Draft Programme for the New Zealand Harp Festival

NOTE: The Festival Programme is still provisional, and all aspects of it are subject to change.

Overview of Schedule

Thursday Feb 5th 2004

Time Activity Session Reference
7.30– Early-bird registration
7.30–10.30 Words of welcome followed by informal Jam session or CD sharing session S1

Friday Feb 6th 2004

Registration will take place from 9.00–11.15. Participants will be able to join the programme at certain times only to ensure that activities are not disrupted. There will be harp entertainment for those waiting.

Time Activity Session Reference
8.30–8.45 Admin meeting
9.00–9.30 Early bird warm-up session W1
9.30–10.30 Short Workshop M1
10.30–10.45 Morning tea
10.45–11.15 Early bird demo S2
11.30–12.15 Welcome followed by a short recital by Elinor Bennett C1
12.30–1.45 Lunch
1.15–1.45 Harp Orchestra OW
2.00–3.15 Concert C2
3.15–3.30 Afternoon tea
3.30–4.30 Short Workshop W2
4.30–5.30 Short Workshop W3
6.00–8.00 Festival dinner
8.00–10.30 Jam session and CD share S3

Saturday Feb 7th 2004

Time Activity Session Reference
8.30–8.45 Admin meeting
9.00–10.00 Short workshop W4
10.00–10.15 Morning tea
10.15–11.45 Masterclass M2
12.00–1.15 Lunch
1.30–2.45 Concert C3
2.45–3.00 Afternoon tea
3.00–4.45 Long Workshop W5
4.45–5.30 Short Workshop W6
6.00–7.00 Dinner
7.30–9.30 Public Gala concert C4

Sunday Feb 8th 2004

Time Activity Session Reference
8.30–8.45 Admin meeting
9.00–10.30 Long workshop W7
10.30–10.45 Morning tea
10.45–12.15 Masterclass M3
12.30–1.45 Lunch
2.00–2.30 Farewell S4
2.30–3.30 PS workshop W8
3.30–3.45 Afternoon tea
3.45–5.30 Committee tidy up

Detailed Schedule

Note: Throughout the programme, teenagers may choose whether to class themselves as adults or as children. However, if they wish to play in the children's ensemble item they must be with the children at all the rehearsal sessions for that.

Thursday Feb 5th 2004

S1

Time Activity Description Tutor/Facilitor
7.30–10.30 pm Thu Words of welcome; Getting Acquainted Keith Harrison
Jam session Bring your harp and some music you think others mightn't know about to share. Come and go as you wish. Celia Briar
CD share Bring a favourite CD or one you think others might not have discovered, and enjoy an evening's listening. Come and go as you wish. Chris Parkin

Friday Feb 6th 2004

W1

Time Activity Description Tutor/Facilitor
9.00–9.30 am Fri Early-bird warm-up
Adults Have you got an exercise that has really helped you with a particular skill? Bring it along (originals if possible) to share and show others. A session for sharing technical exercises that everyone can try together. Bring your harp. Anna Dunwoodie
Children Games for getting acquainted; bring your harp. Ingrid Bauer
"Gig" room Entertainment for those who arrive during this session Su Yi, Andy Rigby, and possibly another tba

M1

Time Activity Description Tutor/Facilitor
9.30–10.30 am Fri Masterclass
Plenary Less advanced students receive a public lesson on a well-prepared piece Elinor Bennett

S2

Time Activity Description Tutor/Facilitor
10.45–11.15 am Fri Something different
Adults Storytelling with harp: A story about the healing power of harp music, told with double-strung lap harp, along with tips on combining harp music with storytelling or poetry. Lethea Erz
Adults Fascinating Facts about Harps: Come and hear about how harps evolved, the many different types of harps available and a little bit about what goes into making them and their sound. Brandden Lassells
Children Ensemble practice tba

C1

Time Activity Description Tutor/Facilitor
11.30–12.15 am/pm Fri Welcome
Plenary A formal welcome followed by a recital by guest artist Elinor Bennett Keith Harrison, Elinor Bennett

OW

At the end of lunchtime, 1.15-1.45, there will be an opportunity to rehearse as part of a "harp orchestra". This is an entirely optional, extra activity. The music will be simple enough for even beginners to participate, and will be sent out beforehand to those who indicate their interest on the registration form. The Harp Orchestra will be directed by Peter Maunder, NZSO trombonist, conductor and composer. We hope to be treated to a performance of Peter's new composition for trombone and harp at the concert which follows the harp orchestra.

