I’ve been musing over a lot of things about music and its healing effect this week -- starting with a Monday morning meeting with the new Arts in Health director at Stanford Hospital where I had been playing harp for patients, staff, and visitors since 2003 – up until March of 2020. She gave me the great news that the program will start up again bringing back the bedside musicians first (then gradually add in the art, massage, and guided imagery programs) in September or October. I have missed playing bedside harp music, and am looking forward to starting that up again!

But it also got me thinking about all the other musical endeavors I have added to my schedule throughout the pandemic, and how very healing these aspects of music have been both to me and to others.

First, I began teaching Saturday workshops on Zoom, and met harpists from all around the world, who not only took in what I had to offer, but gave back so much to me, particularly the joy and gratitude knowing that they were benefiting from the workshops.  In our isolation, we created quite a sense of community through some of the workshop series. All my workshops are also recorded and available as video links here: https://verlene.com/workshops.html

Then after things opened up, I was asked to play a concert at an assisted living facility, and found that to be once again, healing both to those listening and singing along, and to myself. I would feel such satisfaction seeing how the songs brought such lovely memories to so many. This concert turned into a monthly gig, and also branched out to 3 other facilities that have me playing monthly concerts. One of the favorite sing-alongs is "What a Wonderful World." I did a YouTube video of this one you can see at: https://verlene.com/videos.html#wonderful 

And that brings me to another new music activity during the pandemic – making videos! I did a lot of virtual ensemble videos with friends, Harpers Hall, and also me, myself, and I! And posted them all on YouTube, with a wish and a prayer that they will be soothing and uplifting to anyone watching. You can find these videos at: https://verlene.com/videos.html

And finally, in January I became a third member of a band that plays Celtic music – not the expected soothing Celtic music, but the exciting, rich textured music that brings joy to audiences and to ourselves as well! Does that count as healing music? I am going to say “yes!” since I know it lifts my spirits and from the smiles on faces in our audiences, it’s safe to say they’re experiencing some healing after all these long months of no live music! Here’s a video sampler that shows some of the variety of music and instrumentation in the band: https://youtu.be/ox-tBtUmB40 And you can see how much fun we are having! Although we did these in Alison’s backyard, there is also a live performance someone took at one of the venues we play: https://youtu.be/uvoOzZOpRd0

I love all these new parts of my practice of “healing music” but will welcome the deep connection with patients, staff and visitors that comes from sharing music in such a stressful environment at Stanford Hospital once again. One patient told me on a second room visit that the music I had played stayed in her head for hours after I left, and was like a reminder of the calm she experienced while I was there.  What a great indication that the music has a lasting effect!

I will wish for you never to have a reason to hear me play harp at Stanford Hospital --- but if you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, and would like to hear Gaelic Muses, please visit my website calendar at https://verlene.com/calendar.html! It also lists upcoming online workshops which are available to all.  Or better yet, join my email list at: https://verlene.com/contact.html#list and check the box to get emails about workshops, live performances, online performances, or new books and recordings – or any combination!

This week's Friday blog is a day late -- where did Friday go? It was completely given over to the drive home from music camp, unloading, unpacking, and doing laundry, all to my mental soundtrack of tunes that were played and shared, conversations over meals, and laughter (lots of that!) I would close my eyes for a moment and the visions of new friends in a beautiful Carmel Valley setting would pop up and bring a smile to my face before I slipped into short catch up naps…

Yes the late night jams and early morning class schedule I kept means I came home in need of a good night’s sleep, so rather than turning on the computer to get my blog out, I waited until now – Saturday morning – to get back online, gather my thoughts for this week and write!

So, my main thought to share this week is about community. As musicians, whether at the beginning of your journey, or well into it, we all can benefit from being a part of a larger community of musicians. Like in any community – small town, church, work, school – there is a wide range of personalities, skills, and mind-sets. Not every person in the community will be part of your inner circle of supportive friends, but those within your inner circle will also have an inner circle that includes some in yours, and some outside your circle.

Okay brief detour – remember math class? Remember Venn Diagrams? Here’s the picture in my mind:

These circles will connect outward to include everyone within the community. I remember looking around on the last day of camp and thinking “I don’t think I was ever in a jam session with that person there, or shared a table at mealtime with that one over there.” But there were people near them that I did either play music with or have in my class, or met up with in some way. And I am thinking, "Wouldn’t it be nice to have these circles spread out all over the world until no one feels left out, alone, or isolated?”

And yes, there are some you won’t want to include in your own inner circle, but if you can see how they are connected through other connections, maybe we can put aside differences like “I don’t play bluegrass, only jazz” or “I attend this church, not that” or “I voted for… not…”

Okay, and yes, I have a song to share. It’s on Spotify at: https://open.spotify.com/track/627SpLxlxHTApBdkwvsWoi

 Thank you for reading! I’d love to hear your thoughts!

I’m off to teach at the California Coast Music Camp today! This year, the camp is finally located back to near the coast after several years of being up in the Sierra foothills. It’s a fun, friendly, all-acoustic, music camp for adults, and I love teaching there! My two classes are “Vocal Mechanics – a look under the hood” and “Vocal Styles.” Here’s the website for the camp so you can see all the classes offered this year. And get on the mailing list for next year! https://www.musiccamp.org/

I’ve spent a lot of time preparing the Styles class so that we can listen to a variety of voices within each style, discuss the vocal elements that make the voice fit the style, and then sing a few songs in each so we can try applying the vocal elements to try the style on for size. It will be great fun!

The Vocal Mechanics class is one I’ve taught several times over the years, and in fact, I have published a book that comes with a CD (or mp3s if it’s the PDF book) and use it with my private vocal students. In case you’re interested, you can pick up a copy on my website at: https://verlene.com/vocalmechanics.html.

I’ll be gifting my Vocal Mechanics class members with some coffee stir straws so they can practice SOVT (Semi-Occluded-Vocal-Tract) exercises, and also a “make your own” cardstock larynx model! For more info on SOVT, visit: https://www.voicescienceworks.org/sovt-exercises.html.

Once I had all the handouts ready to print, I realized I’d have hundreds of copies if I gave out all the song lyrics for both classes in addition to the basic handouts. So, in a desire to save the forest, and also the time it would take to print them, I picked up a projector that will mirror my iPad with all the song sheets and lyric sheets. No savings in cost, but it’ll be reusable, whereas the excess paper won’t be. And if I were to have more in the class than the number of handouts I will bring, there wouldn’t be a way to print more of the song sheets - well over 40 pages worth per person, so having them shown on the screen will take care of any class overflow.

So, now, can I get my harp, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, keyboard, amp, projector, screen, tent, cot, mattress, sleeping bag, handouts, books and CDs, coffee makings, snacks, and suitcase into my car? Find out in next week’s blog!

Welcome to my first blog post! Let me introduce myself in case you don't know me already. I am a musician that loves all acoustic stringed instruments - haven't met one yet that I don't like and don't want to own and learn to play! And I am a singer, a songwriter, a teacher, a performer, recording artist, and publisher of music books. Hmm... That sounds like a lot of hats, but yes, I do wear them all, and I am grateful to be able to make a living with the variety of things I do in music. 

You are always welcome to comment and ask me questions, and at this point in my blogging journey, I will welcome any suggestions for posts. I will from time to time focus on Celtic harp related topics, other times on composing and songwriting. Some posts will be about singing, and others about playing some of the unusual instruments I play. And in each I will share what has been on my mind, my musings, what is amusing to me, and what my muse may whisper to me.

Thank you for reading my first blog post!