.
1 MHTP CEU

Level: Any.
Type: Hands-on
When: Thur. 3:00pm
Where: Morris 11
Accessories: recording device

Since the first millennia what was known about the Angular Harp, the first type of harp invented about 1900 B.C., came mainly from pictures and archaeology. Eventually texts appeared and from around 1000 A.D. we know even tunes played on this instrument. Come to this fascinating musical lecture and learn all about the ancient angular harp, called kugo in Japan, chang in Iran, and trigonon in Greece. Hear Tomoko play music spanning the last millennia: from ninth century Chinese tunes to the 11th and 12th centuries in Iran and Spain and other periods and cultures when and where the angular harp flourished. She will also present recently commissioned pieces by American, Japanese, and Iranian composers. Bo Lawergren will give the historical context and highlights of angular harp history.

Level: Any.
Type: Musical Lecture
When: Sat. 1:30pm
Where: Morris 2

Pipe and fiddle tunes are an integral part of traditional Scottish music. Get some useful ideas on how to expand your Scottish repertoire and how to select tunes from non-harp instrumental collections. From this master arranger, composer and accompanist, learn how to develop creative arrangements and perform them by using devices such as intros, bridges and "outros". The music will be taught by ear but sheet music is provided at the end of the workshop.

Level: Any.
Type: Hands-on
When: Fri. 9:30am
Where: Morris 9
Accessories: recording device

What makes music sacred and how can you as a harpist enhance the worship experience? Sacred Music takes many forms and in this workshop Joanna will take you through various types of arrangements of hymns, contemporary songs, and music by Bach and Handel. Learn how to build a meaningful medley and "fill in" between pieces. You will also explore meditational music in a sacred setting and hearing examples of meditational music from a generally spiritual standpoint The emphasis will be on melodic and harmonic variations, left hand patterns, glisses, and chordal accompaniments.

Level: Any
Type: Hands-on
When: Fri. 3:30pm
Where: Morris 4
Accessories: recording device, music stand

This is for those of you who may have already taken Sunita’s arpeggio workshop or want to get some new ideas for playing different types of arpeggios. We will move beyond the basic inversions of chords and work on spreading the arpeggios and adding new twists. Learn ways to add variety and still keep the flow. We will touch on rhythm and dynamics but focus on how to shape your arpeggios. Add color to your arpeggios by altering and adding to the chord itself. Get out of your comfort zone and learn new patterns for your  hands. Create spontaneous improvisations by flowing between different chords. Hands on, and lots of looking at your harp and not at the paper.
1 MHTP CEU

Anyone who has ever heard Gráinne play an Irish slow air, knows that these beautiful pieces defy written music transcription. Gráinne will take you through the fine art of interpreting and learning an Irish slow air and getting the nuances that make these pieces among the most challenging in the Irish tradition to get just right. This workshop is taught by ear and no written music will be provided. Recording devices will be your off-line memory.
1 MHTP CEU

Level: Int-Adv.
Type: Hands-on
When: Sat. 1:30pm
Where: Morris 9
Accessories:

If you've just started to play the harp, come to this special 2-day beginner class and get going with the fundamentals. Get confortable with the instrument and yourself! Debbie has done the beginner class at the Harpers Escape for over a decade and she is very calming and encouraging influence on new players. Music-reading ability is not necessary to get started.

Level: Beg.
Type: Hands-on
When: Fri & Sat at 9:30am
Where: Morris 8

Now in its ninth year, college-based, hospital hosted Bedside Harp continues to offer substantive, innovative educational programs and opportunities as it serves patients, the worried well and staff at five hospitals in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Learnabout their programs, newest online offerings, research, and their work. Some of their professional and intern harp therapists will share their bedside experiences, as well as their joys and fears.

Level: Any
Type: Lecture
When: Sat. 3:30pm
Where: Symmes
Accessories:

Lots of hands-on practice and some ear training will introduce you to musical rhythms and styles that are distinctly Scottish. Using a combination of recordings and hands-on examples in rhythm and ornamentation, Debbie will step you through what makes Scottish music Scottish. Uncover the mysteries of the "strathspey," "Scottish snap," and how to ornament a tune.

Level: Beg.
Type: Hands-on
When: Sat 1:30pm
Where: Morris 8

This is the seminal work in preserving the 17th and 18th century Irish harp repertoire. Besides including some background information on the Belfast Harpers Assembly of 1792, Gráinne will teach some tunes from the collections of Edward Bunting and give you ideas on how to adapt his piano arrangements for harp.

Level: Int-Adv.
Type: Hands-on
When: Fri. 1:30pm
Where: Morris 9
Accessories:

A harper with disabilities must overcome multiple challenges to enter into a successful and professional musical career. Take this workshop and get strategies for all aspects of business from promotion, to accommodation, to performing and teaching. Find out how to achieve the right kind of assistance in difficult buildings and performance halls. Understand how to best use websites and marketing to achieve your goals. You'll learn about the ADA and where to find resources for teaching students and get grants and fellowships ideas and resources.
Open to companions

Level: Any
Type: Lecture
When: Sat. 3:30pm
Where: Morris 10

We're still playing his music more than 250 years later. Simple, elegant melodies that are as popular today as then. Learn about Carolan and the other harper bards in this hands-on workshop that will add a new piece to your repertoire. Taught by ear with written music distributed at the end of the workshop. Gráinne will also be leading the Carolan Marathon on Saturday night.

