A Sunday Full of Music Making

This morning I went down to an Independent Church in Millers, MD - about five miles from where I live. The drive was beautiful with all the trees covered with snow. I played in a service with my two friends. We did Bring a Torch with autoharp, recorder and guitar. We also did Pat-a-Pan. It included a recorder duet, patting on the autoharp and vocals. I went home for lunch then over to Gettysburg - about 20 miles from where I live. I went to an OT jam for about and hour and a half then over to a Lutheran church near the square for an Celtic service. I am in an ensemble that plays for the service. We do prelude, 2 hymns, Offering and Communion music and then the postlude. At both services I took communion. I’m hoping the Lord is pleased with me!

My Musical Camping Summer of 2009

My first camping adventure was in May to the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival just 25 miles from home. I almost didn't get an electric site but they stuck me inbetween the motorhomes when I told them I had a real long extension cord. The two gals I sing with were both there so we did a good bit of blugrass jamming.

My next trip, also in May, was to Folk College at Juniata College in Huntindon, PA. I decided to use my camper instead of bunking in the dorm. I had a 15 minute commute but enjoyed the camp atmosphere and sleeping "in my own bed." Folk College was good. Two performers/workshop leaders I really like were Joel Maebus and Cindy Kallet.

Mountain Laurel Autoharp Gathering was next in June. This is always a great time. Two of my favorite diatonic players were there - Bob Lewis and Mike Fenton - so that made it really special. Brian Orr worked his homeopathic magic on folks, myself included. Its so nice to see old friends again and jam the nights away.

I spent the first full week of July at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. I have previously taught beginning autoharp there but my course was not chosen this year. Since my daughter and her family are there all summer I decided to go anyway. When teaching I never had time to go to lectures etc. I only had time to go to concerts in the evening. It was National Geographic Week. The lectures were by 2 NG photographers, the engineer for the Mars Rover, and the man who discovered the Lucy fossil. All very interesting. I went to 3 orchestra concerts, and and opera dress rehearsal. I was there for the Fourth of July and saw the big fireworks display over the lake. It was especially fun to spend time with my grandchildren - Rosie 7, Oliver10, and Sam 13. They have a trailer in place at the campground where I stay.

The third week in July I went to Swannanoa OT Week. I towed my camper and stayed overnight at a KOA near Natural Bridge. I visited a cave while I was there. I parked the camper at the college and stayed in the dorm. OT week is like MLAG - like a family reunion. I do Sacred Harp singing, took a course on History of OT music, and play in a string band. The concerts are great and so is the jamming. Stayed at the KOA again on my way home.

August was HOTA Fest at Bradford, PA. (Heart of the Alleghenies) I presented an AH workshop for kids but only had one boy and 9 adults! We park our campers in the parking lot there and use showers in one of the dorms. I was parked beside Desert Rose. Todd was there so I got to see all the 'harps he carries with him - impressive. I did a good bit of OT jamming with locals there and found I fit in just fine. I did some sight seeing on this trip. I visited the Kinzua Viaduct - a railroad bridge that collapsed during a tornado and the Zippo museum which was very interesting. I also met up with a bear when returning from the shower in the dark! I stayed at a KOA before and after the festival and that is where I saw the bear.

The last week in August I started on my long journey. I first went to Williamsburg to an Aliner Rally. I belong to the Mid-Atlantic group. We have a get-to-gether every year. We visited the Jamestown Settlement this time since we had been to Williamsburg several years ago. They had a reconstructed village with blacksmith etc. There were 3 ship replicas that you could board which was interesting to see. Then on Sunday off I went to Assateague. The original plan was to meet my daughter and her family there but they more or less backed out due to schedules etc at the last minute. I decided to go anyway. This was the first trip I ever did where I was completely on my own and not meeting anyone etc. I traveled the bay bridge/tunnel - it was very cool. I'm really glad I went. I love the ocean but the water was too rough so I couldn't go in. I walked the beach, many nature trails, visited visitor centers, went to Chincoteague, to Ocean City, MD, and found a small library in Berlin, MD where I could use my computer. I had to move from one site to another half way thru my visit. At the second one there was a lady practicing clog dancing! I played and she danced. We laughed and made our selves a memory.

One more trip this time to Greenwood Furnace Folk Gathering. This is near Huntingdon, PA. I stayed in the state park campground there. I presented a workshop entitled "Try an Autoharp." It went well with about 12 people in the class. I also helped with 3 different slow/beginner jams. Concerts were good and so were the couple of workshops I had the time to attend.

I slept 33 nights in my Aliner and towed it 2500 miles. The converter was not working right so I had that replaced when I got home with a better unit and should be good to go from now on. I washed and waxed it, washed bedding etc, and took out anything that could freeze over the winter. So now I can think back over the good times and anticipate more to come in 2010.

Cold but magical Christmas Magic

Tonight I played at a wonderful Christmas light event held at a county park called Rocky Ridge outside of York, PA. I have played at this event for quite a few years. It consists of a trail with many many lights as well as several heated buildings with indoor displays. I play in the food building which has tables where folks can sit, eat, warm up and listen to the music. Attendance was rather low probably due to the very cold temperature. It was about 17º. I had a good time despite the weather etc. I got to talk to several people who were interested in the autoharp. I also sold one of my "living room" recordings of Christmas music. I made contact with a lady who broadcasts on a local radio station who would like to do a program featuring me and the autoharp. Sounds like a good opportunity. I only made $6.20 in tips! I used my recently repaired Peavy Messsenger PA sysem and it worked real well. It truely is magical and a great activity for families.

