Harper vs Harpist

If your patronym is "Harper", your family from way back came from someone who played the harp. Just like, MacNeil meant "son of Neil", McKinney meant "son of Kinney", O'hara meant "of the family of Hara". The original harp was a small instrument, light enough to be carried in hand or packed on a camel or horse! In various sizes, it can be called a lap harp, folk harp, Irish harp, Scottish harp, Peruvian harp, and more recently, lever harp. Only in the last couple of centuries was the pedal harp developed. That's the large harp you see in the orchestra. The pedal mechanism was, apparently, developed to make a speedier change of the pitch of strings, play in different keys and modes and put in accidentals. In later centuries, as well, the small harp was adapted with "levers" to enable key changes and accidentals.
Am I a Harper or a Harpist? The surname "Harper" was deveoped for someone who played the folk harp centuries ago. The family was the family of the "harper". They were the "harpers". The family was not called the "harpists". Descendants of harp players are known as Harpers. "Harpist" more recently came to mean one who plays the large pedal harp. The original term, then, was "harper". Even so, "harpist" and "harper" are identifying terms used interchangeably, in general. More accurately, I'm a "harper". I play the folk harp, Scottish harp, Irish harp, Celtic harp, lever harp. But, you can call me either one. Both terms mean I play a harp!

Feb & March performance

Beautiful harp music of Tour Around the World, music from different countries and cultures, presented for Assisted Living and Health Care centers in February. This program includes demonstrations and history on large and small harps, fiddle, guitar, bodhran, bones and pennywhistles.

Workshops with harp will be Historical Harp and Songs, including Composers of Celtic Music; Music Around the World; Music, Poetry how to choose accompaniment.
Historical Harp and Songs - Composers
This program, primarily music performance, will include the history of the harp, references to ancient harpers and their music. This may present arrangements of harp music and information on the structure and types of some tunes. There will be a demonstration of styles of music from different eras and lands.
Music Around the World
A program of music with the harp, leading the listener on a journey to different countries. The Harper will demonstrate the unique styles of music popular in various parts of the world. There will be examples of how to identify from where a tune originates. Listeners will be invited to sing along and participate in question and answer time.
Poetry and Readings with Harp
This is a program where the Harper reads or recites poetry or a literary selection while
including harp music as introduction, interlude and conclusion to the reading. This makes for a multi-level experience and mood-setting for the reading. Some shows will include an opportunity for a member of the audience to read and be accompanied by harp music.
The Music Room
DeLuxe Package of various musical instruments, how to play them, origins, crafting, history. May include harps of varying sizes, fiddle, guitar, bodhran, pennywhistle, bones, finger cymbals and, occasionally, keyboard.

December Harp Music

I have a great and growing schedule this month for harp performances! I'll be playing background music for a special 2-hour yoga class in Fishers. It will be a very relaxing evening. I'm excited to be playing the "Calm Harp" style music, which includes my own compositions of relaxation therapy music. I plan to make a CD soon of relaxation harp music with my "spa" tunes. My titles include "Rainforest", "Circles", "Light" & "Moonstone". I'll post a link to them when I get them recorded for YouTube. Here's a sample of the celtic tune "Far Away".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz72YZob6ew
I'll be playing other gigs at Health Care Centers and already played an annual banquet at the Milano Inn.

A Calm Harp

A Calm Harp is my program for providing relaxing harp music to health care centers and individuals who desire a day of peace and calm, a time to meditate and rest. The soothing tones of the harp have been appreciated through time as an aid for healing and restoring the spirit. Let my harp music bring joy and peace to your day whether in a state of health care or in need of a calm environment from the stresses of the modern lifestyle.A Calm Harp can aid in promoting a calm heart.

Healing Harp Concert

Host a Healing Harp Concert. It's a wonderful way to connect with friends and enjoy an evening of relaxation and healing. I provide lovely healing harp music while you relax and meditate. Refreshments and drinks are an option for your comfort. Your place or mine!

In the "aural" tradition, muscle memory

The way to learn a folk tune or Celtic tune "by ear", in the "aural" tradition, is to disect the tune, phrase by phrase, or, half-phrase. Listen to it, over and over until you can hum it. I keep stopping the Cd after a phrase, and repeat just that part until I can hum it, then move on to the next phrase. Then work out how to play, phrase by phrase, playing over and over several times. Gradually put the phrases together, 1st 2 phrases, then next 2, moving on till you can string together all phases from beginning to end. Your muscle memory, your brain and fingers, will memorize how it "feels" to play each phrase. Muscle memory will keep you playing with ease.