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It’s been a tough old time…losing my little shadow and soul dog Gypsy, a busy time in the last week at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, William chopping the top off his finger.  (Yes I’m serious, he really did chop the top right off!!)  But I’m choosing to focus on the good, so here is a joyous email!  All the amazing things that are happening all around…

Christmas Collaboration Magic!

A massive shoutout to all the fantastic harpists who sent in their videos for the Christmas Collaboration.  102 – wow!!  Your enthusiasm and willingness to put yourself out there is what this project is all about!  William and I are knee-deep in weaving it all together.  It’s a lot of work, but we love it, and the reward of seeing it all come together is beyond words.  The final video will be premiered on YouTube on 17th December.  I can’t wait!  Just need to get it finished now!!

Cheers to the RCS Harp Students!

A round of applause for the incredible harp students at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.  Term 1 was a whirlwind of hard work, dedication, and beautiful music.  We even had a bed bugs incident in the harp room where everything, including all the harps, had to be fumigated!!  To all of you, enjoy a well-deserved break over the festive season.  You’ve earned it!

Adventures!

Last weekend, William and I were staying where we first met, and lived for about 15 years…..Glasgow!!  On Friday we met the wonderful Pauline Ann (and husband Vincent) from the How To Harp membership for an evening filled with fun and laughter.

On Saturday night we went to see Daði Freyr.  He is from Iceland and you might know him from Eurovision.  I love how his songs are fun and you can dance, but his lyrics are really sweet and cute.

This song is about his baby daughter

And this one is about his wife

So lovely, and the gig was amazing!  Jazz harpist Ben Creighton Griffiths was up in Scotland for a concert and some workshops a few months ago and we realised when chatting about music that we both loved Daði Freyr.  Isn’t it funny how harpists often listen to music that is sooooooo not the typical thing you’d expect a harpist to be listening to?

Then on Sunday night, we went to see Corook.  Their song ‘It’s OK’ has meant a lot to me over the last few weeks.  I’d give you a link to this one too, but the second verse is pretty intense and might be too much for some, so search for that one at your own risk (there may also be the occasional F-bomb).

Our Glasgow trip was planned as a ‘getaway from work’ weekend but with so much on this wasn’t possible.  We had our laptops and worked all day Saturday and Sunday.  Busy work days then gigs at night, could have much worse though I suppose!!

Such a busy week, and even busier this week.  I love it though, so being busy is fine by me.

Thank you again for being a part of this journey.  Your support adds an extra layer of magic to what has already been an amazing year.  I’ve gone from dreaming about getting my ideas about what harping could and should be out there to more people……to actually doing it!!  There have been tough times and obstacles but the support of the harping community is what has kept us going.  You’ve no idea how much it means to me.

First off, I want to say how touched I was with the emails and messages I received after my last email.  Writing it was a bit of a journey for me, and your messages truly brightened some challenging days.

After hitting send, I noticed a couple of grammar mistakes that slipped through the cracks.  I had just been talking about being kinder to myself and not being perfect…..but then preceded to beat myself up about the mistakes.

What turned things around was the flood of messages I received.  Your words of support, love, and understanding meant the world to me.  It’s remarkable how a simple reply can lift someone’s spirits, and I genuinely appreciate each one.

This week, the chaos continues, but I’m handling it better.  Deadlines are looming, projects are in full swing, but somehow, the big problems from last week seem like much smaller problems now.  Isn’t it funny how perspective can change with a bit of time?

We don’t do Thanksgiving over here but even amidst the hustle, I’ve been taking a moment to count my blessings.  A supportive and fun husband, a healthy and happy family, a career that’s more than just a job—it’s a passion.  And of course, my furry companions, the dogs!  There’s so much to be thankful for.  The negativity from last week seems insignificant compared to all the positive things in my life.

If you’re navigating a tough patch, remember, it’s okay not to feel amazing every day.  Life throws challenges sometimes, and it’s perfectly normal not to be perfect.  Mistakes happen.  Just like in harping, imperfections are part of the melody, and that’s more than okay.

