New monthly AHS-LA workshop series:
(especially for adult members; youth may attend too)
POP SKILLS, presented by AHS-LA president Stephanie Bennett.
What do you do if you would like to learn a song for which there is no harp arrangement available? What do you do if you are asked to play with a band, at a folk-music session, or with some other ensemble, or to accompany a vocalist, and there is no harp part written?
These scenarios require the skills of playing by ear, improvising and arranging. All are huge subjects that we can spend a lifetime improving. But you can get started on the path to learning with some basic skills to which Stephanie Bennett will introduce you in this series.
Playing by ear takes a combination of ear training and music theory. Improvising and arranging take the above, plus imagination and skill on your instrument.
Practical application of these subjects will be addressed at a beginning level, which is applicable both to beginning and intermediate harpists, and to those who are advanced at playing from sheet music but have no experience at playing by ear.
Although addressed in this series mostly from the viewpoint of playing popular music, folk music and standard hymns; the skills of ear training and music theory are also very useful to those who play classical music and/or written arrangements, because they help you to understand the music you’re playing, and thus to both appreciate it and remember it better.
Stephanie Bennett’s 'pop' credentials include playing by ear (with no written harp part) on recordings for Paul McCartney and for Adele; creating many harp arrangements which she distributes at harpworld.com and other harp-music vendors; and winning first prize in an early Salvi International Competition of Jazz and Pop Harp.
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Upcoming POP SKILLS workshops are currently planned for
7 to 8:30 pm
one Tuesday of every month (usually the FIRST Tuesday, barring conflicts)
from February through October, 2013
by reservation only.
Held in Northridge;
directions will be provided upon reservation.
FREE to current AHS-LA members; $20 per meeting for non-members.
Members, Email Stephanie to join the upcoming meeting(s).
Non members, Email Stephanie to ask for an invoice (or join )
It is not necessary to bring a harp (harps are available at the location).
- - all ages welcome - -
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7 to 8:30 pm. Tuesday, Feb. 12
Introduction to learning by ear
Your friend, the major scale
Solfège names for the major scale (Yup, that’s what the song “Do, a deer” is all about)
Finding the tonic (Never mind Waldo: where’s “do”)
Melody direction: up, down, or the same?
7 to 8:30 pm. Tuesday, March 5
Hearing and understanding rhythm
Finding the meter (would the downbeat please step forward?)
Phrases and measures… not the same thing!
Review and continue skills from the first session.
7 to 8:30 pm. Tuesday, April 2
Hearing and understanding form
Seeing the forest as well as the trees (notice the form before you even start learning the melody).
Join the chorus… also the verse, intro, tag…
Repetition is your friend. Repetition is your friend.
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Continuing theory, ear training and arranging skills :
Tuesday, May 7
Tuesday, June 4
Tuesday, July 2
Tuesday, Aug. 8
Tuesday, Sept. 3
Tuesday, Oct. 1 |
All repeats