Fernando Gubry - a Passionate Harpist

Fernando Guerrero Briceño is a "crossover" harpist of a different sort. This Caraqueño plays the pedal harp, but he is even more passionate about the traditional Venezuelan style, known as criollo or llanero. After I spent almost the whole day with Fernando, he drove me to La Bandera where I caught an overnight bus to Guanare.

Here I am, at the foot of the Andes (pie de monte = "piedmont"), one step closer to my destination - Elorza, the very heart of the llanos, six hours from here on very bad roads.

More later about Elorza. This note is about Fernando.

Get this. Fernando was perhaps the first teacher of Alfredo Rolando Ortiz!! They went to school together, at about age 13. In Alfredo´s book (the yellow one), he mentions a friend named Fernando. We drove past the school, it is called Colegio Champagnat, located on Avenida Miranda in Caracas.

Fernando, a lawyer by profession, talks expertly about history. This Miranda, for whom a major boulevard is named, fought with the French and his name is inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

When I called Fernando in the AM, he invited me to his office on the 22nd floor of a prominent building. I brought my little yellow Harpsicle (by William Rees). Of course, as I expected, Fernando could not keep his hands off - he immediately took it and played half a dozen traditional creole harp forms. There are about a dozen specific forms, such as pajarillo, kirpa, contrapunteo, pasaje, and tonada. Each form can be elaborated in various ways, simple or complex. The musical emphasis is on the SONG or lyrics, rather than the instrumental performance.

For those of celtic inspiration, as Fernando and I have agreed wholeheartedly, the BARDIC TRADITION is very much alive and well in Venezuela! I´ve been saying this for a while, but this year you simply must be a BELIEVER!

PEDAL HARPISTS NOTE: Fernando has produced various transcriptions of Venezuelan traditioal music for pedal harp, under his pen name FERNANDO GUBRY. Check him out!

I met Fernando last year through Patrice Fisher of New Orleans. Fernando says she is a "hero" for her harp teaching in Guatemala. They had met in Mexico. Now, in addition to knowing Alfredo, I learn he also knows Lis Joosten, who is promoting harp music in Honduras.

A year from now, I hope to bring a tour group combining traditional music and ecotourism. More later. You heard about it here first!

John Lozier

From Caracas

I spent time in the air my Venezuelan novel, Cantaclaro, by the renowned Romulo Gallegos. Bus to Caracas was easy, straight to the Metro, then from Metro to my hotel across the street from the station. In a little while I´ll meet my friend Fernando, a lawyer and a harpist. I´ve invited him to go to the fiesta with Adolfo and me, we shall see if he accepts.

I´ve been watching TV to get a perspective on culture and news. Very very interesting. There is a channel of government news, rather like a public TV, no ads, but lots of propaganda. Their video style is rather antique. Lots of vistas, human interest shots, around the country, while they talk about something else entirely.

The big headline right now is Negroponte´s talk in recent days against Venezuela. One headline uses the word ¨fascista¨. Also featured, demonstrations in India against Bush, and a Carnaval float in Rio De Janeiro, with Venezuelan participation, featuring a 40 foot figure of Simon Bolivar. Note that Bolivar is a revolutionary hero for many countries, not just Venezuela.

There are about 80 channels, mostly fluff, many cartoons and soaps, but also including CNN and CNBC in English with subtitles. These two stations seem to be competing to claim primacy in the area of ¨business news.¨

VTV, the government station, is rather quaint and charming. They had an evangelical preacher this AM, superficially apolitical but implicitly supporting the government. Likewise they had a sympathetic catholic priest on for a while. And they also had an interview last night with Father Bourgeois, the American priest who years ago established annual protests against the School of the Americas, military training linked to torture and disappearances through out Latin America.

This links back to Negroponte. In US, they just show him and what he is saying now. Here, they give some background, telling how he was involved in Vietnam,El Salvador, Honduras, and elsewhere. Our mainstream media could do a better job of this. VTV is propaganda, but then so is (are?) our mainstream media.

John Lozier

Newsletter January 1, 2006

Newsletter January 1, 2006:

Happy New Year, harp friends!

Since 1995, our mission has been to promote harmony and community, locally and globally, through harp music.

Since 2001, we have given away 37 small harps in our Millennium Harper Awards Program. In 2005, we granted $1000 to Lis Joosten for a harp school project in Honduras, and $500 to Christina Cotruvo for a workshop for blind musicians at Overbrook School. Please search this website to learn more about Harping for Harmony.

In 2005, we also made a $5000 commitment to support the El Molino Harp School in Venezuela. In March, a group of young musicians (between 12 and 25 years of age) will spend a week with harpist Euro Olivero and traditional singer Adolfo Cardozo. El Molino is Olivero's family ranch. Cardozo is not only a musician and impresario, he is also a professor of agriculture and the founder of CENDI, a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental education. Cardozo has written more than 30 songs about the the natural world and sustainable agriculture. Performing as "La Doctora Gallina," Cardozo's group has produced three CD's, each with its illustrated songbook.

