iPhone iMage

Linda McNair is amused at Sue Richards, me, and Arthur McNair all trundling out our iPhones. Thanks for the photo, Linda.

Into the Zone

This was one of the first times that I have very little memory of my actual playing. Did I get into that magical zone where you become the music. How did this happen? As Doug and I talked that evening and the following day, my euphoric bliss was still evident. Doug wondered if my trip to Scotland had allowed me to tap into those visual images and energy that is unleashed in the music. That made sense, and was one of my goals from my travels to Scotland.

I was also wondering if the significance of 9-11 played a role. As I was leaving my hotel in Somerset, other hotel guests were leaving to attend memorial services only a short distance away where United Airlines Flight 93 had crashed. As I gave my introduction for the song “Will Ye Go Tae Flanders?”, I was amazed at the intensity of emotion that swept over me. This song from the 1700‘s explores the grand dream of going off to war and the reality that ensues. This felt very close to the events that unfolded after 9-11 and continue still. 

The risk in talking about all of this- is that it was, somehow, a fluke. And I don’t want it to be a fluke. I want that heightened emotional impact that I felt to happen again and again. I think people in the audience felt it too. I want this experience to get repeated. Lots.

Melanie Sandrock

Melanie Sandrock is one of the organizers of this Scottish Harp Society of America sanctioned harp competition at the Ligonier Highland Games. June Sechrist provided lots of help on this day also. I got to see both of these friends and many, many others who I see regularly at The Ohio Scottish Arts School, The Harp Gathering, The Washington Area Folk Harp Society Fall Getaway, and other highland games.

Melanie brought an ensemble of young harpers that she teachers to compete in the Harp in Ensemble Category.

Ligonier Highland Games

Today, I attended the Ligonier Highland Games in Pennsylvania. I was awarded 1st place in the Solo Harp Category at the Master Level and 1st place in the Harp and Vocal Category. Sue Richards was the judge. Sue also taught a workshop in the morning and lead a harp circle in the afternoon. Observers to the harp circle were very enthusiastic and appreciative.

Gate Pass

Melanie sent my ticket for the Ligonier Highland Games. I've been setting the timer and metronome and working on pieces in my competition set. I'm trying to be methodical in my practice, and something great is happening. As I slow the pieces down, I'm finding some places where my fingering doesn't let me stay connected to the strings to flow more smoothly to the next phrase of a melody. Hopefully, I'll be able to get some of these new fingerings engrained through short, focused practice sessions.

Mom Playing Harp

Music is something I can continue to share with Mom even as her memory fades. Although apprehensive about playing the harp, Mom is eager to try. She gently strums across the strings. Sometimes she picks out a few notes. Mom is mesmerized, and her trance is only occasionally broken by a smile that beams across her face.

Unexpected Benefits

As I reflect back over my summer, I think of the unexpected benefits that my trip to Scotland has brought into my life. It is rather ironic that the harp, an ancient acoustic instrument, has propelled me into using technology. I have friends who are still amazed. They ask, “Is this the same Steve who didn’t even want to use a cell phone?” Now I’m making and editing digital recordings, writing a blog, taking digital photos and uploading them, texting, and FaceBooking.

As people learn that I have been an elementary school teacher for 23 years in public schools, they are often curious about students keeping in touch with me. The reality of teaching in an inner-city school is that I don’t have many students keeping in touch. Many of them have moved, or I have moved to a different school in my system. However, due to my FaceBook account, a few former students have contacted me. I have no personal details on my main page, so I was pretty surprised to be contacted. One former student from Jordan recently sent a message asking if I had taught at a particular school. He wasn’t sure if it was me, because I used to sport a mustache. Since he is an adult and in college, I felt I could respond. Another star pupil “just wanted to say hi”, and was smart enough to know that I would have to quietly ignore her message because she is not an adult yet. So, this new medium will help me to explore the possibilities it offers, but will also challenge me to be aware of times I need to be cautious.

 I’m looking forward to the benefits of this trip that I will reap in the future. When I hear the background of a song or tune, I’ll have a much larger frame of reference for contextualizing the piece. I’ll be able to visualize a setting or understand the social structures in place. I’ll be able to understand the historical situation or geography. But, all of that is yet to be discovered. For now, I’ve got lots of digital recordings and CD’s to listen to and decisions about some new songs to learn.

I'm thankful that the Scottish Harp Society of America provided the Herbert P. MacNeil Travel Scholarship which completely covered my roundtrip airfare. Consequently, it provided the impetus for my travel to Scotland. The Mid Ohio Scottish Heritage Association provided additional funds through the Dr. Andrew Turner Memorial Scholarship. These funds helped defray the costs of private harp lessons, purchase of CD's, and the Ed Miller Tour.  I'm thankful for Edna Turner's continued generosity and support of the legacy of the harp.