|
Harpers
Hall
makes its home in the San Francisco South Bay Area and
Central California Coast. Our purpose is to promote an
appreciation of the folk harp, to cultivate its living
musical tradition, and to preserve the fun and magic
of the harp for members and for the general public. To
that end, we hold numerous events throughout the year,
from harp jams to house concerts, festival
performances to yearly weekend retreats. Journey
through Harpers Hall to discover an enchanting world
of harpers and learn their songs and their stories.
Here you will meet many of the revelers, see
the various lands they travel to, and find out how to
join. |
Harpers Hall
Calendar
Last update:
February 11, 2024
Details of these
events and gatherings (including address and
phone numbers of gathering locations) are
published in the Harpers Hall newsletter, The
Reel Fling. Yearly subscription includes
the newsletters and much more. Join us in the enchanting
world of harps.
Most of our gatherings are on the
third Sunday of the month. Exceptions are noted in
red.
- 21st 1:30 - 6 pm Gathering
at Dell Petersen's home in Fremont (Check
groups.io calendar or email Dell for zoom
info).
- Workshop from 2:00 - 3:00:
"Improvising Fun" by Verlene Schermer.
Improvisation can be used in many settings:
providing music behind meditation; playing
bedside music; waiting for your cue to start
processional music, for creative expression,
or simply for fun! We’ll cover some basic
concepts of improvisation and apply some
simple tools for both right hand and left
hand (melody and accompaniment)! Your
handouts will include these concepts and
tools along with some easy chord
progressions you can use in any application.
- 3:00 - 4:00 (approximately)
share food and visit.
- 4:00 - 5:00 works-in-progress.
- 5:00 - 6:00 Play Games
repertoire, or do an improv circle!
February
- 18th 1:30 - 6 pm Gathering
at Verlene Schermer's home
in San Jose (Check
groups.io calendar or email Dell for zoom
info).
- Workshop from 2:00 - 3:00: "Quilt
Music: Tips for Learning an Arrangement"
by Jane Valencia. Why can it be so hard to
learn an arrangement? This workshop will
share approaches to working up your piece
with an eye (and ear) to pattern,
successive steps, and clusters of detail.
Rather than using a "0 to 60 mph" approach
(right hand, left hand, both hands in full
together!), we'll block out and stitch the
music into being, growing our ability to
play it - and play with it -- in the
process.
- 3:00 - 4:00 (approximately)
share food and visit.
- 4:00 - 5:00 works-in-progress.
- 5:00 - 6:00 Play more of our
games repertoire!
- 17th 1:30
- 6:00 pm
Gathering
at Val Wann's home in Concord. (Check
groups.io calendar or email Dell
for zoom info).
- Workshop from 2:00 - 3:00 "Learn a Song
in Irish (Gaelic)!" by Val Wann.
We'll learn a simple children's song from
County Donegal. This will include a bit of
insight into the Irish language and even a
bit of history. We celebrate Ireland on
St. Paddy's Day! Ceiliúaimid Éireann ar Lá
fhéile Pádraig!
- 3:00 - 4:00 (approximately)
share food and visit.
- 4:00 - 5:00 works-in-progress.
- 5:00 - 6:00 Play Games
repertoire or do an improv circle!
- 4:30 - 6:00 "Simply Scottish" workshop
with Rachel
- 6:00 - 7:00 potluck dinner
- 7:00 - 9:00 Concert by Rachel and her
partner Ron Jappy (concert is open to
members of the Holsinger's homeowner's
association, harpers & family, and
guests, so RSVP is required!)
- There will be no regular monthly gathering
on the 3rd Sunday. Instead, we'll have a
mini-retreat on the 4th Sunday (which is
Memorial Day Weekend.)
- 25th
10 am - 9:00
pm Mini-Retreat!
We are not holding a full weekend retreat
this year, but are planning a one-day retreat,
so be sure to put it on your calendar!
