The Tuning Key
Florida Harpers & Friends
Spring 2003 Newsletter
February 2003
Bambi Fischer
Newsletter Editor
fischarper@yahoo.co
Minutes of Florida Harpers and Friends
Annual Membership Meeting
January 11, 2003
The annual general meeting of Florida Harpers and Friends was
called to order by the president, Boyd Dolan. The minutes
of the previous meeting were dispensed with as the secretary was not present.
Treasurer, Marg Chauvin reported “we are in good shape”
and will have a more detailed report when all the conference figures are
in.
Adding E-mail addresses to the member’s roster was discussed.
As this years membership forms are already out with many returned it was
decided to include the information on next year’s forms then include
the information in that roster. |
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The preferred dates for next year’s conference were discussed
with the Martin Luther King weekend the general preference. Other suggestions
for next year’s conference were:
Later is better than earlier
A day for kids
Classes on technique, special effects, and literature (such as defining levels)
Possible workshop leaders suggested were Ray Pool and Susan Bennett Brady
Beth Dolan moved and Chris Purdy seconded that we continue the harp ensemble.
The competition was discussed. The censuses was to continue.
Adding an open mike time possibly during lunch was suggested.
2005 World Harp Congress in Dublin Ireland was discussed. There is
interest in organizing a group to attend with a possible side trip in England
or Ireland. The preference seemed to be Ireland.
The Larry Fisher workshop at Ft Myers was announced – FHF is
sponsoring the event.
The cost to attend will be only $10 which is to cover an Irish dinner.
We were reminded that this is the year for HarpCon 2003, the biannual
conference of our parent organization ISFHC (International Society of Folk Harpers
and Craftsmen) to be in Bloomington, Indiana. Information is available on the
web at http://www.folkharpsociety.org
and clicking the “Conference” button.
Caren Trayner moved with second by Beth Dolan that the meeting be
adjourned.
Respectfully submitted
Vicki Mansur
Historian, acting secretary
Reflections on the Annual Conference
Melody and Jodi certainly deserve a BIG thank you for planning such
a fantastic workshop in Daytona Beach this January! Melody has always done a
wonderful job in planning and organizing the Conference.
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All the classes that I attended were excellent as well as the
concerts, and I especially enjoyed the ensemble in which all levels of
harpists were invited to play, as well as our "friend" - flute
player, Beth Dolan. Our rehearsals were as much fun as the concert...thanks
to our comic conductor!
As always, it was wonderful having the Virginia Harp Center
there, along with our other vendors (I always enjoy shopping), and the
meals and evening receptions were enjoyable times to visit together.
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The first FHF workshop in 1997 began on Friday evening with registration
and a welcome reception. Saturday, Celtic harpist, Grainne Yeats, was our instructor
for the whole morning and early afternoon. There may have been 25—35 of
us attending that year. After our business meeting in the later afternoon to
vote for officers, we had a catered banquet followed by a concert and slide
presentation by Mrs. Yeats of her native land - Ireland. The evening ended in
a optional jam session by the workshop participants. All these activities were
held in the fellowship hall of Melody's church on International Drive in Daytona.
It was a very enjoyable day, and we were all invited to return the next morning
to the church service to worship together and listen to Linda Rice play her
blue electric harp and give her testimony.
Since that workshop, one can see how much this annual event has grown!
We all look forward to visiting with old and new friends, learning more about
our instruments, and sharing music together.
A few special congratulations
to Vicki on celebrating her first wedding anniversary this January.
Thanks for bringing your husband, Mike, to the workshop so we could all meet
him.
to Christian for winning first place twice in the contest with his
jazzy compositions, and thank you Barbara for entering the contest. We really
enjoyed listening to you, and hopefully, you have encouraged more students
to join in next year. Congratulations to Chris.
by Caren Traynor
More Reflections on the Annual Conference
A little more than a year and a half ago I called Melody Anglin about
learning to play this beautiful instrument known as the harp and little did
I know that I would soon be involved in this wonderful group called FHF AND
that I would be helping to run its conference! I so enjoyed meeting, talking
and getting to know so many of you. So what is it like to be a Conference Co-chair?
Well, let me see if I can give you a small taste of my experience this past
year working with your Conference Chair Melody Long Anglin.
