Spring 2025 Workshop Series

This workshop will help you to take your phrasing and articulation to the next level through an exploration of the beautiful harpers’ song ‘An Londubh is an Chéirseach’ (‘The Blackbird and the female Blackbird’). Both the lyrics and the music of this song are in the Bunting manuscripts. In the workshop, you’ll dive into the nuances of how Irish language song lyrics (with their accented poetic metres) can inspire your phrasing and articulation, and give your harp playing a more expressive, musical quality. Explore how to use the sounds, stresses, meaning and flow of words to shape phrases and bring out the emotion in your music with precision and grace. This session will help you take your playing from good to unforgettable. [Eibhlís Ní Ríordáin]

This workshop will given an overview of all the considerations involved in planning for an audio recording. Advance Preparation will address the general principles of recording, and explore the initial artistic and practical questions facing a prospective recording artist. Key areas of consideration will include costs, venues and personal preparation. During and After a Recording will offer information on the recording process itself, including an overview of mixing and mastering, and will conclude with pointers on post-recording matters such as reproduction and graphic design. Laoise will also offer tips on working to picture, recording for broadcast and will look specifically at what to consider when recording harp as a solo instrument, as part of an ensemble and in an orchestral setting. [Laoise O'Brien]

Two questions stop many harpers from getting out and performing: How much do I charge? How do I get hired? This workshop answers these questions, and more. Discover how to set your rates, how to promote yourself effectively, and most importantly, how to close the deal and land the job. Receive useful checklists to get you started, and enjoy ample question/answer time in this insightful workshop. [Anne Roos]

Every musician, no matter how experienced, knows that practice is vital for success. But in what way, and for how long?

This workshop will give you an introduction to the latest science behind learning, and how we can apply it to music practice. You’ll learn specific tools that you can apply  immediately, and how to work on your mindset so that you make the best of your time at the instrument. [Jennifer Mackerras]

In this workshop you’ll learn how to play without stress, and explore relaxed techniques while keeping your hands and body healthy. Every harpist can prevent and correct discomfort related to playing any size of harp. We will explore best ways to sit with your harp (based on your body type and your individual harp), what playing techniques work for your own hands, how to avoid repetitive motion syndromes, how to produce the best tone and accuracy with the least effort, and so much more!

This is not about those “correct” postures or “correct” techniques that have caused pain for so many harpists, but about pain-free and effective ways to play pain-free for a lifetime. [Laurie Riley]

You’ve done the practice… now what?

In this workshop we’ll talk about the specific skills that you can develop to feel more comfortable in performance. We’ll talk about pre-performance practice, setting up routines, developing a process-oriented outlook, and why you both need to think and not think all at the same time!

While this workshop does follow on from Optimising Practice Time, it also functions as a stand-alone module.

[Jennifer Mackerras]