“I learned that there is a difference between playing the Blues and playing with a Bluesy feel. I tried to incorporate both in this piece.” ~ Cherrie Mooney

Ever consider playing the Blues as a meditation? That’s what Cherrie Mooney did. She took her harp out to Lake Huron and created a calming, meditative Blues, complete with the sounds of nature acting in harmony with the relaxing music.

Cherrie is one of the daring harpists who are challenging themselves to develop new ways of self-expression in Hip Harp Academy by combining the skills and tools of improv with each person’s natural abilities and passions – creating new hybrids of expression that expand what it means to be a harp player.

If you love the PROCESS of learning, like I do – make sure you read on.  Whenever a member of the Academy shares a project, I ask them to share their process as well, because that PROCESS creates a gift of illumination for all of us about how we can approach any creative project ourselves.

CHERRIE SAYS …

“I learned that there is a difference between playing the Blues and playing with a Bluesy feel. I tried to incorporate both in this piece.”

I learned that there 
is a difference between playing 
the blues and playing with 
a bluesy feel. I tried to 
incorporate both in this piece. Share on X

1. Describe your final project.

My goal was to develop a blues/bluesy meditation. There is an intro, 12-bar blues pattern, intro repeated, and then a 12-bar blues with Boogie Woogie.

2. What principles from this course or from chats did you use to develop, perform, and record this project – and how did they play a part in your process?

I used the 12-bar blues pattern, boogie woogie, and chords from the Blues for Meditation webinar. I learned that there is a difference between playing the blues and playing with a bluesy feel. I tried to incorporate both in this piece.

Due to the calming nature of meditations, I was able to relax while I played. Share on X

3. Give a short description of what it took for you to be able to play what you did – both logistically and emotionally.

Playing outdoors was a challenge, due to the loud water and figuring out where and how to set up.

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

Due to the calming nature of meditations, I was able to relax while I played.

5. What challenges did you meet while connecting with your own freedom of expression in this project?

Playing slow was harder than anticipated. I needed to get comfortable with open spaces.

Don’t be afraid to try new things. It expands your horizons. Share on X

6. What other parts of your life were impacted by what you learned in this class, and how?

Don’t be afraid to try new things. It expands your horizons.

7. What were your personal “Ahas”?

I learned that by playing slowly, with open spaces, I was able to play more musically.

8. Is there anything else you want people to know when they watch your video?

This video was recorded by Lake Huron in Michigan on a windy day.

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 Aha’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 check out Hip Harp Academy where daring harpists get their creative wings.