Somerset Folk Harp Festival 2024
SPECIAL LIVE IN-PERSON
ADD-ON HALF-DAY WORKSHOP
with Deborah Henson-Conant!
JOIN ME FOR A DAY OF
Learning, Creating, and Laughter.
Learn to play the notes with any great teacher — but to create a performance that truly connects at any technical level — that takes the magic of “DHC” — known worldwide as one of the most innovative and authentic harpist-performers, storytellers, and performance coaches — specifically for harpists.
It’s all about CONNECTION … not perfection.
Somerset Folk Harp Festival Special Add-on Workshop
CREATE A PERFORMANCE THAT CONNECTS!
with Deborah Henson-Conant!
Deborah has brought the harp out of the demure background and into the electric limelight!
Now, she has created a brand new workshop that gives YOU the foundations of performance that have supported her own legendary performing career.
Whether your goal is to be calm and present when playing for friends, to be more expressive, or to combine story and music — learning to CREATE A PERFORMANCE THAT CONNECTS will give you the tools to be truly PRESENT when you’re performing.
You’ll learn practices and skills that will free you from your ‘identity’ – which is where your ego and fear live – and instead bring you inside your role of the performer – so that you are playing for others in service of the music you share instead of proving yourself to anyone.
Connecting to your purpose instead of your persona frees you from trying to ‘do it perfectly’ and opens up the joy of playing for others.
There are many facets to creating a performance that connects – from how you choose the music, to adding story elements, lighting, the hint of costume, to techniques of breathing. Any one of them makes a huge difference and you’ll walk away with a whole toolkit including simple improv skills that will help you think less and be more present.
If you think you can’t improvise, get ready to see how improv makes music easier! It’s all about learning to create performances that are about CONNECTION … not perfection.
INFORMATION FOR ATTENDEES
REGISTRATION AND WHAT TO BRING
Schedule: The workshop will start at 1:00 PM and will end at 5:30 PM EST.
What to Wear: Please dress comfortably and come ready to move and to play.
What to Bring: You can bring a notebook and pen if you want to take notes.
Location: Hilton Parsippany, 1 Hilton Court, Parsippany NJ (available in-person or online)
Cost: $175 single-day advance REGISTRATION. There will be no on-site registration.
Add-on: $100 add-on to the festival ticket (full Somerset festival ticket is $495 – GET TIX HERE)
Need more information?
Email us at info[at]hipharp.com
Invest in the Joy of CREATIVE Confidence & FREEDOM
Take your creative expression to the next level
Through a Special Half-Day LIVE Experience
with Deborah Henson-Conant
CREATE A PERFORMANCE
THAT CONNECTS
LIVE HALF-DAY WORKSHOP
$175
STANDALONE ACCESS
Includes all training and materials
FOR SOMERSET FOLK HARP FESTIVAL ATTENDEES
Add this workshop to your ticket
$175 $100
FESTIVAL ATTENDEES DISCOUNT
Includes training materials, concert, & more workshops
Catch Deborah Henson-Conant at the
SOMERSET FOLK HARP FESTIVAL
Thu. July 18 to Sun. July 21, 2024
Deborah will also be teaching FOUR MINI WORKSHOPS at the Somerset Folk Harp Festival and will be performing at the SATURDAY NIGHT CONCERT.
This year’s Somerset Folk Harp Festival – a two-weekend conference from Fri. July 19 to Sun. Jul. 21 (in-person and online) and Sat. Jul. 27 to Sun. Jul 28 (online) aims to connect the worldwide folk harp community – the richness and diversity of music, talent, and experience – to showcase artists from different countries and their harp traditions.
Renowned musicians such as Shelley Fairplay, Deborah Henson-Conant, Debbie Brewin-Wilson, William Jackson, and Gráinne Hambly among others will grace the festival with their presence as presenters, sharing their vast knowledge and enriching the experience for all attendees.
During the festival, participants will have the opportunity to join and learn through the available workshops. There will be workshops for all skill levels, so whether you’ve been playing for years or just starting out, you will find workshops that suit your interests and skill levels.
In addition to the workshops, there will be daily concerts featuring world-renowned performers. After-hour sessions, talent shows, and dances will also add to the community and camaraderie of the festival – bringing together participants in a social and fun environment.
Get all of the workshops below and Deborah’s Saturday night concert by registering and purchasing the Somerset Folk Harp Festival ticket.
DEBORAH’s CONCERT
What: Deborah Henson-Conant’s Saturday Concert
When: Sat. July 20, 2024 at 7:00pm
DEBORAH’s MINI-WORKSHOPS
CALIFYPSO! A Musical Game for
1 – 100 players
with Deborah Henson-Conant
Who: Fledgling to professional harpists
When: Fri. Jul. 19, 2024 | 9:30 – 11:00 am
Learn the basics of Ensemble Improv in a musical game you can play with anyone – musicians and non-musicians alike.
You’ll learn the basics of the game, and how to lead it with players of varying abilities.
Dominant Chords: Unleash The Fancy Factor!
with Deborah Henson-Conant
Who: Fledgling to professional harpists
When: Fri. Jul. 19, 2024 | 1:30 – 3:00 pm
Join this workshop and unlock the secret to turning the dominant chord into a superstar! First you’ll learn how to spot the dominant chord in any song – then discover some cool tricks and embellishments you can use to make it sound juicier and richer! And hey, ever wonder what chords like G7(b9) or Gsus mean? We’ve got you covered! This class is a blast for anyone who wants to add some fun to their chords. You’ll learn how to jazz it up, make it fancy, and add some serious pizzazz.
Powerful Harmonic
Progressions
with Deborah Henson-Conant
Who: Intermediate-level harpists
When: Sat. Jul. 20, 2024 | 1:30 – 3:00 pm
Knowing a few great harmonic progressions lets you improvise on a moment’s notice, whether it’s to extend a tune, bridge between tunes or have a foundation to create a new song. In this class you’ll learn three powerful harmonic progressions you can use to open the door to a moment of improv.
Sing & Play Harp: Basic Accompaniment Patterns & Fills
with Deborah Henson-Conant
Who: Fledgling to professional harpists
When: Sat. Jul. 20, 2024 | 9:30 – 11:00 am
Every singing guitarist learns to use picking patterns and fills to support the music. These patterns are both predictable and creative. In this class, you’ll learn the basics of picking patterns, how to learn to sing with them, where to put fills (and what to put IN your fills), and what to do when you have repeating choruses.
Register now to join Deborah’s workshops and concert at the festival
Meet your creative coach Deborah Henson-Conant
I’m Deborah Henson-Conant, and I’ve been composing, arranging and creating shows since I was a kid. I now play shows with symphonies and on solo stages with the electric harp that was created for me by CAMAC Harps, the “DHC” Harp.
But I started on the ukulele, playing and singing my own little-kid arrangements, telling stories, improvising and playing and singing with other people. And guess what? I use many of the same skills and principles to arrange the music I record and perform today – including the Grammy-Nominated album “Invention & Alchemy” and the song that won first prize in the International Songwriting Competiton (ISC).