Please read on to learn how traditional llanero music teaches lessons about the environment and sustainable development, and how you can help to continue this important work.

In living practice, llanero music resembles what may have existed formerly among the ancient celtic bards. Harps widely found, and they are readily taken up and played even by humble cowhands. In full performance, a singer is accompanied by a trio of instruments - harp, cuatro (a 4-stringed guitar) and maracas. Venezuelan country folks are keenly attentive to the world around them. Native plants and animals, especially birds, are frequently named in traditional song lyrics. Their habits and habitats are described. Thus the music is important for teaching natural science and respect for the earth.

With changing times, llanero music has declined. Recordings displace live performance. A style of accordian music called vallenato invades from across the nearby Colombian border. Where there were formerly dozens of small family-style clubs like Caney del Arpa in Guanare, now there is just one.

El Molino is a working ranch, but is is also new farm demonstration site in the heart of the savanna. It is modeled after CENDI's first demonstration farm, La Florida at the foot of the Andes near Guanare, established more than ten years ago.

In this new year, we are announcing a new and more formal membership policy and campaign. We need new sources of financial support: for international projects like El Molino; for various domestic projects; and for our Millennium Harper Awards. We also want to launch a new grant program especially for members.

You can help. Please follow links here and here to explore, pledge, and make donations on line. Or, make your pledge by mail to HHF, 428 Van Gilder, Morgantown, WV 26505.

(Note: With this new program, we no longer offer free "harper for hire" links and web pages to all comers. Instead, we list "members and sponsors." See how it works here.)

Very Best Regards

John Lozier, Executive Director

A Harp Skit from the Teachings of Gandhi

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they attack you, THEN YOU WIN! - Gandhi

A skit for 10 or more people and harps

Several harps are placed in a circle on the floor.

Scene 1: “First, they ignore you.” One person plays harp in the circle. Others come by, singly or in two’s or three’s. They pantomime IGNORE, (e. g. looking around, talking with companion, stumbling over harpist).

Scene 2: “Then they laugh at you.” One person plays harp. Others come by, as before, but now they notice the harps. They pantomime DERISION (pointing, laughing, scoffing, sneering). However, one or two others join the harpist in the circle, and they continue to play together.

Scene 3: “Then they attack you.” Two or three people play harp. Others come by as before. Now they pantomime ATTACK, hitting, throwing things, making angry faces. HOWEVER, after passing, some of the attackers return quietly to join the harp circle.

Scene 4: “Then you win.” Ultimately, all of the onlookers join the harp circle and continue to play, harmoniously. (If more people than harps, use rhythm instruments, clap softly, snap fingers, etc.)

Variants: Pure pantomime, use signs to convey message, no speaking, just harping. Narrator speaks the message, otherwise pure pantomime. Different lines spoken by different people. First line by one person, subsequent lines by two or more speaking in unison. Climax: everyone chants THEN YOU WIN! THEN YOU WIN! THEN YOU WIN!

Decide as a group how to perform the skit. Be cooperative, and USE YOUR IMAGINATION!

John Lozier

New Orleans Post-Katrina

Tuesday, 10/25/05. After Nick left on Monday morning, I took the free ferry across to Algiers, and joined up with the Common Ground project.

This morning I went with several others from here to unload the truckload of bikes that came from Chicago. The unofficial count was something like 450. Clara from Chicago told me most of these bikes come from scrap salvage sources. Many are in good condition, but they are mostly older models, with a heavy proportion of Schwinn and Huffy. Many nice Raleigh type three-speeds.

This afternoon I took my harp to the New Orleans Lockup when prisoners were released. A group from Common Ground went to interview those who were being released, concerning their treatment. I played my harp for about 15 minutes in the discharge area, no one objected, I got some smiles.

Check here for updated pictures and news from Plan B, including a link to the Morgantown's Positive Spin website.

Monday, 10/24/05. Today I'm across the river in Algiers. Nick started back today, I will return by train to West Virginia, via Washington DC, on Thursday.

I've moved from a house with no electricity in the ninth ward, connecting with a group called Common Ground.

I discovered this operation when a young guy from Common Ground happened to find the Plan B bike shop. He happened to mention the name of the main person, Jenka, and I remembered her. She also recognized me, instantly, when she saw my harp tied to the back of my pack.

There seems to be some isolation of various private non-profit relief efforts from one another. Folks are too busy to really do the diplomacy that needs to happen. The bike shop folks want to fix bikes. The free restaurant fixes meals. Common Ground distributes cleaning supplies and food, runs a clinic and helps with legal aid. The peoples' groups are scattered, while the corporatereconstruction is well coordinated. Everyone is stressed. Folks are mostly behaving well but not always.

This morning I set up a computer at the free clinic in Algiers. They have lots of volunteers, all ages and skill levels. Everyone is working very hard, but the weather is beautiful. Today very windy, almost chilly, but sunny.

