by Sue Laughton
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.
by Gordon Mottram
I arrived at 10.00am with my minus two strings autoharp, and was immediately given a warm welcome, Within 5 minutes me autoharp was fully functional thanks to one of your members who promptly took it of me and replaced the missing strings for very little money, compared to the shop quotes that I had been offered. While he was replacing the strings I wandered over to Mike Fenton’s stall and cast my eyes on a Oscar Schmidt autoharp that was for sale. Five minutes later my newly strung autoharp had exchanged hands and I was the proud owner of a new autoharp for a very respectable and fair price, particularly when I compared the price of it on the internet. Mike then showed me how to tune it {apparently I had tuned every string on my old autoharp flat!}.
With my new purchase tucked safely in its case under my arm I ventured into my first beginners class. I had never played in front of anyone before and I was determined that mine would be happier staying in its case at my feet. However my tutor soon noticed my hands were empty and pointed to it. I just shook my head vigorously and looked sheepishly at the ground, hoping it would swallow me up. Things got from bad to worse when she then stopped the whole class from playing and then pointed at the inert object at my feet again, I was determined that it was staying in its case, but when I looked up I saw not only the tutors steely gaze at me but to my horror, the whole class looking sympathetically at me. I was trapped with nowhere to run or hide. As I looked at the tutor with despair, she smiled and with a nod of encouragement I picked up my new autoharp. {I can only thank Mike for tuning it for me}. I thought I could bluff my way by playing like it was an air guitar but soon I realised that I was actually playing some chords in time with the rest of the class. As my confidence grew I began to relax and enjoy playing in a group. All too soon it came to an end and I found myself chatting with people who were no longer strangers but fellow players.
The rest of the day was filled by amazing performances lots of tea and cakes, along with good advice and tips from everyone. I found a whole bunch of new friends and would like to thank everyone for making me so welcome. A special thanks to the lady tutor in the beginners class who bullied me into playing my instrument, without her it would probably still be in its case!
I would also like to say a special thanks to Mike Fenton who as well as selling me a fabulous instrument at a very reasonable price, also spent some time with me on a one to one session which as well as being educational and informative gave me confidence in my playing ability for the future. Once again a big thank you to everyone for giving me inspiration and belief to someone who thought was tone deaf for the last twenty years, [Mike assured me I’m not] for making me so welcome and cannot wait until my next session.
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.
by Mary Poole
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.
by Bob Fish (former lead singer with the doo-wop group Darts, currently performing with his duo Electric Fish)
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.
.....and a few years later:
Bob is now an established tutor and his distinctive style of autoharp playing and fabulous singing has been heard on UKA Days this side of the Atlantic, and at several gatherings across the pond.
