| UK Autoharp Day
by Sue Laughton |
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Reviews
Excerpts from reports on some past UK Autoharps events...
| UK Autoharp Day
by Sue Laughton |
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After lunch, Mike Fenton led an autoharp workshop which sparkled with his usual brand of skillful and enthusiastic teaching. His ability to guide new, raw players alongside the seasoned and musically adept never fails to amaze me. Each of us comes away with something inspirational - the means for growth as a player.
Autoharp Beginners Mini Workshop
by Paul Clemons
It can be daunting going somewhere new - especially a music workshop, even more so when you have only had that new, mysterious, wonderful instrument for a little over 3 weeks. My apprehensions were very quickly put aside – I had a good journey down, didn’t get lost and very soon felt as though I was amongst friends.
I signed up for the beginners mini workshop and was surprised (though not as much as our tutor, Sue Edwards) that 8 other 'newbies' had done likewise – hey, I’m not on my own here!
Off we all went to our workshop room and Sue discussed the various ways to hold the Autoharp and how to use and secure the thumb and finger picks. Music was handed out and within a matter of minutes we were all strumming along to 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' and 'Skip To My Lou.'
Confidence was growing – I found myself even having a go at picking out some of the melodies. The session ended with us all having a go at 'London’s Burning' as a round – and that was it, the one hour session was over all too soon.
Thank you Sue E. for helping me take my first steps down the autoharp road.
| Advanced Chromatic Workshop by Mary Poole |
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We really were privileged to have Karla Armstrong with us. We have not heard anyone play chromatic autoharp quite as she does on this side of the pond. Karla achieves on her chromatic autoharp the bell-like tone that diatonic players value so much, and for me it was a revelation...
One of the melodies Karla used to demonstrate the ultrachromatic autoharp set-up was 'September Song', which excels in glorious harmonies. Karla played it to perfection.
I think that anyone who aspires to these heights must have in their head (mind's ear) a very sophisticated grasp of harmonies and a determination to pursue them. As Karla said a number of times, nothing will be achieved without putting in the practice.
| Being a Beginner... Again! by Bob Fish (former lead singer with the doo-wop group Darts, currently performing with his duo Electric Fish) |
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It must have been a couple of weeks after I placed my order before I received the black beast [a new OS A-model 73 'reissue' in a black finish like the earlier A-model autoharps]. It sounded quite sweet, but I couldn't really compare it with anything until I attended my first UK Autoharp Day in October 2001. A lot of people thought it sounded nice, so I guess I was lucky.
Everyone that I met made me very welcome. I was a complete novice on the instrument, but I made progress and had a very good day. The main thing that I got from the event was seeing the potential of the instrument.
...and a year later
The autoharp works well in our pop/rock repertoire, it really adds to our sound... There can't be too many people performing things like Neal Young's Rockin' in the Freeworld on the autoharp. Mind you, playing this kind of stuff means that I have to gaffer tape my picks to my fingers!
I'm finding that the autoharp is the perfect instrument for someone like me who can't play the guitar or keyboard, but is using the instrument in a professional set-up and, above all, enjoying myself.
I look forward to seeing you all again at the next Autoharp Day.