This afternoon I crossed back to New Orleans, to Plan B, where two bike mechanics were due to arrive from Chicago. There is a very convenient free ferry boat from across the Mississippi.

John Lozier

Sunday, 10/23/05. The Plan B Bicycle Project is in a warehouse, in the older part of town that did not actually flood. We stayed last night in a house in a seedy neighborhood, but on relatively high ground that didn't flood. Looks bad, but that was true before Katrina. Quite a bit of wind damage even where flood did not come.

Plan B folks are young, pierced, tatooed, with dreadlocks and mohawks. Very, very devoted to their bikes, we worked from arrival till almost dark, rehabbing these bikes. Three of the bikes went out the door to local users while we were working.

Their volume in the past has been more like dozens than hundreds. This will be a challenge.

There is a retired guy named Paul who is the janitor and all-around fixer at the warehouse. On Saturday morning, Nick and I used our U-Haul truck to salvage a freezer from the sidewalk, for Paul. In the process, we also made acquaintance of a true NO character named Scott, who is a contractor that lives near Plan B. Scott was in NO throughout the hurricane, and for several days after he WAS the police (he says) because he distributed his 40-some firearms to neighbors who collectively defended their homes from looters. What got him started was my harp with the decoration that says "Preserve our Bill of Rights." He said indeed, we need that second amendment.

I spent Saturday evening with jazz harpist Patrice Fisher and her husband Carlos. They took me to the top-flight jazz clubs, first for dinner at Palm Court, then for good measure to Snug Harbor. Carlos and Patrice are terrific hosts. They know, and are known by, all the musicians and maybe also the club operators. Patrice has been running a harp program in Guatemala for several years. For more, go here.

On Sunday, we helped Paul scavenge refrigerators from the sidewalks of the city. It seems that most folks prefer to get insurance money to replace them rather than to clean out three weeks worth of rotten food. Paul is collecting them to use in furnishing apartments in the warehouse, for an artist's colony.

There are humvees patrolling the streets, and also police, not a whole lot of people. Folks distributing new testaments in front of the cathedral. I played my harp for an hour or so, and collected about $1.50 in tips. A peaceful scene on a Sunday afternoon.

I've been eating at a "free restaurant" set up by volunteers in Washington Park, a few blocks from the Plan B shop. They also have free clothing and other items. Workers I spoke with were from New York and Florida.

John Lozier

10/22/05: I posted this report from an internet cafe in New Orleans' French Quarter.

Nick Hein and I drove a U-Haul with 85 bikes from Morgantown, straight through, arriving 3 PM yesterday at the Plan B community bike shop. For more info, go here. There are 500 more bikes coming on Tuesday. This is putting the Plan B effort up a huge notch. The wider plan is (or should be) to rebuild NO with sustainable transportation.

Even with the city rather empty, there are quite a few bikes on the streets. Many single-speed, which is just fine here in flat country. It looks like a scene from the 50's. Or, also, from Haiti, which shares the French tradition in architecture.

Driving in, whole forests were laid on the ground. Many roofs are covered with blue tarps waiting for workers to repair them properly. Many roofs are GONE.

John Lozier

Overbrook School Project - David Goldstein Letter

David Goldstein is Director of the National Resource Center for Blind Musicians, at the Overbrook School in Philadelphia. We recently loaned 3 harps for a workshop led by harpist Christina Cotruvo. One harp remained at the school, as a gift from Christina. (We gave it to her, and she chose to donate it to Overbrook). Here are parts of David's recent letter to me:

Dear John,
I would like to extend my grateful appreciation for the loan of your harps to our Summer Braille Music Institute. I also want to say how truly wonderful it was that the students had this experience. Christina was just the right person, a very fine ambassador for Harping For Harmony.
The purpose of the Institute is to help young people who are blind learn the skills and strategies to study music at the conservatory level. Emphasis is on the braille music code and technology that allows them to independently produce written theory assignments. It is quite intensive. The harps, simple enough for anyone to get something good-sounding out of -- and to be hugged back by -- provided a haven and a respite, not to mention exposure to instruments many had not had an opportunity to experience first-hand.
Christina has described how the harps moved into the dorm and shared our couches. Just as it's the students who make a program, so too do the instruments. Your harps, and the hands and hearts behind making and distributing them, added their special harmony. They are part of the memories the students have to take back with them as they continue making the most of opportunities in their busy and exciting lives.
Sincerely,
David Goldstein, Director National Resource Center for Blind Musicians

For more about this or other topics, try using your own keywords in the SEARCH box.
John Lozier

Overbrook School Project

Christina Cotruvo has finished presenting a week-long workshop for young blind musicians, at Overbrook School in Philadelphia. Harping for Harmony Foundation provided three small harps (19 strings) for the project. Here's part of Christina's report:

It has been a full and busy week. The harps were a huge hit. Monday night for my first ensemble period, all students got to play the harps and incorporate them into a "get to know you" and "how was your first day" improvisation. The harps have been available all week in the dorms. Students gather around them in the evenings, playing and talking and singing. It has been an incredible bonding experience. This summer camp has provided them the opportunity to talk and be with others just like them and the harp has been an excellant communication tool!
Christina Cotruvo

One harp remains with Overbrook, and Christina purchased a second for herself. These harps are similar but not exactly like the Rafaella.

