Hi and welcome to this week’s episode of HarpSong™️ Presented by Moon Over the Trees Music and Theatre Productions®.  This month marks the first anniversary of my founding of Moon Over the Trees and as a thank you to all of my listeners and folks who have supported me along the way, this week’s episode is all about you. If you are enjoying the podcast please let me know by writing a review.  For the first 20 people who post a review I’ll send you some fun Moon Over the Trees merch.  Just send me an email along with your iTunes name.

It feels like this year is flying by. 

March brings us the Spring Equinox and warmer sunnier days ahead and of course, St. Patrick’s Day. But, first, this week’s episode of HarpSong™️, is all about you!  In this week’s episode I’m giving you 7 tips for things that will help you be kinder to yourself. 

Let me know: 

What are your biggest challenges musically?

Are you new to the harp and don’t know where to start?

Do you need some concrete advice on how to get started recording yourself?

Would you like a step by step guide on how to use audio and video editing software?

Do you want to hear more about getting started on the harp/piano/voice lessons?

Are you looking for inspiration?

Ways to relax and unwind?

Are you interested in meeting up with folks in the Moon Over the Trees community to share music and theater ideas and inspiration?

Did you know that Ireland is the only country that has a musical instrument as its national emblem? What better way to celebrate the harp and Ireland than to discuss the history of the Ancient Irish Harp,  its origins, and its music.

My upcoming guests on HarpSong™️ will include:

The revival of the Clarsach (The harp of The Gaels in Ireland and Scotland)

Ann Heymann - Ann is one of the world’s foremost performers and researchers of The wire-strung harp, or Clarsach, which was the harp of the Gaels of Ireland and Scotland.  Ann is central to the revival of the Clarsach.  This year she is receiving two lifetime achievement awards.  One from The Somerset Folk Harp Festival and one from The Historical Harp Society of Ireland. There is so much to cover of Ann’s 50 year career that I will break my interview with Ann into two parts. And be on the lookout for an article on Ann in the Folk Harp Journal. 

Speaking of  

The Historical Harp Society of Ireland: Siobhán Armstrong will also be a guest on the podcast this month.

Siobhán founded The Historical Harp Society of Ireland and is passionate about encouraging the revival of The Ancient Irish Harp.  She is also director of Scoil na gCláirseach—Festival of Early Irish Harp, which takes place each August in Ireland.

The Ancient Irish Harp in Museums: Nancy Hurrell

Nancy Hurrell is a performer and harp historian. She is the author of the definitive biography on nineteenth-century Irish harp maker John Egan, The Egan Irish Harps: Tradition, patrons and players.She has taught early harp classes at the Boston Conservatory, Brandeis University, Benslow Music (England), and workshops at Somerset Harp Festival (NJ), UK Harp Festival and for the Historical Harp Society and the American Harp Society.   With academic degrees in harp performance and fine art, Hurrell presents lecture-demonstrations of rare harps in museum collections.

Speaking of rare and ancient harps STEAM and The Ancient Irish Harp: Karen Loomis Consultant Organologist

In the New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments, organology is defined as “The systematic investigation of the history, design, technology, and functions (musical, social, symbolic, etc.) of musical instruments of all times and places.”

Karen conducts construction and craftsmanship analysis of historical musical instruments using her expertise in non-invasive techniques.  Karen provides technical information for musical instrument makers, musicians, museums, collectors, and other researchers.

She has led groundbreaking work studying the historical harps of Ireland and Scotland, and recently led a project funded by the Arts Council of Ireland to undertake analysis of the Hollybrook harp at the National Museum of Ireland for the Historical Harp Society of Ireland.

Previous work includes scientific analysis of the Lamont and Queen Mary harps. This research is now being used by musical instrument makers to produce informed replicas of these historical harps.

Harper Dominique Dodge will also be a guest as well as my friend Missy Graff-Ballone of Wellness for Makers.  Missy works with textile artists, silversmiths, and musicians to help them find mindful movement and avoid repetitive strain injuries.  We will be focusing on healthy hands and different techniques to increase blood flow, circulation, and flexibility, and energy.  Missy has a “Hands of the Maker”</a