It will be at Verlene
Schermer’s home in San Jose, and will be
loosely scheduled, with opportunities to
share music we can play together, play in
small groups or jam sessions, and prepare
lunch and dinner together in the kitchen.
There are some musical
art projects planned for those who would
like to participate, plus a few group
musical games.
We’ll have lots of time
to visit as well as make music together, and
after dinner we’ll have a ceilidh,
which is like our works-in-progress, where
anything goes: play your harp, tell a joke,
recite a poem, do a dance.
We will spend most of the
day in the sunroom, but there is also space
in Verlene’s music room, living room, the
studio in the garage, and outside on the
patio for smaller groups to visit or play
music.
Spouses are welcome, and
can join in the music circles, or listen,
read, take a walk, or indulge in other
“retreat” stuff.
Plan to bring something
to share for lunch and for dinner. We
usually potluck it, but if you know what you
want to bring, you can let Verlene know. If
you have a main dish for dinner, consider
bringing something easy like chips or
chocolate for your lunch offering, or vice
versa. And plan to take home leftovers!
Come for the whole day
for a taste of our weekend retreats and,
with luck, we can enjoy a full retreat in
2025! If you can only come in the afternoon,
that’s fine too!
RSVP and let Verlene know
what time you plan to arrive: email verleneschermer@gmail.com
or call 408-497-4789.
21st
3:00 - 7:00
pm Annual Barbecue and
Swim Party! at Susan Nguyen's home in
Saratoga. (No zoom for this
one.)
- Schedule: We'll have a few hours to swim
and visit, then barbecue and share potluck
dishes, and end with casual playing together
(our repertoire music, or tunes you'd like
to share)
18th 1:30 - 6:00
pm Gathering location
TBA) (Check
groups.io calendar or email Dell
for zoom info).
Workshop
from 2:00 - 3:00: Workshop by
Verlene Schermer TBA
3:00 -
4:00 (approximately) share food and
visit.
4:00 -
5:00 works-in-progress.
5:00 -
6:00 rehearsal of the games repertoire
in preparation for the Pleasanton Scottish
Games. A set list will be sent via
groups.io.
31st
Pleasanton Scottish
Gathering & Games, Alameda
County Fairground, The Harpers Hall
Ensemble will be playing on stage in the
Celtic Heritage area -- times TBA. The
group will also have a booth in the area
where you can try out harps, ask
questions, find a teacher, or just hang
out with the harpers!
September
- 22nd 1:30
- 6:00 pm Gathering
at (location TBA)
(Check groups.io calendar
or email Dell for
zoom info).
- Workshop from 2:00 - 3:00: DIY
Harp Stringing and Harp Maintenance
for Lever Harps by Portia Diwa. Do you
know how to tie a harp knot? In this
workshop, we will practice tying a
harp knot, and review how to change a
string. We will talk about types of
harp strings, regulating sharpening
levers, how to find or create a string
chart, gentle harp refinishing. If you
have a harp that needs some
maintenance, feel free to bring your
harp, strings, and questions. If you
have questions before the workshop, email
Portia.
- 3:00 - 4:00 (approximately)
share food and visit.
- 4:00 - 5:00 works-in progress.
- 5:00 - 6:00 Play
Games repertoire or do an improv
circle!
October
- 20th 1:30
- 6:00 pm Gathering
(location TBA) (Check
groups.io calendar or email Dell for
zoom info).
- Workshop from 2:00 -
3:00: TBA
- 3:00 - 4:00 (approximately)
share food and visit.
- 4:00 - 5:00
works-in progress.
- 5:00 - 6:00 Play
Games repertoire or do an
improv circle!
- 8th4:00 - 8:00
pm Yule
Party at
(location TBA). (Check groups.io
calendar or November Fling for
more info).
|
|
|
|
Site maintained by
Verlene Schermer
email: info@verlene.com
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Harpers Hall, Inc. All Rights
Reserved
|
|