For more information, always try using your own keywords in the SEARCH box.

John Lozier

Update on Honduras Project

July 22, 2005

Lis Joosten wrote me from Honduras this week:

Dear John,

Last weekend I went to Guatemala to teach at the Sitio Cultural centre, where Brendy Boj and Patrice Fisher run a project. We attended 9 students. I am sending you a photo of Brendy and me and another one with 2 young harpists. Also, a picture of the newest harp that was built in Honduras, which I left in Guatemala for a Children's Music Project. With the funds I will be able to build the next harp.

Thanks for your help, and I will keep sending you updates.

Best Regards

Lis Joosten

Camp Horseshoe

June 30, 2005

I visited Camp Horseshoe twice this month. In the photo, high school students were staging a drama or skit based on Gandhi's little summary of activism:

First they ignore you.

Then they laugh at you.

Then they attack you.

Then you WIN!

The harps were placed in a circle, with just one person playing. Others came by, first ignoring, then laughing, then attacking, but eventually sitting down play along and then join hands, as shown.

I've used this little drama two or three times now, and it works very well. These are very sharp young people and they really got into it. Camp Horseshoe is affiliated with Ohio-West Virginia YMCA. More information here.

Honduras Harp is Strung!!

Honduras Harp is Strung!: May 5, 2005

May 5, 2005
Lis Joosten wrote me from Honduras on May 5 as follows:

Date: Thu, 5 May 2005 17:42:58 -0500 (CDT) Thanks John,
Herewith I send you a picture of the harp with strings and myself tuning it for the first time. It does not sound bad! and I got a lot of people interested in the instrument, so it works! I am going ahead ordering the next harp with Don Jesús the harp builder, after he corrects a couple of details on this one.
Best Regards
Lis

John Lozier

Honduras Harp Nearing Completion

Lis Joosten wrote me from Honduras on April 21 as follows:

Dear John, I am glad to show you the first pictures of the first Honduran Harp made with the plans of a Musicmakers Limerick harp. I was going to pick it up to string the harp but he still has to glue some of the parts, next week I'll take it home and try to put the strings on and hear its sound. Don Jesus is very eager to continue to build harps and export to Guatemala as well. Thanks again for the support.
Best regards, Lis Joosten

 John Lozier

Occasional Newsletter April 2005

Dear Friends of Harping for Harmony Foundation,

It is Spring, Saint Patrick's Day is past, life is bursting with beauty, hope and joy. This newsletter is the "new leaf" that I promised to turn over, back in January. For more, check the posts and links below.

Our mission remains the same - to promote harmony and community, locally and globally, through harp music.

Projects for 2005 in Honduras, Venezuela, and Philadelphia were approved at our March 17 board meeting. I'm especially excited about the El Molino Harp School project, set for March, 2006 in the traditional heartland of Venezuelan llanero style harp music. (By the way, the opportunity for bird-watching is fabulous!!) Imagine! Anyone who goes with me next March will also experience live local traditional music at El Caney del Arpa, a traditional family-style nightclub in Guanare.

The Venezuela actions stem from my trip in January. I collaborated there with Adolfo Cardozo, creator of children's music for environmental education, under the name of Doctora Gallina. I still have a few sets of his CD recordings and colorful songbooks, which you can obtain in exchange for a donation.
In Honduras, Lis Joosten has started the Cuarto Creciente harp school, with seed money from Harping for Harmony Foundation and a lot of personal encouragement from our friend Patrice Fisher in Guatemala.

The Millennium Harper Awards program continues to be a popular project for local harpists.
For 2005, there are six challengers seeking Millennium Harper titles. Here they are:

Ciel: Millennium Harper Quest to the Flowing Waters and Standing Stones of Dumnonia
Wendy Wylde, Millennium Harper to the Beasts of Colorado
Monika Durbin, Millennium Harper for the Elders of Pensacola, FL
Jelina Arreguin, Cross-strung Millennium Harper of Texas
Elsa Deutschbein, Millennium Harper of Injured and Recovering Furry Animals of Rochester, NY
Christina Cotruvo, Millennium Harper of Harp-Abilities of Duluth, MN

We have vacancies on the board of directors . If interested, please contact me.To receive updates, please email me.

