Here’s a new ditty for the day: Fire & Ice. This solo harp excerpt is from a longer vocal and multi-instrumental track I’m working on. Today, I have only a few hours to record and I wanted to hear some instant results!
I just returned home to Seattle after a week of playing music in New York. I play harp in Ahamefule Oluo’s monologue/musical, Now I’m Fine. Words cannot describe the amazing week we had performing across the country! For me, something about it was life changing, life affirming. This trip’s capacity to open something up in me makes me feel like anything is possible. It was fun and exhilarating and I got to play with the best musicians that I know.
Photo: Kelly O: “Now I’m Fine” (L. to R. – Monica Schley, Evan Flory-Barnes, Bryant Moore, Ahamefule J. Oluo, Soulchilde)
I’ve been playing Aham’s music since about 2006. I met him when we were in another band together. He said he was writing some tunes and asked me if I’d like to join his band too? Aham is forthright, a trait I greatly admire, so I immediately agreed.
When I got the music, I fell in love with the groove of the songs. Even though compositions were for a modern brass band, and I am a harpist, I knew it could work. We laugh now, because you could barely hear me on our first gigs (this was before I had my Dusty Strings pick-up put in).
This group has taught me so much about how to hear my instrument with fresh ears. It has taught me how to be a better improviser and how to just have fun and PLAY. Beyond that, the talent of my peers in this group is extremely inspiring. I am wowed and grateful.
The show received so much positive attention while we were in New York. Reviews came pouring in from the New York Times, from Time Out NY. After this NYC trip, I now feel bursting with optimism, creativity and motivation. I am so happy for Aham and what he’s created and worked so very hard at. These days, no one makes it in the entertainment industry without busting their butt. And he does.
He’s got some ‘splainin’ to do. In studio for Now I’m Fine album (2015)
My trio, The Daphnes, just finished our best show yet at the Sunset Tavern this week! The good news continues. Now you can hear a live performance of The Daphnes without leaving the comforts of your home!
The holiday season is a crazy-busy time. You want to go hear some live music, but the weather is taking a toll on your ambition. You can’t muster the energy to get off the couch. I have a solution!
“Thank you so much for the soulful music. You were a wonderful asset to our performance!”
Melissa McCall (teacher at Bright Water School)
“Your spiritual, haunting harp and vocals are great!” – June Sekiguchi (curator)
“I like your song list.”
Mimi Boothby (mother of the groom)
“Thank you very much for playing at our wedding. The sound of your harp complimented the chapel atmosphere, and everyone said it was a beautiful ceremony. Thanks again!”
CK & Greg Ruby (bride and groom)
“You were so beautiful. We can’t thank you enough for the beauty that you brought to our wedding and the memories we will have of the event for the rest of our lives. It was just as I imagined when I thought about what I wanted our day to be like. I’m glad that I was able to hear you play the whole time. Thank you for touching my life the way you did I will always remember you.”
Cathi and Rick (bride and groom)
“Our family was soooo thrilled! Thank you!”
Jo Kinney (private event client)
“We very much enjoyed your performance.”
Allie Lemieux (Reeve Shima Attorneys)
“We still have people mentioning your performance at Hugo House in October. You were amazing and I think your music and your poetry that night touched a lot of people.”
Annette Spaulding-Convey (Crab Creek Review Editor)
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You brightened our afternoon and made our day!”
Wardwell Residents
“My dad took this photo while it had a filter on it (without knowing why the color looked off). I think it’s beautiful. Thanks for your lovely music and for talking with me afterwards. I don’t think I will soon forget you.”
Erin Pesut (sister of the groom)
“My work as a therapeutic harpist is a service and not a performance. I don’t expect any kind of recognition,” multi-talented Seattle musician Monica Schley explained when she sat down to discuss her experience as a Certified Clinical Musician. Most of Schley’s musical roles, such as her chamber-pop band, The Daphnes, or role in the experimental pop opera, “Now I’m Fine,” involve performance and entertainment but through her service as a therapeutic musician, she says, she’s found “soul purpose” and improved aspects of her musicianship.
Schley began her journey with the harp at the age of 14. Since then she’s gained mastery of her instrument and acquired a wide repertoire of music which will soon debut on her first full length album “Keep the Night Dark.” Her experience spans classical, chamber, rock, jazz, improvisation and avant-garde. She teaches, composes, and has collaborated with dozens of musicians. Three years ago she did something different. She enrolled in a course in clinical musicianship accredited by the National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians. In addition to the coursework she served an intensive internship playing roughly 40 hours in hospitals and kidney dialysis centers and 20 hours in hospice. This is the first year she’s been practicing with full certification. As a therapeutic harpist, Schley says, her ability to memorize music has improved and “It really opened up my ears to how I connect music and sound.”
Schley has played for over 250 patients and each environment calls for a unique marriage of sound and music. “If I go into a room with an oxygen machine or beeping I’m going to play in that scale to avoid disharmony,” she explained. “Like any doctor, I want to make things better and not cause any anxiety. I enjoy that about what I do. I’m attuned to sound. If I’m playing for someone recovering from surgery I choose something with a regular beat and play chord progressions that are soothing. When someone is passing on simplicity is sometimes the best thing. Sometimes I play just one note.”
Schley brings a small 22 string harp with a guitar strap to her therapeutic sessions. She plays for various lengths of time depending on the audience. “What I do is passive,” she said. “I’m never asking anyone to do anything. Sometimes I introduce myself. Sometimes I just play.” Unlike her experience with entertainment and performance, therapeutic music isn’t meant to elicit any audience response except healing and the feedback she does receive is positive. “Monica has shared her incredible harp music with our patients and staff, bringing relaxation, therapy and healing to us all,” writes an R.N. Therapeutic harp benefits everyone listening to it including staff, medical professionals and family. “A lot of the time a family member is in the room and they may enjoy it as well. Sometimes family doesn’t realize—they need it too,” Schley said.
According to the National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians therapeutic music enhances a patient’s environment to make it more conducive to healing. “Whether you’re aware of it or not sound goes into your body and organs,” Schley explained. Curing is done by the medical community but healing is facilitated by addressing the emotional, spiritual, mental and physical aspects of life which can be done with the universal language of music. Therapeutic music can relieve stress and tension, augment pain management, reduce blood pressure, aid mental focus, ease transitions, or accelerate healing among other benefits. “I’m happy to be able to use my skill to help people,” Schley said. Clinical musicianship “has helped me in so many ways to be a more compassionate and better person. It’s truly meaningful work.”
