http://www.melbourneharpmusic.com en-gb melbourneharpmusic.com 2011-11-17T00:00:00Z melbourneharpmusic.com http://www.melbourneharpmusic.com/page3.htm#107009 I have just posted four videos on YouTube something that I have been going to do for ages. Part of what was stopping me was the question of how to actually go about making them. I had had a few attempts with the stock standard editing programme that came with my computer but it just seemed to have a mind of its own. But I often have that problem with computers either I break down or they do. Or quite frequently both. As part of my travels around the web I had come across the programme Animoto that seemed to promise great things including being shockingly easy to use. Just my cup of tea. Having now made 6 videos with this programme I can see both good and bad points to it. It is certainly is easy. The programming equivalent of point and click. And some of the options are great. Im particularly proud of the Roads go ever ever on video with the gorgeous graphics and photographs courtesy of Animoto. If I was being fussy I would probably say that it would be good to have a few more video ... 2011-11-17 03:09:37 http://www.melbourneharpmusic.com/page3.htm#100490 Played a thought provoking gig this week a book launch for the Institute of Public Administration. The book in question was entitled Portraits of Women in Public Service and features a raft of high achieving women. Likewise the launch was peppered with wellknown women such as Christine Nixon and Elizabeth Proust. And so I found myself thinking about inspiring women of the harp world. Who is it who encourages me in my music making And here are a few stand out examples Marie Antoinette Remembered by history for all the wrong reasons but her support of the harp and her personal dedication to playing were crucial in saving the instrument from oblivion. Henriette Renie A woman in a mans world. She was absolutely focused on her music making and fought to have her art recognised at a time when her gender and religion could have so easily marked the end of her career before it ever really began. Love her music such a joy to play. Catrin Finch Met her while studying in Wales and was ... 2011-8-15 06:09:09 http://www.melbourneharpmusic.com/page3.htm#99114 If you were into the recent Royal Wedding or even if you werent for that matter details of Catherine and Williams Big Day still make for interesting reading. And never more so than when you yourself are planning a wedding. Anyones wedding becomes that much more interesting when you can compare it with you own particularly if you think yours comes out on top Its always great to see what others do and potentially borrowreplicate what has gone before. This is one of the major benefits of attending a Wedding Expo and a bit of a side benefit to going to a friends Big Day With a Royal Wedding of course only some things can be borrowed. Closing down the streets of London is not really that feasible for the average bridal couple. But what about adding a bit of lace to the dress or maybe just maybe hiring a harp Yes Royal Harpist Claire Jones played for the couples reception at Buckingham Palace a detail of the big day universally referred to in the harping world as the wedding gig of the ce... 2011-7-26 05:30:30 http://www.melbourneharpmusic.com/page3.htm#53059 This weekend of weddings has been a fine reminder of the importance of wet weather backups With record amounts of rainfall and stormy conditions prevalent any outdoor events were pretty much doomed. Whenever an outdoor function is planned it is always imagined with the background of perfect weather conditions. And when that happens it is great. But we all know what Melbournes weather can be like... Weekends such as this one are always difficult especially for a bride and groom loath to let go their often longheld dream of an outdoor wedding. But when the unfortunate reality is storm clouds rather than the fluffy white kind the hard decision has to be faced. While no one wants to see a bridal couple disappointed with any aspect of their wedding no bridal couple wants to have the wedding which is remembered for everyone getting soaked So the moral of the weekend have a wet weather option and dont be afraid to use it 2009-11-22 06:52:18 http://www.melbourneharpmusic.com/page3.htm#51720 The harp and I actually got to be in a play last week treading the boards at the La Mama theatre in Carlton. My previous experiences of productions has largely involved squeezing into an orchestral pit and being told what to do which turned out to be completely the wrong preparation for this particular occasion. I had been approached a few months back by director Catherine Hill to be part of an adaption of The Beckoning Fair One a labour of love for herself and writer Abe Pogos. Based on the classic ghost story by Oliver Onions the adaption required a harp to represent the ghost with the traditional Welsh melody The Beckoning Fair One. No problems said I assuming wrongly that I would just turn up play The Beckoning Fair One and then settle back to enjoy the show. As adaptors Catherine and Abe have far more imagination than I could ever muster. They actually wrote the part for the harpharpist in the same way they would any other character in the play and presented me with a list of t... 2009-11-1 09:25:12 http://www.melbourneharpmusic.com/page3.htm#49840 2009-10-2 06:59:29 http://www.melbourneharpmusic.com/page3.htm#48577 Its a busy time at Melbourne Harp Music at the moment I have received official approval to register the name as a business up until now it was an ensemble name but it only after a tussle with the logic of a computer. I had tried to register it on line as you do but was rejected as it was too similar to Melbourne Bridal Hairup... Fortunately the nice people in charge of the system were more reasonable Congratulations as well to all my students who performed at the recent Student Concert It was great that everyone had a go and that we all got to enjoy such a wide variety of music and playing styles. There has been some great progress made this year just remember to keep your thumbs up More later on the oftpostponed solo CD as well as the Miscellany Ensemble CD both works in progress 2009-9-12 01:45:08