The Schedule for HGG21
It’s subject to change, but truly, is there much that isn’t?
Friday, October 27
(at the Hilton Garden Inn)
4:00 Registration (and socializing, of course!)
6:00 Dinner together there at the hotel
7:15 Opening Remarks followed by an Open Mic until 10:00
Saturday, October 28
(at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church)
9:00 Opening Remarks
9:10 Introducing Jon Pickard
You might have heard Jon play at our virtual HGG three years ago. If you missed him then, here’s your chance. Jon’s a terrific harp guitarist and we’re glad he’s come across the pond to be with us in person this year.
10:10 Martin Pleass: Harp Guitar Building Blocks, Part 2
Speaking of the pond, Martin is back this year with the next installment of the course he’s been putting together for our instrument. I think it’s fair to say that everyone was impressed by his teaching ability last year. I know I was.
11:10 Yoga and the harp guitar – with Kelley Gardner
We guitar players are constantly holding our bodies in positions that can cause aches and pains, a problem that can be magnified when we play our harp guitars. Kelly Gardner has been a yoga teacher for over 30 years, and she’s also a guitar player. She will show us some body-alignment exercises that can help. There will be some Yoga mats available but if you have one that you can bring along, please do. This class is suitable for everyone, not just for guitar players.
12:10 Lunch – Randall is working on having a food truck there in the church parking lot, as was the case once before in Mooresville. There are restaurants close by as well.
1:15 Dave Powell – Mastering the “Powell Pinch”
In Dave’s words: “In continuing with Martin Pleass’ preliminary (and exemplary) introduction last year of a technique that he coined using me as its namesake, I will be further discussing methods of mastering the pinch. Bring your instrument, all levels of players are welcome!”
2:15 – 3:45 The Luthier’s Forum – hosted by Mike Doolin
2:30 – 3:30 Workshop with Randall Sprinkle (location TBA). He’ll teach his arrangement of Stevie Wonder’s You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
3:45 Harp Guitar Ensemble – In the tradition of Please Listen (Stephen’s tune that we played together in memory of our friend Hirokatsu Takei in 2019) and Silver Lake (Andy Wahlberg’s tune that we took on in 2022), this year we’ll work on Terminal Velocity, a tune composed and arranged by our hosts, Jayne and Randall Sprinkle.
5:15 Dinner Break (not arranged, meaning you’ll need to go out and find your own)
7:00 Evening Concert (starts promptly and ends no later than 9:30)
Sunday
(at the Hilton Garden Inn)
Room 1
9 -11 Open Mic
Room 2
9:15 -10:15 Workshop: Kim Person
Kim will talk about recording generally, and recording harp guitars in particular. She’ll also leave time for lots of Q&A.
10:30 -11:30 Workshop: Dave Powell Topic TBA
Room 3
9:15 -10:15 Workshop: Stephen Bennett (topic TBA)
10:30 -11:30 Workshop: Martin Pleass (topic TBA)
Room 1
12 – 1 The Harp Guitar Year in Review with Gregg Miner (Sir Gregory)
1:00 Lunch (not arranged)
3:00 Concert – at St. Patrick’s — Which will start on time and end no later than 5:00 because we have to get to the next item on the schedule, which is…
6:00 Dinner Party – at 202 Main – payment for which can be made at the appropriate button link on the Registration Page
7:30 -10 The A to Z Harp Guitar Marathon Open Mic (see explanation below)
TWO OTHER OPTIONS
1. Recording Engineer (par excellence) Kim Person will be offering 45-minute private sessions. She did this the last time the Gathering was in Mooresville and those that took advantage of it were quite pleased. For your session, you might choose to have Kim record you in the mini studio she’ll have set up. Or maybe you’d rather spend the time asking a pro some questions about self-recording. It’s up to you. For more about Kim, go to the MORE section that’s below.
There will be at least six slots available initially, the time of which should be arranged by you directly with Kim. If more folks than that are interested, we’ll see what can be figured out. The cost will be $75, payable at the Registration table. If you’re interested in getting on the list, send an email to our HGG host, Randall Sprinkle.
2. CHGP (Certified Harp Guitar Photographer) Chuck Thompson will also be available for private sessions. Chuck needs no introduction as he’s been at nearly all of our Gatherings. If you would like professional photos taken of yourself or your instrument or spouse, etc, Chuck will get it done. There’ll initially be ten 15-20-minute slots. If you get one of them, please arrange the time and location directly with Chuck. (He’s a bit shy, so you may not spot him right away. Ha!) The cost is $35, payable at the Registration table.
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The A to Z Harp Guitar Marathon Open Mic
In which, someone volunteers to play a musical piece wherein:
- A is the first letter of the first word of the title.
If that’s not possible, then:
- A is the first letter of the second word of the title.
If not possible, then:
- A is the first letter in any word of the title.
As soon as one of these conditions is met and the tune is played, we move on to B.
If a player has done a tune, they can’t stay for the next lettered tune unless no one else has stepped up.
If someone makes up something generic on the spot and simply titles it with the particular letter needed at the time (Queen’s Blues, for example). Thus, if nobody has stepped up to play a legitimate Q-starting tune, and you play your improvised Queen’s Blues, it had better be good — or you will be mildly booed! Much laughing will be done, without a doubt. But we would then move on to R. Mind you, this tactic will only be considered with the letters Q and Z, unless we are at an impasse before then. Doesn’t seem likely…
MORE
Jon Pickard’s website: jonpickard.co.uk/
Martin Pleass’ FB page: martinpleassharpguitar
Kelley Gardner’s website: kelleygardner.com
Kim Person has been recording all sorts of guitars for 44 years as of this writing. She has had a hand in every one of my recordings – and always will! I’d like to share a couple of comments that came my way this year about her work:
When my tune Mr. Zelenskyy was wrapping up earlier this year, Alex Lifeson – the guitarist from a little trio called Rush – who also played on the tune, wrote me in late April to say this: “I’m so impressed with Kim’s work. There’s a level of professionalism and deep skill in how she presents the tonal mood. If the raw mix were a box, she’d turn it into a ball. There are no sharp edges, just smooth, rounded compression and tonality. I love mixing and am always learning but her skill is many levels beyond me and I have great respect for her abilities.” Well put, Alex!
Also well said was a comment by our friend, the other Stephen Bennett, regarding that same tune. Mind you, this tune was born on a harp guitar but wound up having layers of electric guitar along with drums and bass. It wasn’t going to be an easy mix. Stephen’s reaction to the final mix was this: “It worked! Wow. I love it. It’s somehow intimate and epic at the same time.” I couldn’t agree more, and not just because we share the same name!
Kim’s website: kimpersonmusic.com
Chuck Thompson’s website: pickchuck.smugmug.com
Dave Powell is not just the actor who starred as Andy Wahlberg in last year’s production The Andy Wahlberg Show. He’s not even just a great harp guitarist. Dave is, of course, along with his brother Anthony, the driving force behind ToneDevil Harp Guitars. That website: www.tonedevilharpguitars.com
Mike Doolin’s website: doolinguitars.com
Randall and Jayne Sprinkle’s website: www.musicallyyoursnc.com
Gregg Miner’s websites can all be found through this one: harpguitars.net
Stephen Bennett’s website is: harpguitar.com