“I often smile and look at the camera, but for this video I wanted to express the wintry mood by not engaging in this way.” ~ Louise Bell

Louise Bell presents her “Winter Blues,” expressing the melancholic feeling of Winter. Louise uses the resonance of her harp, along with some video effects to savor the crystalline clarity of the cold.

Louise 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.

LOUISE SAYS …

“This is aiming to express a melancholic Winter feeling as well as the crystalline clarity of cold, by savouring the ringing strings and the spaces between..”

This is aiming to express a melancholic Winter feeling. Share on X

1. Describe your final project.

“Winter Blues”. Blues in style, mood and colours.

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’ve loved all the ideas from the Blues Chats. D minor having such a low bass note really draws me. Creating two contrasting videos, the exuberant Birdsong Blues and now Winter Blues, has been an evocative process. This one is aiming to express a melancholic winter feeling [hence the B flats] as well as the crystalline clarity of cold, by savouring the ringing strings and the spaces between.

Musical and visual imaginations suddenly manifested! 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.

I wasn’t really intending to do a Final Beginning this time, but musical and visual imaginations suddenly manifested! Logistically: I carved out the time to practise and record. Emotionally: my creativity found both nourishment and expression.

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

I felt free in the laid-back tempo, which also brought a sense of exposure. Surrendering to the resonance in the spaces was liberating.

I so appreciate HHA as a wondrous global community. Share on X

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

Maintaining the feel in a slow tempo felt challenging. I gently tapped my foot to stay grounded, and savoured the beauty of the resonating strings. I often smile and look at the camera, but for this video I wanted to express the wintry mood by not engaging in this way, so I had to contain my Gemini communicator!

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

Although I don’t always make it to the Chats, I so appreciate HHA as a wondrous global community. The option to create projects within due dates and time limits is in fact exhilarating!

7. What were your personal “Ahas”?

Concepts can and do spring forth unexpectedly!

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

If you hear a click near the end, that was my shoulder joint rather than electronic! 🤣

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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.