My First Posting

Tuesday, June 18th....2013  it's a rainy afternoon, my door is open so I can hear the rain and wind.....

I thought I would start writing down all the wonderful and fascinating experiences I have with my little Dusty 34 Ravenna Harp.  I am completely blown away over my feelings for making music on my harp.  All these years making music on my Piano, Hammered Dulcimer, Mountain Dulcimer...I have never been emotionally and spiritually moved like I am when I am playing the Harp.

Funny thing, I didn't feel this way about the Harp in the beginning.  I bought my first Mid-Eastern Harp in 2001, after my Mom and best friend passed away.  I did try to play it, as I had wanted one for many years.  Every time I tried to play, (which included lessons with Mary Kay of Bowie MD) I would just get too sad.  I think my Body-Mind wasn't ready yet to accept the awesome responsibility of the Harp...which I will get into later.

So, after my Dad passed in 2009, I tried again.  This time it felt right.  This time is was soothing and comforting.  This time it was exciting!!  So I took a few lessons with a different teacher and decided I loved it so much I needed a larger Harp with more strings...so Tad got me a Dusty 26 Ravenna Harp for our Anniversary.

I have had a few lessons with different Teachers over the past year, some of them on Skype.  I decided I wasn't really interested  (at least not now) in playing Classical Music or Performing on my Harp.  I would consider Teaching the Harp down the road, just because I think it would be an awesome Instrument to share with someone else.  But I loved taking my Harp to the Household of Angels Assisted Living to practice.  They were a pretty forgiving audience, but not totally!!!!  If I made too many obvious mistakes, one lady would yell out "well, that was terrible, just terrible".  hahahahaha and it was terrible, but it was a great way to get in some serious playing and overcome my anxiety playing in front of people.  I have struggled with Performance Anxiety all the years I taught Piano.

Somehow, the Harp is different and I don't feel like I am "performing" when I play for Assisted Living or in a Hospital setting.  I feel I am giving a Service.  I feel as though I am supposed to be there, playing for those that need to be comforted, relaxed, and even inspired.  I see this as a very important responsibility...one that gives me as much or more inner peace than I could possibly give to the listener.