Let’s continue this journey together, embracing the highs and lows, and remembering that kindness, especially to ourselves, goes a long way.

Wishing you a harmonious week ahead!

Oh, and for those taking part in the Xmas Collaboration…..it is due on the 3rd, this Sunday!!  And remember…..IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT!!  Just do your best and send in a video!!

The Christmas Collaboration 2023 is in full swing with lots of live events and questions.  I love it though, you know I do.  Just over one week left before the submission date is upon us (3rd December, 5pm UK time).

I have also been working away in the background on my masters in teaching the arts.  I’m in my third and final year of study and so a big project is underway.  I really need to do more on this though to be honest and it keeps getting pushed down my priority list and then falling off the bottom.

Alongside the general busyness of this time of year, there have been some really difficult personal situations to navigate, which has been hard and honestly, really sad at times.  I’ve found myself struggling and feeling quite disillusioned.

This week I had some really lovely 1-2-1 sessions with How To Harp Members, one member began her lesson by saying she really hoped I was taking time for myself and making sure I was happy and well.  I was so touched by the concern from her.  I know I am always telling my students to make sure they are filling their own cup, making time for themselves and taking care of themselves.  Getting the reminder to do the same for me was really special and it brightened what was a dark day.  She didn’t know I had stuff going on, but her concern meant so much.

So, even though I’ve not messaged in a long time.  I’m not going to beat myself up about it.  I’m going to give myself a pass.  I’m trying my best.  And, once this busy time is over, I’m going to make sure I have some down time to recharge and refresh.

I hope you are all doing the same.  Look after yourself.  And look after each other – you don’t know how much some concern and kind words might mean to someone when they are struggling the the stress of life we all feel sometimes.

After leading the goal setting session in the How To Harp Membership, I have been reflecting on reflection!

Journaling is such a fantastic tool for all musicians, let’s pick apart why that is!

Journaling helps document creative processes, track progress and encourages reflection on experiences.  Often creative ideas, feelings and emotions – the ups and the downs – these can be lost in the whole learning journey and it can leave us feeling, well, empty!

Writing down ideas, lyrics, melodies, chords and harmonies.  Just anything that comes as you are playing.  This helps to keep hold of these little snippets of creativity which can be used when the time comes!  It also lets us look back on our creative journey and see how our ideas have developed over time.

As well as recording musical ideas, journaling can also help us to track progress and goals.  Writing a goal down is a fantastic start, but actually reflecting as you work towards that goal will help you adjust targets and reflect on progress.  It helps us to stay motivated and on track.

Journaling can also be a mode of self-discovery!  Writing about our emotions and experiences can help us understand ourselves better.  We can discover how we learn and then adapt our work, we can gain insight into our own creative process and lead us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and the art we create.

These are just a few of the benefits we can gain from journaling.

My newsletters and blog posts act as a kind of mini journal for me, sharing my reflections on topics which are in my mind each week.  I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them!

The way you journal is up to you, personally I like a really lovely notebook, lots of different colours opens and I often include pictures and doodles.  Others like to create digital diaries.  Some enjoy recording themselves.  

Whatever works for you – go with it!  And enjoy the process.

Aren’t plans a funny old thing in life sometimes?!  I was planning lots of new and exciting things for my How To Harp Membership during the last few months of 2022.

I asked myself, what will really help the learners?  How can I make sure they are supported?  I want them to know each and every one is heard and important.

I decided to create learning pods.  A place where the students could feel safe to share and so that as the membership grows, people weren’t lost in a crowd.  These pods would be a community for the learners to ensure they were supported and getting what they needed.

I asked trusted harpers who I have met over the last few years to lead these pods.  To make sure the learners in their pods knew where to find things, could ask questions and to help, support and facilitate.

The pod leaders would have a pod to, so they were supporting each other and they too had fellowship and community.

I thought this set up would bring great opportunities for all the members of How To Harp, and for the pod leaders!  Everyone would be growing and benefiting.

