Midwest Harp Festival

 Workshop Descriptions

The  4 Clinician Workshops

are progressive over a 2-day span from

Wednesday - Thursday, July 25 - 26

Daily, Monday - Friday 

Morning Warm Ups

     8:30 AM

Announcements, 15 minute Rhythm Drills and stretching, led by the clinicians and our resident licensed massage therapist, Elizabeth Novak, will be a part of our Morning Warm Ups at 8:30 am

Each workshop includes printed hand-outs, are hands on with your instrument or  interactive in some way.

Hear It Played                                                                         Instructor: Jaina Kruieger

     1:00 - 2:00 PM                                                                                                                       

This 1-hour seminar features excerpts of music sold in our on-site store.  “Hear It Played” will also be featured in ½ hour segments Tuesday through Friday during the day and at the Jam Session on Wednesday night.

Harp Maintenance Myth Busting                                      Instructor: Peter Wiley

     2:15 - 3:30 PM

Be prepared to be entertained while learning some basics about the new and latest in harp maintenance you may not have heard  or need refreshing.  Peter will dispell myths that you have heard from "reliable sources."   He will end the workshop with a question and answer session.

Stage Presence and Etiquette                     Hands On        Instructor: Lorelei Barton

     3:45 – 4:45 PM                                                                                                                      

This is for everyone.  Solo Competitors will have a chance to play their solo.  EVERYONE will practice responding to applause as a group. 

     1:15 PM –  2:30PM                                                                                 

Preparing for an Inforemance             Hands On       Instructor: Jan Jennings

People always ask dozens of questions about the harp when you perform, right? Wouldn’t it be fun to do an informance and not only play for the audience, but share the information that they all seem to want to know?  In this class you will learn how to decide what to explain, select repertoire that will illustrate your points, how much to talk and play, and still keep your audience spellbound!  You’ll learn how to entertain your audience whether it is a school group, retirement center, or the local garden club, and polish your stage presence in the process. 

Back to Basics                                             Hands On        Instructor: Faye Seeman

Learn how to construct and play major scales, build tonic and dominant glissandos, and the basic chord sturcture of the Pachelbel Canon, including transposing the piece.  

     2:45 - 4:00                 

It's All About the Sound                          Hands On         Instructor: Mary Bircher 

As harpists, we all want to play with a beautiful, warm and vibrant sound, but how do we achieve this goal?   Sound can be mysterious and elusive- some days we are able to easily and effortlessly play with a beautiful sound, other days that beautiful sound seems just out of reach.  We will learn that a countless number of issues and details affect our sound as harpists.  Join us as we take a broad look at the many aspects of sound.  Topics to be discussed will include posture/playing position/technical issues,  as well as basic physical health and mental attitudes, room acoustics, the challenge of playing different harps, finding the voice of your harp,  how we color the sound, and amplification.

Polished to Perfection                            Hands On         Instructor: Elizabeth Richter

You will learn how to listen cricitally to your playing and will learn specific skills that will help you take your pieces to the highest musical and technical level.  If you have ever been frustrated because you just can't figure out how to get rid of the flaws in a piece or because you think your piece sounds good but your teacher tells you to "polish it up," then this workshop is for you.

 Friday, July 27        

     1:45 PM- 2:30 PM

Panel Discussion with the Clinicians 

     2:45 PM- 3:45 PM

Workshop Presentations

    3:45 pm - 4:45 PM

Hear It Played

Self-Guided Chamber Rehearsing/Private Practice

Non college age adults only

(in lieu of all afternoon activites, Monday - Thursday)

Monday                                   2:30 – 4:00 PM

Tuesday – Thursday         1:10 – 4:00 PM

This is an un-structured independent study among adult harpists who are interested in playing in chamber group with harp and are proficient in voice or other instruments.  You will be set up in small rooms for rehearsing and private practice.  You structure your own time.  Director, Lorelei Barton, and Director’s Assistant, Sarah Oliver, will be available for occasional assistance.  You will rehearse for performing on the Friday afternoon Project recital for the rest of the festival students and clinicians.