Water Harping

Class of 2012

Presenting Maeve Gilchrist in Concert

For the past few years Maeve has given a public concert during her harp workshop at Angels Rest in Leyden MA

This year the concert will be on Saturday evening, August 25,
at 7:30 PM. 

Admission is $15 at the door and includes a reception with dessert following the concert.

Registration still open

Space is still available for Maeve's 2012 workshop.
Contact wincj@aol.com.

2012 Workshop Class Schedule

Our format this year is a bit different:   arrival between 3:00 and 4:00PM Thursday, set up and tune up; we will plunge right in with our first class at 4:00PM. There will be two classes on each day, Friday and Saturday.  Friday evening we will hold an informal session - including voluntary attendee performances. Saturday evening Maeve will give a performance open to the public, followed by a reception. The final workshop class will be Sunday after breakfast, plus a chance for review following class.  Lunch will be available before departure.

I will forward to Maeve any requests for workshop material.
Anyone wishing private instruction with Maeve should let me know when registering so we can schedule time.

Maeve's teaching style

I thought it worthwhile to copy Maeve's comments on her teaching approach from a 2010 blog post:

I base my teachings within the Scottish tradition and develop musical ideas incorporating rhythmic accompaniment and improvisation. 

The morning session begins with an extended warmup. Using different exercises I focus on hand and thumb position, placement, and sound quality. Further exercises develop rhythmic stability, syncopation, and sense of time.

New tunes are introduced at the beginning of each session. I teach by the traditional aural method, offering sheet music at the end of the session. After introducing the basic melody, I explore ornamentation and stylistic techniques. Arrangement ideas follow. We will talk about harmony and how to arrange traditional material in a tasteful way that will breathe new life into each piece. We will also explore some improvisational ideas for intros, outros, accompaniment and variation.

I try to suit the the desires of the participants and am open to suggestions for material or techniques to include. In the past we have worked on harmony singing, harp ensemble arrangements, and song accompaniment. 

My goal is to help harpists develop playing that is more fluid, light, and stylistically accurate.

And, Maeve says, 

Harp in the Hills is a unique and inspiring musical experience in a beautiful and relaxed setting.

The open and warm atmosphere is hard to beat. Harpists of all levels will take something away from this gem of a week.

PS - A limited number of private lessons with Maeve can be arranged during the workshop, at additional cost.

Lever Moments

We all have them!
What to do?
Deborah Henson-Conant asked Maeve:

"I met with Maeve Gilchrist
who I consider to be one of the world's
most talented harp 'leverers,' along with being
a wonderful composer, singer, and harpist."


DHC made a video of her  "Moment with Maeve". 

You can learn more about Deborah's performances
and musical journeys here.