Level: Any.
Type: Hands-on
When: Fri. 3:30pm
Where: Morris 9
Accessories:

If you want to play harp with other instruments like fiddle or pipes, it's often too difficult to play melody at their tempo so you have to know your accompaniment chops with keep up. Sharon will teach you how to accompany Irish and Scottish dance music and cover different time signatures, the different finger patterns involved (for harp players) and typical chord progressions for both major and minor keys. By request, some very basic music theory related to the topic will be covered.

Level: Int-Adv
Type: Hands-on
When: Sat. 3:30pm
Where: Morris 9

What makes a new composition sound traditional? William will take you through the structure of traditional music, the modes and rhythms used from Gaelic song, strathspeys to jigs and reels and then show you how to use a simple chord progression as the basis for developing melodic ideas, and how to expand these melodic ideas into a larger work.
1 MHTP CEU

Level: Any.
Type: Hands-on
When: Sat. 9:30am  
Where: Morris 9
Accessories: recording device

Whatever level you're harping at, rhythm is critical. Rhythm breathes life into our notes and is particularly crucial to an instrument such as the harp which has some harmonic limitations. Maeve will work on basic rhythm exercises and talk about techniques for practicing with the metranome. She will also go into syncopation, breaking it down and giving ideas of how to use syncopation to make arrangements and accompaniments more interesting.

Level:Any
Type: Hands-on
When: Fri. 1:30pm 
Where: Morris 10

This business-focused workshop is targeted to the professional harpist or those that want to be a professional. Pamela will provide invaluable tips and advice on how to market yourself so that you can bring in more business. You'll learn how you put together a marrketing strategy and develop materials that put your best foot forward. Find out how to create professional materials that get attention and pay off. Advance registration required for this Thursday Special. Be sure to check-off the box on the registration form. Already registered for the festival and want to sign-up now for this workshop? Call Kathy at 856-795-7637. Absolutely no walk-ins.

Level: Any
Type: Hands-on
When: Thurs. 10am-12pm
Where: Morris 9
Accessories:

Who had the idea to make a harp with intersecting rows of strings and why? Harper will talk about the instrument's dramatic history and show you the essentials of its technique and demonstrate its possibilities and limitations. You'll also get the opportunity to try it for yourself.
Open to companions

Level: Any
Type: Lecture & Hands-on
When: Sat. 3:30pm 
Where: Johnes

You've heard of the harp therapy and therapeutic music training programs, and you are interested, but you may have some questions that the program websites and materials don't answer. How does doing this work differ from a wedding gig, playing at church or a recital? What do therapeutic musicians do every day? What is it like? Is it draining? How is it fulfilling? What special skills are needed, besides good musical skills? Come and hear the answers from the people doing the work.
Open to companions

Level: Any
Type: Lecture
When: Fri. 9:30am 
Where: Symmes

Nancy tells the fascinating story of the Irish harp; from the ancient harp of kings and patronage to Dublin harp maker John Egan, who invented his Irish Portable Harp in the early 1800s to the recent "dumpster Egan". Her story is augmented by her slide show based on her seven years of research and adventures traveling to castles and museums, you'll also hear the bright sound of Nancy's own two hundred year old John Egan harp, covered in golden shamrocks.
Open to companions

Level: Any
Type: Lecture & Hands-on
When: Sat. 1:30pm
Where: Morris 3

This workshop is a must for students who want to improve their sight-reading skills and an essential demo for teachers to learn how to teach this skill. Stephanie will show you how to learn to "see" music as more than just a bunch of little black dots. Bring music you would like to work on.
1 MHTP CEU

Level: Any
Type: Hands-on
When: Fri. 9:30am 
Where: Morris 2

Christina's trip to the Isle of Iona in Scotland in June is the inspiration for this workshop, centered around the topic of Eicse, a place where wisdom, poetry and knowledge were revealed in ancient lore. This workshop space of knowledge and wisdom will help you derive the inspiration for your heartsong with Christina. Learn a beautiful traditional tune (Enya style!) and then add your own flair while Christina shares the tools of memorization, arranging, composition and secrets of music Eicse.
1 MHTP CEU

Level: Any
Type: Hands-on
When: Sat. 9:30am
Where: Concert Hall

You are, inevitably, going to break a string. You should know how to change it. Take this workshop and get a lesson in knot-tying and replacing strings. Bill will also step you through string buzzing diagnostics and simple things you can do to keep your harp sounding great.

Level: Any
Type: Hands-on
When: Fri. & Sat. 11:30am-12:30pm
Where: Morris 8

Workshop descriptions and schedules are subject to change.
Changes are posted as soon as possible. This page updated 7/9/10