Lock Down Shed Session 1

We are now well into the COVID-19 worldwide lockdown and everything has changed for everyone. 

On a personal level, like every other self-employed freelance musician I find myself without any income. But so has everyone else who is self-employed. 

I was due to play at the World Harp Congress later this year, then various concerts in Australia, stop over in Hong Kong on the way back home. Tour with the RLPO in Japan and South Korea... but it seems all quite meaningless to have lost gigs, when one of my relatives partners mum is currently extremely ill with COVID-19 and it looks like she won't make it. 

Health is more important every time. And we will all get through this. Together.

I'm extremely lucky that I have a house with a garden, and with a house full and no private music room I've re-fashioned my garden shed into a little harp hut so I can have some privacy. I am very grateful to have this space as I know so many must be really suffering during this lock down in crowded and unsafe relationships. 

It's difficult to make sense of it all, but it's interesting that after 1 week into a nationwide lock down, that the emotions have so quickly gone from shock, upset to resignation and acceptance. Amongst all that is the comfort to be drawn from absorbing yourself in something that you are passionate about. In my case, music and playing the harp.

So with that in mind, here is the first of my Lock Down Shed sessions...

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Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Rachmaninoff. This is my adaptation for lever harp of the arrangement for pedal harp by Sharon Watson. I've been working on this adaptation for a student and it's certainly taken up a lot of my brain space and been a welcome diversion this week. Needs a bit more practice. It's tricky with quite a few lever changes but do-able and will certainly keep you busy! Harpists equivalent of a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle I think. . Message me if you want to have a copy of this to work on yourself. I'm happy to pass on my adaptation for lever harp free of charge, but you should purchase Sharon's brilliant arrangement for pedal harp. . I've pimped out my garden shed as a harp bolthole so I can play without distubing the rest of my household as I dont have a dedicated harp room and I'm very, very grateful we have a garden. Excuse the lockdown hair and no make up. . . #harp #leverharp #celticharp #harfe #harpe #arpa #shed #lockdown #lockdownshed #freelancemusician #rachmaninoff #paganini #arrangement #ukharp #practicalharpist #classicalmusic

A post shared by Lauren Scott (@laurenscottharp) on Mar 29, 2020 at 1:30pm PDT

I always put total commitment and energy into every harp project I do, but I don't always get paid! Any support you can give is very much appreciated.