John Lozier, Millennium Harper of West Virginia

HHF Board Approves 2005 Projects, Development Plans

New projects totalling $7500 have been approved by the Harping for Harmony (HHF) Board of Directors on March 17. Projects include Tegucigalpa Harp School in Honduras ($2000, to Lis Joosten); El Molino Harp School in Venezuela ($5000, to CENDI, a Venezuelan nonprofit, and other participants), and a harp workshop at the Summer Braille Music Institute in Philadelphia ($500, to Christina Cotruvo). Also approved is an ambitious multi-year development plan, which envisions a doubling and tripling of annual revenue, along with greatly increased funding of external projects. Funding the 2005 and future projects is contingent upon successful fund-raising, from individual contributions and also possibly from grants.

The development plan notes that HHF revenues, although sustainable, are not sufficient to accomplish all that was envisioned in our mission. The plan will combine grant-writing efforts with increased solicitation of individual contributions. Website and on-line donation capacities are established, and can be improved. Interested potential donors are signing up for an email newsletter, allowing a permission-based direct email approach. Other targeted telephone, email and direct mail strategies will be tried.

All funding is contingent upon donations. Please help us to meet our goals for 2005. Make a tax-deductable donation on line (click the DONATE button) or the old-fashioned way with a check to Harping for Harmony Foundation.

John Lozier

El Molino Harp School

(Note: Venezuela plans have changed, see elsewhere)

The El Molino Harp School Project was conceived in 2005, in a collaboration with CENDI, a Venezuelan nonprofit organization devoted to sustainable agriculture, environmental education, and ecotourism. In March, 2006, young Venezuelans will gather at a farm in the llanero heartland, to receive instruction from harpist Euro Olivero and other traditional musicians. The climax will be attendance at the famous Fiesta at Elorza on March 19. A budget of $5000 will cover purchase of several harps; local travel and living expenses; and compensation for the instructor and other musicians. International "adventure" ecotourists will be invited to participate. This project is part of a much larger program of development under the leadership of Adolfo Cardozo, founder of the musical group La Doctora Gallina.

Other projects approved for 2005 are Tegucigalpa Harp School and Summer Braille Music Institute.

All funding is contingent upon donations.

The purpose is to underwrite and implement a traditional llanero harp workshop project in Elorza, at Fundo El Molino. A group of 5 to 10 young Venezuelan musicians, aged 12 to 24, will be invited to spend 1 to 2 weeks with harpist Euro Olivero and other traditional musicians. Participants will be selected in consultation with local musicians including Adolfo Cardozo, composer of children’s music for environmental education. Foreign visitors will be accepted upon payment of larger fees, to help cover costs. Main expenditures include 1) purchase of several harps; 2) compensation to the harp instructor and other musicians; 2) lodging and meals at El Molino; and 3) local travel arrangements for participation in the Fiesta at Elorza, March 19, 2006.

Tegucigalpa Harp School Cuarto Creciente

Tegucigalpa Harp School Cuarto Creciente, "New Moon": March 17, 2005

On March 17, 2005, The Harping for Harmony Board of Directors approved a project that will establish a harp school in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The school will be known as Cuarto Creciente, "New Moon."

Lis Joosten, of Tegucigalpa, will receive $2000 in assistance, to establish the school, to obtain instruments and to promote harp building. Harps are not well known here, but Joosten's own harp has attracted wide attention. As a social worker and long-time resident, she has been working with a guitar-maker to produce a prototype for local manufacture. In this effort she has received encouragement from Patrice Fisher, who has established a similar project in neighboring Guatemala.

Other projects approved for 2005 are El Molino Harp School and Summer Braille Music Institute.

All funding is contingent upon donations.

(Following are excerpts from Lis Joosten's complete proposal)

Harp is not a well-known instrument in Honduras and cannot be studied at any music school. The national symphonic orchestra uses piano or guitar to fill the harp parts. I have been living for about ten years in Honduras, doing social work through local development projects and co/founded the artist organisation Arte Acción, which reaches out to youth and kids from excluded areas. Besides anthropologist, I am harpist, and have been performing playing Celtic, Latin and Classical harp with groups, orchestras and operas which has been very well received.

Often people ask me if I would give harp lessons, but the problem is the lack of instruments for them to practice on. So I contacted John Lozier of the Harping for Harmony Foundation, who provided me with the contact with Patrice Fisher. Patrice luckily had already planned a trip to Honduras to make an Ecos Latinos documentary of this beautiful and diverse country together with her husband, Carlos Valladares. We became friends immediately and her support and enthusiasm stimulated me to start a small harp school in Tegucigalpa the capital of Honduras. We visited a local guitar maker, don Jesús, with a copy of harp plans from Musicmakers and hardware from Blevins harps.

Don Jesús is really willing to try to build this harp and phones me every other day to come and look at his progress...it is very hard to build a harp with just a picture and some pieces of paper if you don't really know the instrument. My Aoyama Irish harp is rather different which confuses him even more. Today, he was almost putting the back part as soundboard and cut a soundboard of wood one inch thick. In the meantime, one message posted through internet has led to five students for the harp classes that I'll start in early March, with the help of ARTE ACCION our artist organization. Patrice Fisher donated a set of methods which will be very useful and provides me with a lot of tips.

