One thing I love about teaching at Hip Harp Academy is getting to see the “Final Beginning Projects” that each student does. This is a culmination of Emily Brecker Greenberg’s experience in the Blues Harp-Style class – and this is just the beginning!

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.

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

It took everything I had to even make that first video of myself playing!  I’ve never envisioned myself as a “solo performer” (or as a performer at all), so this entire course was a huge stretch.  I thought about watching and not participating, but didn’t want to disappoint others and most of all, myself.  The “loosening up” may take the rest of my life (and I’m ALREADY OLD!) but we have all been given permission to mess up, make mistakes, and HAVE FUN.  (Thanks, DHC!)

It took everything I had to even make that first video of myself... Share on X

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

There are few to no freedoms for me prior to this class.  I do better if I’m playing with other harpists.  The blocks have been always in my head but I am trying my hardest to get rid of them, once and for all.  Learning how to make the videos, post the videos, and finding an amazing group of fellow harp players with their gentle comments has been beyond wonderful.  I hope we can somehow stay in touch.

finding an amazing group of fellow #harp players with their gentle comments has been beyond wonderful Share on X

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

Getting the courage to even TAKE the course, no less actually DO IT, has been a huge challenge.  I am going to try singing again and attempt more composing (of lyrics and music).  My prior efforts have been mostly arranging music for the harp (several songs for three harp parts for my harp circle and the BILLY JOEL FOR HARP book for solo harp players).  Maybe it’s time to express my own voice.

4. What were your personal “Ahas”?

The personal “aha” has involved finding COURAGE:   pushing way beyond my comfort level and NOT QUITTING.  DHC gave me some great advice about exaggerating wrist and arm motions during practicing to loosen up my playing during performances.

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

This video takes parts of my earlier videos and puts them all together for this rendition of BREAKOUT BLUES!  I hope to come back to this site in 5 years, when I have mastered the “chops,” and wail the daylights out of it!!!!! Can’t wait to see what everyone posts.  THANKS TO ALL INVOLVED and especially to DHC!!

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.