This post is from a series that shares the Final-Begining Projects from one of my first Blues Harpstyle online courses. Students created short videos based on what they learned in the course, and answered 5 questions about what they got from the challenge of this project.

SALLY SAYS …

1. Give a short description of what it took for you to get to the place of being able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

Emotionally, I had to let myself be a beginner. After nearly 50 years of playing the harp; I had to strip everything down to the basics and not go too far too fast.

Logistically, it was about the recording. I recorded with two cameras in the hopes of getting a shot establishing that I was standing at the harp. That shot turned out so poorly that I threw it out and just used the closer shot. (I used my editing program to alter the one remaining shot a bit in my video.)

I had to strip everything down to the basics and not go too far too fast. Share on X

2. What freedoms and blocks in yourself did you connect with (or struggle with) in the process?

I learned that I had the freedom to break away from my inhibitions. I struggled with this Blues because I had writer’s block. I figured I should write what I know, which is the library. But I thought it was pretty lame, and I was reluctant to present it. Somewhere along the way, I realized that I needed to stop overthinking, let go of the inhibitions, and enjoy the process.

I learned that I had the freedom to break away from my inhibitions. Share on X

3. What challenges did you meet to connect with your own freedom of expression in this project?

I think my two biggest challenges were the fact that I sang and that I played harp while standing. I realized that I could be more expressive in this Blues singing rather than playing harp, regardless of the quality of my voice. I wanted to stand, partly because I kind of like the challenge and the look of it. But my main reason for standing was to free my body in order to move more and help with the groove.

4. What were your personal “Ahas”?

The Blues is something that I’ll have to live with for a while before I really feel the groove. My presentation truly is a BEGINNING project, as I have a long road ahead with Blues. I look forward to the adventure.

5. Is there anything else you´d like to tell people who are watching your video?

I just want to thank everybody for their encouragement and camaraderie. This group is the best.

And a special Mahalo (thank you) to DHC for everything I’ve learned and experienced these past months. It’s now time to go forth and make my own musical adventures. I had kind of lost that part of myself these past several years and you helped put me back on the path.

I had lost that part of myself these past several years and you helped put me back on the path. Share on X

Sending Aloha to you all!

A NOTE TO THE READER FROM DHC

Hey, thanks for reading this example of what it’s like to go thru a course with me! Did you have A-ha’s or revelations watching the video & reading the answers she wrote? Add your comments below. Please – no critiques – just share what you learned from someone courageously sharing a project that’s the BEGINNING of a lifelong learning journey.

Check out the beginning of a lifelong #harp learning journey Share on X

Want to do some courageous learning yourself? Click here to register for my next Free Online Training and check out my next online course especially for harp players.