The national music academy is also interested and has offered me a space to teach...I just need them to get the instruments to enable the students to practice, because the guitar maker is not going to be able to quickly produce high quality harps soon. But the start has been made and I hope to be able to report on real facts and progress in a couple of months.

The school will be called CUARTO CRECIENTE, referring to the first stage of the moon after new moon, which is the period in which ideas and dreams are realized or materialized. We hope to grow little by little, full the room and be able to play harp in a full circle soon.
Besides teaching I am thinking of starting a harp therapy programme for elderly people as well as for sick children. For that I would like to get access to a lap harp that is easy to transport and share with people of all ages and circumstances. (may be a cardboard Waring harp or a Sassafras harp)

In the meantime, all kind of help is welcome. We need harps (different sizes), strings, hardware, music stands, anything to be able to give Honduran musicians the opportunity to study and play harp.

General Objective: Promote harp music in Honduras though the Tegucigalpa harp school and facilitate access to affordable instruments for harp students in Honduras
Specific objectives: · Promote harp building in Honduras · Facilitate access to instruments (lease/buy) · Train at least 10 students · Start a harp therapy pilot programme
Target Group: I will start teaching to individuals that respond to the small promotion campaign (youth and adults). In second instance, as soon as I got at least 3 harps, I will be able to offer classes for kids in excluded areas, elderly, sick kids as well as provide services to the national music academy.

Contact Lis Joosten by email: arpalis@yahoo.com.

Summer Braille Music Institute

- providing harps for week-long workshop at Overbrook School

Christina Cotruvo, of Duluth Minnesota, will be provided with six to eight harps for use during a week-long Braille Music Institute at Overbrook School for the Blind, in Philadelphia, July 17-23. A budget of $500 will provide the means to transport the harps from West Virginia to Philadelphia and back. I am hoping that additional resources may be leveraged through personal networking with the West Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind.

Other projects approved for 2005 are El Molino Harp School and Tegucigalpa Harp School.

(Following are excerpts from Christina's full proposal)

GOAL: To develop harmony and community by integrating the harp with the Summer Braille Music Institute’s School Music Study July 17 through July 23, 2005 at Overbook School for the Blind in Philadelphia, PA for blind children.

WHY: Bring experience of harp to 6 blind music students between the ages of 17- 20 at the music camp who are bound for advanced music study in upper high school grades or beginning college. To use the harp to bond the students and teachers through the harp the first night of gathering and through the week. To learn a new instrument, learn of harp music, feel how harp can heal personally and provide coping skills. To show use of a harp to Philadelphia community volunteers who participate in the seminar. To provide publicity for Harping For Harmony missions.

WHO: Christina Cotruvo – harp, music instructor, and transcriber No-C-Notes Music. Board member CHOICE, unlimited www.choiceunlimited.org. Controller Liscomb-Hood-Mason Co. 2005 Millennium Harper quest filed 3/05 for Harper of Harp-Abilities. 4210 Quebec Ave. Duluth, MN 55804 218-525-9839 E-mail: xina@no-c-notes.com Visit: www.no-c-notes.com David Goldstein, director of National Resource Center for Blind Musicians NRCBM) Music and Arts Center for Humanity (MACH) 510 Barnum Avenue, Third Floor Bridgeport, CT 06608 Phone: 203-366-3300, Extension 229 Email: info@blindmusicstudent.org Visit www.blindmusicstudent.org

The NRCBM is a division of MACH. The resource center provides information and referral services for visually impaired students of all ages, their parents and teachers; learning opportunities for blind students heading to college; and maintains a network of visually impaired musicians willing to share their expertise in braille music, technology and coping strategies. In addition to its Summer Institute seminar, other activities of the resource Center include development of programs for blind children in Connecticut and teacher training.
Past summer seminar students have come from 18 states and 4 countries. Teachers, assistants and volunteers are from Philadelphia and across the U.S.: 2 visually impaired braille music teachers, 2 visually impaired computer teachers, sighted teachers may be hired for theory, individual lessons and ensembles.

WHAT: Summer Braille Music Institute – A Seminar on Braille Music & Technology for School Music Study for 6 blind music students ages 17 – 20 and teacher interns. The summer music camp is in its 10th year and provides individualized instruction in the skills needed for full participation to high school and college theory classes, as well as intensive study of braille music. Days are comprised of classes in braille music, computer, tutoring in theory and related skills, as well as group instrumental and voice activities meant for fun and presentation skills. 2004 summer camp can be viewed at http://blindmusicstudent.org/Summer_Institute.htm *Attached is the 2005 brochure draft.

WHEN: Seminar dates are July 17-23, 2005. Setup on campus by staff will begin July 14. Teachers will arrive July 16 and students July 17. Harp program would begin the evening of Sunday, July 17 to provide bonding activity.

