Improvisation is an important technique that not need only be associated with jazz but with whatever musical situation you find yourself in. By explaining basic jazz harmony and how to voice it tastefully on the harp, Maeve will help players ease into the world of improvisation. She'll use a standard jazz tune as a base for improvising over chords and form. Get some of the basic blues patterns and groove.

Level: Adv
Type: Hands-on
When: Sat. 3:30pm
Where: Morris 2

Using Playford's Dancing Master from 1651, Ellen will both teach you to play for various kinds of movement and improvisation, along with the dances themselves! English country dancing started during the Restoration and has less footwork and more forms than other folk dancing. Learn how rhythm and timing in your harp playing can be aided by knowing the dances. This workshop is your precursor to Somerset's first Renaissance "ball" that night.

Level: Any
Type: Hands-on & feet ready
When: Fri. 1:30pm  
Where: Morris 3

This is a workshop for the slightly more advanced player who is interested on working on their dexterity, style and comfort in more up tempo Scottish dance music. We will focus on a jig and a reel and work on fingering, ornamentation and arrangement ideas that get the most out of your harp while still keeping up with those darn fiddlers!

Level: Adv.
Type: Hands-on
When: Sun. 9:00am 
Where: Morris 10

Do you dazzle when you play, but your mouth goes dry when you have to talk to the audience? Would you like to be able to better tell your own story of how you came to play the harp or to tell the stories behind some of the songs you play to give your programs more pizzazz? Then this is the workshop for you. Professional storyteller and harpist Denise Bennett will help you find your inner storyteller through imaginative exercises and "delighted" listening in this experiential workshop.

Level: Any
Type: Hands-on
When: Fri.. 1:30pm
Where: Morris 6
Accessories:

Kim and Margaret will moderate an open discussion on the kinds of gigs harpers might consider playing and there are bound to be stories on gigs you might not want to take and why. Bring your ideas and experiences and share with the group and ins and outs of playing professionally. Advice and tips should make for a lively discussion. Bring your notepad.
Open to companions

Level: Any
Type: Lecture
When: Sat. 1:30pm
Where: Morris 7
Accessories:notepad

Explore this glorious period of musical composition in which great composers wrote a large amount of music for every instrument except the harp. We will explore the reasons for this omission and examine the relatively small body of music that actually was written for the harp during this time. Learn about the wealth of transcriptions for lever and pedal harp that now make it possible for us to perform all the Baroque music we could ever want. There will be performance practice, trills, and other fun things as we seek to bring this beautiful music alive on modern lever harps. Open to companions

Level: Any
Type: Lecture & Hands-on
When: Fri. 9:30am
Where: Morris 6
Accessories: music stand

Level: Int-Adv
Type: Hands-on
When: Sun. 9:00am
Where: Morris 6
Accessories: your feet

Wire harpers and those with really resonant harps will want to take this workshop and learn how to use those ringing strings to their best advantage. Cynthia will teach you to build harmonies out of the notes in a given melody and do it by letting things ring. But which? Take this workshop to find out how the harmony grows out of the melody.
1 MHTP CEU

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

A follow-on to Stephanie's Friday music-reading workshop, this class will give you a better understanding of the very inconsistent forms of notation used in harp music. It's also a good skills builder for teachers. Bring music you would like to work on.

Level: Any
Type: Hands-on
When: Sat. 1:30pm
Where: Morris 4
Accessories: music stand

Whether you have a disability yourself or teach students with disabilities or just want to learn about this issue which affects so many, please join Christina as she moderates this open forum centered on harpers with disabilities. Listen. Discuss. Ask Questions. Your input and ideas on accessible harps, performing, traveling experiences and networking will enliven this workshop. A white paper on accessible harps will be created from this discussion.

Level: Any
Type: Lecture & Forum
When: Fri. 3:30pm
Where: Morris 2

This Open Forum with three leading proponents of Therapeutic Harp will cover the breadth of this ever-expanding field. What are the common elements that connect the healing harp community, music therapy, harp therapy, and therapeutic music? This is not about promoting any one program but bridging the gaps between them. Listen. Discuss. Ask Questions. Included in this discussion will be music volunteers: where they fit in and what they need to know. Open to companions

Level: Any
Type: Lecture & Forum
When: Sat. 1:30pm
Where: Symmes

The grand dames of the historical harp track at this year's festival will regale you with all kinds of music on all kinds of harps. This is an "unplugged" coffeehouse-style concert where you can relax and enjoy the artists' informal chat and their music on wire harp, arpa doppia, Spanish harp and bray harp and maybe more! Bring a cup of coffee or tea.
Open to companions

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

Purchase a Visitor Ticket to get into the Exhibit Hall to try out harps and into this workshop. This 45-minute workshop is offered to Visitors who are interested in plaiyng the harp and want to see what it's all about. No previous musical experience is necessary! If it's always been your dream to play the harp, here's your chance to get a solid introduction. Sit down at a harp and be coached by one of the most patient and supportive harp teachers on the planet.

Level: Any
Type: Hands-on
When: Fri.. & Sat. 11am
Where: Concert Hall
Accessories:

Start your Irish dance repertoire, or build your current repertoire, with this workshop. Gráinne will teach a dance tune by ear and show you how to do the various stylistic ornamentations that give the music that lilting quality. Gráinne will also give you important tips on fingering that will help you play more quickly. While Irish music is all about the melody, you'll learn how to add an appropriate accompaniment. Written music is distributed at the end of the workshop.

Level: Any
Type: Hands-on
When: Thur. 1:00pm
Where: Morris 9
Accessories:

An informative and sometimes humorous approach to the harp music of Johann Sebastian Bach, or rather, the lack thereof. Find out why this powdered-wigged master of polyphony seems to have written nothing for the harp, and what has been done to correct this grievous omission. We will explore the life, music and spirituality of Bach, often called the "Fifth Evangelist" and look at clever transcriptions of some of his greatest pieces which can now be readily enjoyed on lever harp. Open to companions

Level: Any
Type: Lecture & Hands-on
When: Fri. 3:30p.m.
Where: Morris 6
Accessories: music stand

Leonardo da Vinci once said, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." In this arranging workshop, you'll discover the "less is more" method: playing minimum notes to produce maximum results. Learn chord voicings, rhythmic patterns and strategies that will help you create evocative but effortless arrangements. It really can be simple and interesting!

Level: Any.
Type: Hands-on
When: Sat. 9:30am 
Where: Morris 11
Accessories:

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