The Somerset Folk Harp Festival. This two weekend conference celebrates the diversity of music, talent and experience of the folk harp world. Whether you are new to the harp, want to focus on one style or type of music, solidify some specific skills, or try out something new, Somerset's workshop offerings are sure to expand your musical horizon.

Schedule:

Thursday, July 20, 2023

1-4:30pm: Harpers Escape at Somerset (Beginner group): Add-on   
1-4:30pm: Harpers Escape at Somerset (Intermediate group) Add-on   
1-4:30pm: Harpers Escape at Somerset (Advanced Group): Add-on   
1-5:00pm: ‘From Ordinary to Extraordinary’ Take a Simple Tune and Make it YOUR OWN!: Add-on   
1-2:30pm: Effortless technique I   
3-4:30pm: Venezuelan Joropo   
3-4:30pm: Double-strung Harp Improv Techniques in Therapy Settings   
3-4:30pm: Protection from Injury 1   
3-4:30pm: Youth Program Day 1   
3-4:30pm: The Art of Practicing   
3-4:30pm: Effortless technique II   
7:00pm: Concert: Thursday Night   
9:00pm: Thursday Night Reception Meet & Greet (in-person only)   
9:00pm: Scottish Ceilidh Dance with Rachel Hair   

Friday, July 21, 2023

11am-6pm: THE EXHIBIT HALL IS OPEN!
9:30-11am: Irish Dance Music: Dancing the Tune
9:30-11am: Messing with Chords
9:30-11am: Tell Your Story with Music
9:30-11am: Italian Dance Music: Getting the Groove (Beginner)
9:30-11am: Double-Strung Harp: Adapting Single Music
9:30-11am: Beginner's Basics
9:30-11am: Youth Program Day 2
9:30-11am: Troubadour songs for harp
9:30-11am: Let the Spirit Move You
9:30-11am: Create a Singing Tone
11am-6pm: THE EXHIBIT HALL IS OPEN!
11:30am-12pm: DIY Knot Tying
11:30am-12:15pm: Lunchtime Concert
12:00 pm: Small Harp Tasting And Smalll Double Strung Tasting
1-2:30pm: Playing Weddings of Different Faiths
1-2:30pm: Sing and Play
1-2:30pm: From Scotland to Ireland
1-2:30pm: Mannin Aboo!
1-2:30pm: Latin Harp Special Effects
1-2:30pm: Inspired Arranging
1-2:30pm: Youth Harp Day 2
1-2:30pm: Beauty of Simplicity
1-2:30pm: Italian Dance Music: Getting the Groove (Intermediate)
1-2:30pm: Music Business Basics
3-4:30pm: Irish Music: Discover the Petrie Collection
3-4:30pm: Harpy-go-lucky
3-4:30pm: Accompanying Other Instruments
3-4:30pm: Spanish Harp's Fiery Improvs And Sublime Fantasias
3-4:30pm: American Ballads And Airs
3-4:30pm: Beginner's Chord Basics
3-4:30pm: Creating a Cradle of Sound
3-4:30pm: Christmas in July
3-4:30pm: Ancient Romantic music from Venezuela
3-4:30pm: Storytelling and the Harp
07:00pm: Concert: Friday Night
9:30 pm: Somerset's Got Talent
9:30 pm: Harpers' Escape Play-Along

Saturday July 22, 2023

9:30-11am: Carolan And the Music of the Harper Composers
9:30-11am: Highland Harpbeat
9:30-11am: Play Along Songs for Kids
9:30-11am: Italian folk dances from the North
9:30-11am: Latin American Rhythmic and Accompaniment Patterns
9:30-11am: Beginner's Coordination Basics
9:30-11am: Youth Harp Program Day 3
9:30-11am: Pop with Pizazz – Create Your Own!
9:30-11am: Let's Get It Started
9:30-11am: Lute Music for the Harp
9:30am-1pm: Build-a-Harp Part 1 (On-Site Only)
11am-6pm: THE EXHIBIT HALL IS OPEN!
11:30am-12pm: DIY 2: Tuning
11:30am-12:15pm: Lunchtime Concert
12:00 pm: Large Harp Tasting
1-2:30pm: Find the Tune within the Tune
1-2:30pm: Irish Dance Music: Technique and Style
1-2:30pm: Power Progression
1-2:30pm: Fifty Ways to Play Your Tunes
1-2:30pm: Irish Harp Music in the Regency Era
1-2:30pm: Arranging Pipe and Fiddle Tunes for Harp
1-2:30pm: Youth Harp Program Day 3
1-2:30pm: Shetland Tunes to Get Your Playing to Flow
1-2:30pm: Venezuelan Merengue
1-2:30pm: The Harp in Spain and the New World
3-4:30pm: Italian folk dances from the South
3-4:30pm: Protection from Injury 2
3-4:30pm: Renaissance Harp Ensemble
3-4:30pm: Rhythm me this, Rhythm me that!!
3-4:30pm: Lilting Lullabies
3-4:30pm: Where did that come from?
3-4:30pm: Harp Regulation & Maintenance
3-4:30pm: 17th Century Spanish Dances
3-4:30pm: Latin American Song: Learn Moliendo Café
3-4:30pm: Time for your Left Hand to Shine!
7:00 pm: Concert: Saturday Night
9:30 pm: Irish Session with Kim Robertson
9:30 pm: Italian Dancing w/ Ensemble Sangineto

Sunday, July 23, 2023

8:00 am: Celtic Service
8:30-9:15am: Meet Up with Shelley Fairplay and Discuss What You've Learned
9:30-11am: History of the Harp in Ireland
9:30-11am: Arranging Irish Slow Airs
9:30-11am: Venezuelan Orquídea
9:30-11am: Make a Living as a Gigging Harpist
9:30-11am: Groovy Basslines
9:30-11am: Pipe down with the Harp
9:30-11am: Youth Harp Program Day 4
9:30-11am: Creating Beauty and Improvisational Patterns for Therapy
9:30-11am: Arranging Lullabies
9:30-11am: Latin American Rhythms Using Pachelbel's Canon
11am-3pm: The Exhibit Hall is Open! Last Chance!
9:30am-5:30pm: Sunday Creativity with Deborah Henson-Conant Add-on
9:30am-10:30pm: Historical Harp Society Conference Add-on

2nd Weekend Online:

Saturday July 29, 2023

10-11:30am: Early Irish Harp: Introduction to playing
10-11:30am: Alan Stivell’s Breton Music
1-2:30pm: Inspiration for composition
1-2:30pm: Silk Road Journey of the Ancient Asian Harp
1-2:30pm: Breton Music's Early History
3-4:30pm: Scottish Gaelic Language and Song: Isle of South Uist
3-4:30pm: Harp Studies : Perspectives on the Irish Harp

Sunday July 30, 2023

10-11:30am: Composers from County Clare
10-11:30am: Breton Music Made Easy
10-11:30am: Traditional Swedish Christmas music
1-2:30pm: Scottish Gaelic Language and Song: Isle of Skye
1-2:30pm: Breton Legends And Myths
3-4:30pm: Arranging Music Through the Centuries
5-6:30pm: Recording the Harp

Date: July 20-23 And July 29-30, 2023

Location: Sheraton Parsippany Hotel -  199 Smith Rd, Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ 07054

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