And that’s exactly what is happening.  It is beautiful to see.

But something else happened.  Something I hadn’t thought of or predicted.

I found support.  I found community.  I found help. 

Little did I know it was exactly what I needed!

Isn’t if funny when you plan something out to give people what you think will be a great experience.  What you think they need.  And what happens is you find exactly what you didn’t know you needed!

So, what do those around you need?  How could you support them and lift them up?

You might just find exactly what you don’t know you need!

Hi Harpers!

How often do you listen?

It seems like a funny question to ask doesn’t it?  We all love music, we listen lots!  

But do you really?

Do you really listen?

I had a wonderful tutor when I was studying music at the conservatoire.  One of the reasons I decided to do a postgraduate was because I wanted to spend more time with her, learning, soaking things in….listening!

Her name was Mary McCarthy.  She actually wasn’t my harp tutor!  She was my piano tutor, though I learnt more from her about music, teaching, generally everything actually!!

I remember she told me when I was a very young 18 year old;

Heather, you need to listen more.  You should be listening 80% of the time, and playing 20%.

At the time, honestly, I thought she was mad.  Doesn’t she realise how much practice I need to be doing to get to the level I want to be at?!?  Also all my other tutors focused on skills, practice, levels.  Not Mary.

It’s only in the past 5 or 6 years – 10 years on from her giving the advice, that I really started to understand what she meant.

Listening, it is what makes music.  It’s kind of like that old saying, if a tree falls in a forest, but no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

Mary didn’t mean a literal splitting of my time, in an hours practice I should be listening for 48 minutes and only touching my strings for 12.  She was giving me much much deep advice.

To listen, to really truly listen.  To those around me, to my students, to each single pluck of a string, so the over-arching phrase of the music.  To really take it in.

Even now, I think I am still learning what she really meant all those years ago.

Remember too that listening feeds your soul!  It can lift you up when you are down, or sympathise with you in sorrow and loss.  It can be your dancing partner and your walking friend.  It understands no matter what your mood.  It can get you pumped up for that intense workout, or relaxed and soothed ready for sleep and restoration.

So, next time you pop on your headphones, remember: you are feeding yourself, really soak it in.

And, next time you sit down at your harp, before you touch those strings.

Remind yourself:

listen 80%, play 20%.

Hi Harpers!

Happy New Year!!

I have had a crazy Christmas ‘break’ prepping the How To Harp membership!  I am so excited to have launched, everyone is settling in and I am loving having my pod leaders around me as a team!

I hope you have all had a lovely winter break.

First week in January, first Heather’s News…it can only be about one thing really:

Goals!!

I am running a full session next weekend on goal setting in the How To Harp membership, but I just have to give some tips to all of you out there, becuase goal setting really is SO important!  Let’s dive in…

Let’s talk about SMART goals.

What are SMART Goals?
SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound objectives that help you achieve more in your learning. By setting SMART goals, you can clarify your priorities, focus your efforts, and increase your chances of success.

Why are SMART Goals Important?
SMART goals are important because they provide a clear and structured framework for your harp learning. They help you to think through the details of your goals and ensure that you are making progress towards them. Also, SMART goals can help you to stay motivated and on track, as you can see the specific steps you need to take and track your progress along the way.

How to Set SMART Goals

  1. Specific: Your goal should be clear and specific. Think about what you want to accomplish and be as specific as possible.
  2. Measurable: Your goal should be measurable, so you can track your progress and know when you have achieved it.
  3. Attainable: Your goal should be realistic and achievable, given your current level and constraints.
  4. Relevant: Your goal should be relevant and aligned with your values, priorities, and long-term goals.
  5. Time-bound: Your goal should have a specific deadline or time frame, so you have a sense of urgency and can stay on track.