WHERE: The Overbrook School for the Blind, (6333 Malvern Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19151, Telephone: (215) 877-0313, www.obs.org) is on a beautiful campus in Philadelphia, with architecture from the 1890s and a design for today’s needs. School drivers will meet students at the train or airport and provide transportation for any off-campus activities. Facilities are air conditioned, fully staffed with administrative and security personnel. Students and teachers stay in the dorms which also have kitchen and living area. Class rooms are fully equipped for music and computer instruction. Swimming, cookouts, and outings for concerts and recreation in Philadelphia’s cultural centers is also included.

SEMINAR PROGRAM (including harp): Sat. 7/16 – Teacher and assistant training begins Sun. 7/17 – Students arrive in the afternoon. Harp gathering of music and try-it-out instruction will follow dinner. Mon. – Fri. 7/18 thru 7/22: Morning-4 period classes with activity after first 2 classes Lunch and swimming Afternoon-tutoring, ensemble, presenters Wed. Afternoon open house for younger students, family and community. Harps to be part of the open house. Wed. – Fri. Computer braille music notation training by Dancing Dots (DEFINE DANCING DOTS) Evenings and free time: harps are available for use by students. Sat. 7/23 Students and teachers depart

HARP-ABILITIES CHILDREN PROGRAM: Christina Cotruvo is responsible for this proposal, program and harps. Celtic and American folk songs performed by Christina for students and possibly teachers. Q & A session about folk harps and Harping for Harmony Children and teachers receive a harp instrument lesson, how to hold, tune and pluck strings and how to find middle C to find other string tones by ear and by feel and finger position. Scale type of songs to be taught: example the first phrase of “Joy To The World”. Feel of triad chord finger position. How to enjoy! Harps to be available during free time when students are done with homework. Harps to be included in Wed. open house attended by younger students, family and community. HOW: The Summer Seminar is organized and funded by the National Resource Center for Blind Musicians with collaboration of facilities, transportation, and room and board by Overbrook School for the Blind. Christina Cotruvo’s cost: $420 est. harp round trip shipping 400 teacher tuition, room & board 225 airfare round trip from Duluth, MN $1,045 Christina has applied to NRCBM for a seminar paying teacher position to defray costs of airfare and teacher training tuition, room & board. Christina will bring her own lap harp to use. Therefore, this proposal is only for the use of 6 – 8 Rafaella harps and shipping cost estimated at $420.00. Since the size and weight of each package is unknown, only an estimate could be created. *FedEx estimate attached. 6 – 8 Rafaella harps on loan for students and some teachers: $0 Overbrook School for the Blind administrative staff has experience in shipping large items and is willing to handle that. Harps should arrive no later than Sat. 7/16 as there will be no shipping or admin staff on Sun. Harps can be shipped back after the Wed. open house on Thurs. 7/21 or Fri. 7/22. There is on campus security 24 X 7.

SUMMARY: We are VERY excited about the possibility of this proposal and could see it as an annual event. Maybe by next year we’ll be able to have it funded directly by the summer music camp. THANK YOU for your time and effort in helping make this a possibility!

Christina Cotruvo

Harping at Caney del Arpa

February 15, Here's a picture from Caney del Arpa in Guanare, Venezuela. The harpist is "Longo," aka Aurelio Rodriguez, owner of the club. The little boy with maracas is Johnny (Juanito). Behind him is Adolfo Cardozo (el famoso "Doctora Gallina"). At left with maracas, Jose Alejandro Castillo, and seated, Augustin Perez. Castillo and Perez are superb singers in traditional llanero style, regulars at the club.

Venezuela Projects and Prospects 2005

I want to review my Venezuela trip, and to consider projects and prospects. Other projects calling for brief mention include Haiti, Guatemala, Millennium Harpers, and our stalled Russia project. All of these and other projects call for an investment of time, devotion, cooperation, and money. This note is going out to our newsletter "short list," folks who have expressed a serious interest in our mission. Please ask yourself how you can help.

In Venezuela, I propose to help sponsor a harp school at Rancho El Molino, near Elorza, heartland of Venezuelan traditional music, in March of 2006. The instructor would be Euro Olivero, who was my host for a week last month. Also cooperating would be Adolfo Cardozo (see photo), my friend the singer-songwriter who created the Doctora Gallina project. The El Molino Harp School would bring Venezuelan youth together for a week of intensive instruction. A few international folks might take advantage of this as an agro-eco-cultural tourism opportunity.

Adolfo's own non-profit organization, CENDI, is heavily involved in environmental education and rural development. At El Molino, they want to replicate their beautiful project at La Florida. I would like Harping for Harmony Foundation to be a partner.

To cooperate in Venezuelan projects in 2005, I would like Harping for Harmony Foundation to invest at least $2000, and preferably $5000. With our commitment I am confident that we can leverage two, three or four times as much from other sources.

