“Before being in the Academy, my harp and I were at odds. I was trying to master it, conquer it. Now I see the harp as an extension of myself” ~ Carol Henley

Having trouble falling asleep? Carol Henley offers this humorous tutorial for ‘mature” audiences. Carol combines her passion for harp and storytelling with a media presentation featuring sheep.

Carol 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.

CAROL SAYS …

“Before being in the Academy, my harp and i were at odds.  I was trying to master it, conquer it.  Now, I see the harp as an extension of myself.”

Now I see the harp as an extension of myself. Share on X

1. Describe your final project.

My final project is a “how to get to sleep” video, with harp, sheep pictures, and my narrative.

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?

The guiding principle for me is “be yourself”.  Before being in the Academy, my harp and i were at odds.  I was trying to master it, conquer it.  Now, I see the harp as an extension of myself.

The guide principle for me is to be yourself. 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.

Emotionally, this video was a challenge, as I couldn’t hide behind harp playing.  There is so much more than harp playing in this video.  Logistically, the mechanics of putting all the elements together was a challenge.

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

Freedoms:  as far as the harp playing goes, I stuck with simple chords to accompany the melodies, so I was not glued to any particular written arrangements.  I love that freedom!  What I struggled with was wanting to make this a perfect video, where all the pieces fit together seamlessly.  That was hard to deal with.

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

Challenge was to just go for it!

My aha was realizing how much I love doing videos with a theme and finding tunes to fit. Share on X

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

The sharing and acceptance in the HHA community constantly impacts my life.

7. What were your personal “Ahas”?

My “aha” was realizing how much I love doing videos with a theme and finding tunes to fit.  Next goal:  to create my own tunes.

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

I don’t think this video will help you get to sleep.  False advertising on my part?  Oh, my!

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.