Things I did before the conference date:
Fold, staple, stuff, fold, staple stuff, fold, staple, stuff, repeat; Lick and
stamp, lick and stamp (I finally got wise and used a sponge and bought self
sticking stamps); punch and file, punch and file; emails: send, send, send,
send, send; "You got mail" (at one time I had 60 messages- OK so not
all were harp related but still pretty impressive);
call Melody, email Melody, meet with Melody, think about Melody (without her
we would all be lost!); phone him, phone her, "May I have your lunch order?";
file this, file that; organize this, organize that; check on this, check on
that.
Things I did at the Conference:
Zoom here, Zoom there; asked for this, asked for that; watched the harps, watched
the harps!; sliced the cakes, sliced the cakes; "Are people getting enough
to eat?"; Oh boy, I don't know! Melody help!; more zooming!; route people
here, route people there; smile and breathe, smile and breathe, time to teach!;
Move this, move that; time this, time that; sign here, sign there; collect this,
collect that; harp here, harp there; more zooming!; “Isn't there at least
one garbage can in this lobby???”
The Most Important Lesson I learned:
NEXT TIME WEAR MORE COMFORTABLE SHOES!
At your service and looking forward to another great conference
next year, Jodi Lowe
Conference Co-Chair
(which I have come to know means
Conference Organizer,
Chief Harp Assister and
Information Resource)
An Instructor's Reflections on the Annual Conference
Contemplative, thought-provoking, nurturing and fun: who would have
thought those adjectives could describe a three day harp event on the sandy
shores of Daytona Beach? Whether it was the Tai Chi in the early morning while
watching the waves on the sands, or the Hospitality time in the evening after
the programs, I found myself unwinding in an atmosphere of collegial congeniality
not found among musicians, among harpists. I began to breathe and believe among
my peers, which I would never have thought possible.
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From the early morning continental breakfast, through
classes, where I learned not only from instructors but others, I found
it very easy to be nurturing to those around me. The environment was open
and honest sharing with a component of caring. I was amazed at the lack
of pretentiousness I always associate with these kinds of events. I had
a hope that there were professionals of many genres in our field that
really cared for each other, and it was realized in a Holiday Inn!
I was pushed and challenged to not only believe I could accommodate
my learning, but also to put myself into the process for others. I was
allowed to discern for myself while at the same time being allowed to
entreat others to do the same. I came away with friends and a myriad of
experiences, feelings and thoughts that will carry me positively through
the next few months. |
The whole weekend allowed me to do self-reflection on where I was professionally,
as well as to hear other performers and learn from them to contemplate adding
this style or that fingering to my repertoire. It was an incredible experience
being able to listen and try on technique and stylistic concepts, and to find
that I was able to take those home with me to try to polish and insert into
my own style. I grew as a person and as a performer in this cocoon of experimentation
with support.
And I had Fun! We laughed and chuckled between the hours of serious
learning and sharing. I loved sitting in the Hospitality Room in the evening
sharing stories of the best of our business and the worst. Harp Horror Stories
can only be truly enjoyed by our peers, especially in the kind of atmosphere
where we're allowed to commiserate and laugh at the same time!
I will return next year! This is the laboratory I need to shore up
my weaknesses, to laugh with new, old friends, and to enjoy the beauty of the
music just because it is there. I will tell others that I think can truly enjoy
the experience - I'll bring at least one with me. But there is no altruism in
this offer because I mean to come for myself and for my art and for my heart.
This was not only incredible; it was awesome to be able to come together with
world-class people who share a love for the harp and the music it can produce.
My hope is that each participant walked away with a portion of the
gift I received from all. If they did, they'll be back next year with a friend,
too! This kind of environment is not only unique; it is a blessing that needs
to be passed along to others.
Thank you all for your gifts! I treasure each of you in my heart.
Linda Paul
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Reflections from the FHF President
on the Annual Conference
First of all a big round of applause for Melody and Jodi for
a wonderful conference. I'm sure everyone enjoyed it.
The competition had a good variety of music this year and the
After Glow was a great opportunity for all of us to get to know each other
better. Our closing concert with Linda Paul and Victoria Schultz was spectacular.
Isn't it great that Linda Paul will be back next year and perhaps she
will bring her in-house CD Production business.
It was great to see new faces as well as the familiar ones. One
excellent addition to this year's schedule was the harp ensemble.
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Hopefully this will continue and grow in the coming years, giving harpists
of every level the chance to participate. How often do we get a chance to hear
that many harps playing together?
Next year we will need to elect new officers.
Please contact me if you are interested or have any ideas on
future conferences.
Keep practicing and "thumbs up."
Boyd (FHF President)