Our Haiti project is up in the air as I write, but I have made tentative plans to travel there in July. If this happens, the cost will be about $2000.

Regarding Guatemala, I want us to sponsor one or more volunteer harpists who would travel there to participate with Patrice Fisher in her harp school project. Also, in neighboring Honduras, we may want to help Lis Joosten to develop a harp school project. Could we budget $2000 over the next two years, through 2006?
Continuing the popular Millennium Harpers project involves awarding as many as 10 small harps a year to volunteer musicians who "stretch themselves as persons and as performers." The budget for this is $2000 to $3000.

I mention this now because our Board of Directors will meet in mid-March. I want Harping for Harmony Foundation to have more financial resources. After more than ten years, our annual revenues approach $20,000. The biggest chunk of income comes from my performance fees and the harps I build. I would like to double and triple our revenues in 2005 and 2006. Grants are part of the strategy, but our independence requires sustainable small donorship.

Best regards,
John

Traditional Venezuelan Night Spot - El Caney del Arpa

January 22, 2005, Guanare, Venezuela. As midnight approached, 8-year-old Johnny was drooping. At El Caney del Arpa, Johnny brought his musical talent and interest to a new level. He played maracas and danced throught the evening. Although his skills were rudimentary, the experienced musicians were careful not to discourage him. Once or twice, Adolfo told him discreetly that he should stand behind the singer, not in front. Much of the time he sat alongside a more experienced maraca player, learning in the traditional way, "enyugado" (yoked together), watching and copying the older man.

No sign marks the location of El Caney del Arpa. Instead, a line of cars parked along a residential street, late at night, marks the spot. The atmosphere is very family-friendly. The music is all acoustic. Although harp is central, the singer gets more glory. The cuatro player, essential for the rhythm, gets the least. The fourth member of the traditional group plays maraca.

In general, each musical role is distinct. Last night, one singer accompanied himself with maracas, in a remarkable show of virtuosity. Otherwise, performers might sing or play maracas, but not both. I never saw anyone sing while also playing the harp or cuatro.

In singing, a performer who displays a great deal of emotion, with dramatic gestures, is called "rancheriado," reflecting a Mexican influence. These performances are crowd-pleasers. On the other hand, a more traditional style of delivery is more reserved. In the traditional style, favorite performances involve two singers who challenge each other with alternating verses, called "contrapunteo," in musical forms known as Zumba que Zumba and Quirpa.

In the audience were several other children and babies, as well as couples. Our party included my host, Adolfo, and his wife and baby, plus a babysitter, plus Johnny. However, the audience was predominantly male. I noticed several men sitting alone. The audience sometimes sang along. Adolfo is known locally as "el profesor" and "La Doctora Gallina" for his composition of children?s songs. Adolfo performed three songs last night.
For the record, the singers last night other than Adolfo Cardozo included Jose Alejandro Castillo, Carlos Morales, and Agustin Perez. The heroic cuatro player was Jose Verro. The owner of the establishment, Aurelio Rodriguez (Longo) was the main harpist. Also harping was Jose Antonio Surbaran.

Songs identified last night include the following (with composer if known): Flor Sabanera (Perdomo), Pescador del Rio Apure (Perdomo), Laguna Vieja (Reynaldo Armas), Fiesta en Elorza (Perdomo), Adios Barranca de Arauca (Perdomo), En Silencio (Julio Miranda), Por un Poquito de Amor (autor de Apure), Alza la frente, mujer (R. Armas), Viajando en el Bus (pasaje jocoso, author unknown), and Tierra Negra (Angel Cotorio Loyola). Traditional songs in public domain included zumba que zumba, pajarillo, seis por derecho, quirpa (Amame Siempre)

Harping in Guanare, Venezuela

January 9, 2005. Here in Guanare, Venezuela, there used to be many "familiar" type night clubs where traditional harp music was played. Now, there is just one left, says my host, Adolfo Cardozo. He took me there on Friday night, and again last night (Sunday).

The performance is all acoustic, and the standard is incredibly fine. Three excellent harpists took the lead in the course of the evening. Several different people took the part of cuatro and maraccas. Many patrons danced in a very traditional way. Also, at least five different men, and two women, took the floor to sing the traditional llanero songs. There are about a dozen well known traditional tune types, such as Gaban, Pajarillo, Zumba que Zumba, Seis por Derecho, and Quirpa.

Adolfo is an energetic singer and composer of songs teaching children about nature and the environment. They describe, for example, the water cycle, biodiversity on a traditional farm (conuco), and the food chain. It is somewhat misleading to think of this as music for children, because it speaks strongly to people of all ages.
We are located here at the edge of the great Venezuelan llano (grassland plain). As I mark the end of my first week in Venezuela, I'm looking forward to trip out into the llano, where we will visit the young harpist who has recorded with Adolfo and his group, on their three CDs featuring the commentaries of La Doctora Gallina (Doctor Chicken).

More later.