Here are some examples of SMART goals:

Tips for Achieving SMART Goals

  1. Write your goals down and make them visible.
  2. Break your goals down into smaller, more manageable tasks.
  3. Set deadlines for each task and track your progress.
  4. Seek support and accountability from friends, family, a tutor, or your learning pod in the How To Harp Membership.
  5. Celebrate your achievements and stay motivated.

By setting SMART goals, you can clarify your priorities, focus your efforts, and increase your chances of success. By following my tips, you can stay on track and make progress towards achieving your goals! 

Let’s get 2023 off to a great harping start!

Hi Harpers,


I am not refering to the world cup…

Goal setting is an important tool that can help you achieve your dreams and reach your full potential as an artist. By setting clear and specific goals, you can focus your efforts, track your progress, and stay motivated along the way.

Here are a few reasons why goal setting is important for musicians:

  1. It helps you define your vision and plan for the future. By setting goals, you can create a roadmap for your learning and clearly outline the steps you need to take to get there.
  2. It helps you stay focused and avoid distractions. With well-defined goals, you can stay on track and avoid wasting time and energy on activities that don’t align with your long-term vision.
  3. It provides motivation and a sense of accomplishment. When you set goals, you can celebrate your successes along the way and feel a sense of pride and satisfaction as you reach each milestone.  And we can celebrate with you!!

In short, goal setting is a powerful tool that can help you achieve so much!

This is why in January in the How To Harp Membership, we will be focusing on goal setting!  Finding out what you really want, and how you are going to get there!

Hi Harpers,

I know I have written about this before…but it is just such an important one and it is something that has been in my heart and my mind this week.

I had someone contact me this week, asking to bring back their rental harp.  She felt she was letting her harp down because she wasn’t playing enough.

We can all relate right?

I was sad, not becuase a rental harp was potentially coming back, but becuase she felt unworthy of keeping the harp.  After a short conversation she decided to keep the harp for a little longer and see how she feels…she will be reading this…I am glad you have made that decision!

What struck me was as we got talking, I realised she was doing it all on her own.  Unusual work shifts had left her solo harping with no support network or community to share the highs and lows and to pick her up when she needed.

And so I take the time to once again thank you.  Because whilst I share and try and help you all.  I try to celebrate the highs with you and support you through the lows. You also do the same for me.  In fact some firm, lifetime friendships have been formed for me through the How To Harp Community.  And for that I am so thankful!

It can sometimes feel like we are out on our own, especially when things are hard.  It can be easy to think you are the only one who has felt like giving up, like handing your harp back because it deserves better.  Even when you are part of a community it can feel that way.

I hope you know lots of us have felt that way, and do now!  Myself included.  Gosh when I was in second year at university I nearly failed everything, I was so ready to give up the harp entirely.

I am here to help you if you feel this way.  I am also here to share in your joy, and I am here on those days that are neither high, nor low.  The ones that are just, meh.

And I am so grateful to know that you are all out there too.

It most certainly is a busy weekend!

Christmas Harp Collaboration videos are due in today!  Which means much downloading, labeling and organising here.  This is my third year running the collaboration so I’ve got it down to a fine art…

Download video.
Put name and part in the submission spreadsheet.
Resize video (this step is super important to stop my computer crashing because of lack of storage…hard lesson learned!)
Put video in correct folder.
Repeat

If I don’t follow this process now, I will have a nightmare on my hands later, as I try and organise people to be on the screen when they are playing and when they look fairly happy!  he he!

So many important little steps that need to come together to give an easier journey and a better outcome.

Like so many other things in life – harp learning for one!  Keeping organised, remembering the little things.  Getting everything in line and ready.  Playing anything takes so many small, but equally important little steps coming together to give the end result.

And if these steps are skipped?  The result is just not satisfying.  Or you are giving yourself a much much harder time in the long run.  

Just like ensuring the Christmas videos are labelled and resized as soon as they come in.

So, don’t skip those little things thinking you will get to where you want to be quicker.  Enjoy the detail of getting everything in it’s place.  Enjoy the feeling of ticking all those little steps off as you go along.  And finally, enjoy getting there too!

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