C2

Time Activity Description Presenter
2.00–3.15 pm Fri Concert
Plenary A concert presenting a variety of styles and levels of harp music from selected performers; public invited Winifred Bauer

There will be an opportunity following this concert for members of the public to try a harp for a small fee. The fee will also cover entry to this concert.

W2

Time Activity Description Tutor/Facilitor
3.30–4.30 pm Fri Improve Your Technique
Intermediate, advanced Learn about being relaxed at the harp, making a bigger and better sound, and finding tools to make harp playing easier and more fun. If you have a particular technical problem, you will be able to ask advice and get some ideas on how to solve it. Bring your harp and be ready to experiment. Carolyn Mills
Beginner adults Elinor Bennett
Beginner children Wanted: Harps with children attached! What for? Come and learn about how to play that beautiful instrument you own even more beautifully! What do I bring? Yourself, harp, music stand AND a big smile — be prepared to laugh a lot! Lesley Collier

W3

Time Activity Description Tutor/Facilitor
4.30–5.30 pm Fri Performance Issues
Adults Do you find that you can play perfectly in the practice room, only to shake with nerves on the stage? Does your mind wander off into scenarios of spectacular performance disasters? If so, you are most definitely not alone. We all need to find ways to help us relax, concentrate better, and hopefully even enjoy the music. The workshop will cover issues such as different performance settings and, taking account of participants' interests and experience, answer questions ranging from "What should I wear?", to "How do I make myself heard?" Come with an open mind and bring your questions. Celia Briar, Carolyn Mills
Children Some do's and don't's in performances, including the opportunity to practice things like walking on, bowing, placing harp and music stand to advantage, not stopping if you make a mistake, not pulling faces if you make a mistake… This session might include another play-through of the ensemble item. Lisa Williamson

S3

Time Activity Description Tutor/Facilitor
8.00–10.30 pm Fri Informal activities
Jam session As Thursday evening Celia Briar
CD share As Thursday evening Chris Parkin

Saturday Feb 7th 2004

W4

Time Activity Description Tutor/Facilitor
9.00–10.00 am Sat Creating harp music
Adult arranging Arranging music for the harp: some guidelines and then practice on a melody to arrange. Bring your harp. Robin Ward, Celia Briar
Adult play by ear Do those black dots drive you crazy? Helen will teach a simple melody by ear, and show you how to fill it in with chords and a little melodic ornamentation. Then Natalia will teach you how to improvise, developing upon the piece that Helen has taught by exploring form and motifs within the piece, and encouraging you to bring your own ideas to your improvisations. Bring your harp. Helen Webby, Natalia Mann
Children We will learn to create a tune, using an easy-to-follow sheet for beginners, and different notation styles for intermediate or advanced harpists. Reading or writing of music is not required. Bring your harp. Annemieke Harmonie, Asni

M2

Time Activity Description Tutor/Facilitor
10.15–11.45 am Sat Masterclass
Plenary Intermediate/advanced students receive a public lesson on a well-prepared piece Elinor Bennett

C3

Time Activity Description Presenter
1.30–2.45 pm Sat Concert
Plenary A concert presenting a variety of styles and levels of harp music from selected performers Winifred Bauer

