Harp Blog

New Rates

Posted on

I haven’t given myself a raise in four years. A few weeks ago I saw quite a few harpist colleagues at the Seattle Wedding Show and comparing prices with them, I was quite below everyone else. My new rates are listed on my website here.

I realize times are challenging for everyone out there. I guess that’s why I took so long to increase my pay. That said, I’ve got to pay the bills too and I think my time, unique skill and set of talents are worth something! I hope you do too. I just took on another last minute client this week and he didn’t scoff at all at my new prices. With respect to my musical community, myself and my clients I think I’ve found a new balance.

Sometimes people comment to me about price of hiring a harpist versus a pianist (or some other instrument). I tell them that harp is a challenging instrument to learn, one of the most difficult. My rates reflect my level of professionalism — 20+ years of performing and focused education (college and post graduate).

I take consideration of your pocketbook and give you 100% of my positive energy when you hire me. You can read some more Q & A about the harp on my Thumbtack profile regarding lessons and private engagements.

Harpy New Year!

Posted on

Wow. December was busy and amazing. It was challenging and it made me happy to be performing so much again. That said, I’m sure glad its done so that I can take a deep breath and enjoy the change in the air.

I spend a lot of last month playing solo corporate holiday gigs, but I also had a few surprise funerals. I actually like playing harp for funerals, even though they are such somber occasions. I consider it an honor to play music at any rite of passage in life.

The Edgewater Hotel has a beautiful atmosphere. The elevators have a beautiful time lapse video of my favorite city on the water with the ferries coming in. It was a surreal morning there though; I played at 7AM for a corporate breakfast. That’s right – AM. I’m pretty sure that some of my friends would have turned a gig like that down, but as mom to a little person, the early time was just fine to me. It was my earliest gig ever! I certainly couldn’t have imagined doing a job like that five years ago when I was playing a lot of late night shows in clubs. Finding some happy medium on those two would be nice.

Speaking of which, I had a great restaurant gig at the Row House cafe, playing harp for the South Lake Union Art walk. I played a solo set of my own songs and another of Christmas tunes. It was wonderful to see some good friends show up, including Queen Shmooquon and my colleague Joyce Rice who is an amazing harp historian and advocate of the harp through the website Harp Spectrum.

I’ve got some performances for 2012 already cooking up on the stove, one of which is at the River Rock and Maple Wood Golf Course in Renton, where I’ll be playing a three hour solo set for Valentines Day.

That same week, I’ll be playing in a chamber group at one of my favorite Wallingford neighborhood venues, the Chapel at the Good Sheppard Center on February 18th, with Taina Karr’s string ensemble, Quatrain. We’ll be playing new compositions by Jherek Bischoff as well as Mark Jurcisin.

The third public gig I’ve got booked so far in the New Year takes me up to beautiful Arlington, WA at the FogDog Gallery. I’m so excited about this one! I’ll be performing a solo set of music and poetry. If you’ve never heard of such a combination, that’s probably because there aren’t too many harpist poets around! Thus, I will make your attendance worthwhile.

I wish all who’ve taken the time to read my rambles here a prosperous 2012. Its going to be a fast paced new year filled with a lot of challenges and growth for the world. My calendar will surely fill up, so if you want to catch some live harp music in the Seattle area, check back to my website.

Golden Time Put to Use

Posted on

I am gifted 3 hours of solo time to work today. While this may not sound like much, it is golden to a new mother! Stephen took Zephyr to Urban Craft Uprising and I worked on a new song idea. While doing so, I’m reminded of a poem dear to my heart by Marge Piercy, To Be of Use.

To be of use

The people I love the best
jump into work head first
without dallying in the shallows
and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.
They seem to become natives of that element,
the black sleek heads of seals
bouncing like half-submerged balls.

I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart,
who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience,
who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward,
who do what has to be done, again and again.

I want to be with people who submerge
in the task, who go into the fields to harvest
and work in a row and pass the bags along,
who are not parlor generals and field deserters
but move in a common rhythm
when the food must come in or the fire be put out.

The work of the world is common as mud.
Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust.
But the thing worth doing well done
has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.
Greek amphoras for wine or oil,
Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums
but you know they were made to be used.
The pitcher cries for water to carry
and a person for work that is real.

Broccoli Umbrella Etsy Shop

Posted on

For a few years now I’ve thought about setting up an Etsy shop to sell music, poetry, knits and other crafts. I coerced my husband Stephen to join me with his fine art and illustrations and thus, Broccoli Umbrella is born!

I’ve got my inaugural item, Mood Indigo Triptych, listed for $7. The three pieces – poem, CD, and tea – are all hand assembled, including all of the tea bags, by your truly.

img_5417

img_5416

Top of the World

Posted on

Last week I had the pleasure to play two private gigs at two iconic Northwest locations: Microsoft and the Space Needle. It was breath of fresh to be able to get behind the scenes at both of these places instead of going through the front door.

Allison at Happily Ever After was the event planner for the wedding at the Space Needle. I was up there on one of the last summer days we had – and the sun was actually in session. The view was gorgeous and everyone I encountered – from the valet to father of he bride – was incredibly kind. l really appreciated how calm Allison, who recommended me, was. Life is more fun when you’re working with people who don’t stress out at the drop of a pin. Instead, we all did our work for the lucky couple on top of the world as the rest of Seattle buzzed around below in the waning days of summer. If felt very rewarding.

Playing at the Space Needle