The Evening of October 20th

My Course at Anne Arundle Community College was cancelled due to lack of sign-ups so I was free to do some other things that I enjoy instead. I left my house at 4pm and headed to Millers, MD where I played in a church bluegrass band called Paul Neal and the 2nd Generation. We played at a spaghetti supper. This band is led by a 90 year old mandolin player. He likes autoharp so I get to do lead once in a while. This band was well established when I joined so I had to learn a lot of tunes and songs. I fit in by learning to sing harmony where ever I could. We have mandolin, 2 guitars, banjo, bass and an occasional fiddler. The folks there are friendly and loving so it is always a happy time. When this event was over I headed southwest a bit to New Freedom, PA where Bryan Bowers was playing. I got there right before his break. Bryan was at his best. It was a small audience crowded into a small little room so it was a very intimate venue. I had never been there before but plan to go back again and also for their open mic nights. Bryan performed many of his old standards that I have heard many times but they were well received by this audience. There were some songs that were new or not real familar to me as well. He also told some great stories the were also well received. I don't believe there were many autoharpers in the crowd, however. My friend, Linda Morris, who did the write-up on Bryan for the magazine Dirty Linen, was instrumental in getting Bryan to come to this venue. In fact, I wouldn't have know about it if she hadn't e-mailed me. I met her several years ago when she came to one of my autoharp courses. She teaches in Batimore and I have visited her classes several times taking loaners for the kids to play. Sooooo ~ ~ ~it was an exciting evening and all due to the autoharp which has taken me so many wonderful places and allowed me to make so many good friends. Thanks be to God.

Gigs, Teaching Engagements, and Other Musical Activities

I have been unable to get a webpage up so have lost my space on the ring. I decided to use my blog as a way of getting info out on the net. I have noticed others using this method instead of a website so thought I would give it a try.
I currently have 3 regular students and a number that come occasionally. I am scheduled to teach at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, MD on Oct. 20 and Oct. 26. The first Saturday will be a beginning course and the second Saturday will be a follow-up. Each course goes from 9 to 4. I will be providing autoharps to those who do not have one. Eight sign-ups are required for the course to run. I will be giving a beginning course the the East Berlin Community Center in E.B, PA on 6 successive Tuesday evenings from 7 - 9. I will teach if there are at least 4 sign-ups. Pay is very low for less students.
Tuesday Oct. 11 I will be going to Windy Hill Senior Center, Spring Grove, PA with 18 loaner 'harps to give a short concert/demo then teach the folks there a few chords and hopefully sing some songs while playing. I use colored lyrics on posters - a wonderful idea I got from Cathy Britell's children's book.
No other gigs scheduled for the near future. I will be playing at a Christmas light show at a county park near York on Dec. 13 and 20. I missed doing this last year because I was having so much trouble with my back so am looking forward to doing it this year. I have done it for several years previously.
I have been having fun playing with a bluegrass band at a tiny church in Millers, MD. It is led by a wonderful 90 year old gentleman who plays mandolin. We also have 2 guitars, a banjo, and a bass. For the most part we play "older bluegrass," - almost Old Time so I fit in pretty well. Kim, a former student, and also guitar player, played Whispering Hope together on our Orthey 'harps last Sunday.
There are 3 local OT jams within 45 minutes of my home which are now starting up again. There is one every Sunday but the last one. Also George Orthey has Mini-Mt. Laurel workshops through out the winter. The first one will be this weekend with the guest teacher/performer being Adam Miller. I'll be there.
Thanks for reading.

My Day in Newport

On Tuesday evening I left home with a vehicle loaded down with no less than 24 autoharps plus teaching aids, a cooler, laptop, clothes, personal items, sleeping bag and pillow, stool, amp and case with sound system details. About an hour and a half later I was in Newport moving into the bunk house on the Orthey farm. I turned out the light fairly early because Wednesday morning I got up at 6am. I was due at Newport Elementary School at 8 am. When I got there some students and the student teacher helped me unload all the 'harps etc. I was sort of an artist-in-residence for the day focusing on Appalachian music. I think I saw 5 or 6 classes. I talked briefly about Appalachian music - played a fiddle tune for them, sang a "funny" song for them involving the class with refrains etc, introduced them to the autoharp of course and also each had a chance to play with a limberjack. We sang such songs as Rabbit in the Log, Mole in the Ground, Fly Around and Good Bye Liza Jane. I got them all playing autoharp using Row, Row, Row your boat and Skip to My Lou. I used hand puppets with the first graders. They got to reach in the bag and pull one out then we sang a song as I played with the hand puppet on my button hand. It took a while but each child got to choose a puppet. I taught the elementary chorus to sing the refrain on Down the Road. We had 5 children playing autoharp, and 4 with limberjacks. We performed this in the evening concert with only about 20 minutes rehearsal time! When school was over, we loaded the stuff back into my car in the pouring rain. Then I went to the high school where the concert was to be held. They did a sound check etc and we decided where I would be in the program. Then I went back to the bunk house and took a nap! I was at Liz Sufrin's house at 5 for a nice meal. I reported to school and was part of a very interesting concert. First the high school band played, then I performed, next were several vocal groups from the high school, middle school and elementary. We did our Down the Road and then I finished off the evening with several more tunes and songs. The auditorium was full. I'm not used to playing for such a large group but I didn't worry too much about it and it went well. I had practiced a lot and it paid off for me in that I felt I did as well as I am able. When the evening was over I was pretty tired. I spent some time at McDonald's with my new laptop but didn't have much luck because I wasn't doing things right. Wireless at this Micky D is still free. After a good night's sleep, I packed up, visited a little with George, and headed into the metropolis of Newport visiting the Goodwill Store and the public library which has free wireless. It was here that a librarian helped me discover what I was doing wrong. Then it was on to a neat little restaurant for a hamburger. I went to Harrisburg where I had some business to attend to, then headed home. Mission accomplished. All went well and I had a good time. Thanks for reading.