W5

Time Activity Description Tutor/Facilitor
3.00–4.45 pm Sat Hardware
Adult: harp maintenance
  1. Care and maintenance of your harp, for all types of harp (lever, pedal, etc.)
  2. Things you should know about harp strings: Basics — durability, advantages/disadvantages of materials used in strings; how strings are made. How to order strings and how to maintain or improve the overall sound of your harp.
  1. Kim Webby
  2. Skip and Joan Lamere
Adult: types of harp Discussion and demonstration of different kinds of harp: triple, double-strung, Para-Celtic.
  1. A brief discussion of how the triple harp works, and a few musical examples, not only from the original repertoire, but also other examples to show the versatility of this instrument.
  2. A demonstration of some of the special capabilities of the double-strung harp — for performance, healing, and storytelling.
  3. A demonstration of a Para-Celtic harp, which is a cross between a Paraguayan harp and a Celtic harp.
  1. Robin Ward
  2. Lethea Erz
  3. Andy Rigby
Children: Accompanying Instruments and Voice From this session you should come away with some ideas on how to make up a left hand accompaniment for your favourite tune, accompany a voice (yourself or someone else) and make up an accompaniment in different time signatures to play with a melody instrument. Bring your harp. Anna Dunwoodie

W6

Time Activity Description Tutor/Facilitor
4.45–5.30 pm Sat Ensemble skills
Adults Have you wanted to join an orchestra or a small group, but not felt sure you could cope? This session will tell you some of the most important things you need to know to play in a chamber ensemble or orchestra. It will cover basics such as sitting so that you can see your fellow players or the conductor as well as your music, how such harp parts differ from solo music, orchestra jargon, and include advice on how to cheat in orchestra when faced with an impossible-seeming part. Helen Webby, Anna Christensen
Children Ensemble practice Elinor Bennett

C4

Time Activity Description Presenter
7.30–9.30 pm Sat Concert
Plenary A concert in a public venue presenting the most accomplished performers available Winifred Bauer

Sunday Feb 8th 2004

W7

Time Activity Description Tutor/Facilitor
9.00–10.00 am Sun Harp + …
Adult: harp and singing A brief history of singing and playing harp together, then a discussion of the technical aspects for both pedal and lever harps: advice about accompaniments, selecting repertoire, performance issues that differ from harp-only playing, with demonstrations by Karen, who will also give advice on accompanying a singer other than yourself. Karen Heathcote
Adult:introduction to harp therapy Harp therapy is a means to create a musical environment for the body, mind and soul that allows someone to deeply relax. From this space the body can, surrounded by a tapestry of music and loving intention, let go of old waveforms, or patterns. These old patterns can then be replaced with new ones that enhance the body, and assist its healing. Annemieke Harmonie
Children A lesson session for those not performing in a plenary masterclass Natalia Mann

M3

Time Activity Description Tutor/Facilitor
10.45–12.15 am Sun Masterclass
Plenary Intermediate/advanced students receive a public lesson on a well-prepared piece Elinor Bennett

M

At the end of lunchtime, 1.15-1.45, there will be gathering with the theme The Harp Society of New Zealand: Into the future. Come with your ideas and suggestions for what the NSNZ could do next.

S4

Time Activity Description Tutor/Facilitor
2.00–2.30 pm Sun Farewell
Plenary Words of farewell; Children present ensemble item; a final item from Elinor Bennett Keith Harrison, Elinor Bennett

W8

Time Activity Description Tutor/Facilitor
2.30–3.30 pm Sun Extending horizons
Adults: Fun with Sunga. A relaxed workshop where Natalia Mann's trio Sunga will teach a Pacific Island song or two. Natalia will provide a melody and simple chart, with simple parts, and participants should bring their harps, and be prepared to sit and play and sing alongside the trio, locked in together by Grace's gorgeous rich vocals. Natalia Mann with the other members of Sunga
Adults: Historical harp technique Asni will demonstrate the "thumb-under" technique that was developed in the 1980's to deal with the lower tension and narrow spacing of historical harps. It is based on historical evidence and emphasizes the natural differences between the fingers to help phrasing and expression. Its principles can also be adopted successfully on folk harps and even on modern pedal harps. Bring your harp and try it. Asni
Children Try a different harp Ingrid Bauer

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