Elf Owl Harp for Storytelling, Poetry and the Spoken Word

Do you love poetry and yearn to put harp to such words? Have you dreamed of telling stories with the harp? Do you wish to bring your listeners more fully into the world of your music? If you answered yes to any of these questions then this class may be for you!

We have two classes from which to choose, one that meets on Sundays, and one on Tuesdays.

Photo by Dawn Stief https://dawnstiefphotographyblog.wordpress.com/ taken at the Vashon Wilderness Program Storytelling Festival

Elf Owl Harp: Harp for Storytelling, Poetry, and the Spoken Word.
Your teacher and guide: Jane Valencia

Two class sessions! Pick the one that best suits your schedule.

Sunday Elf Owl Harp Class. Starts May 23. 2-4pm Eastern Time.
Dates: 5/23, 6/6, 6/13, 6/27 on Zoom [Note that we are skipping 5/30 Memorial Day weekend and 6/20 Father’s Day]. Class is full. Enrollment is closed.

Tuesday Elf Owl Harp Class. Starts May 25. 7-9pm Pacific Time.
Dates: 5/25, 6/1, 6/8, 6/15 on Zoom.
Register here. Still a few spaces available!

Telling stories or sharing poems brings listeners into other worlds. When we add our harp to our spoken word we add layers to the experience, and magnify the wonder and magic! Join us in a four-session class devoted to weaving enchantment with harp and language.

We’ll use small tales, short poems, descriptive passages, blessings,  narrative,  sacred text, ancient wisdom, folklore, and more to explore techniques, material, and ideas for crafting unique and captivating pieces that can either stand on their own or take flight into larger storytelling and spoken expressions. You’ll have assignments (elf owl size) each week, and the opportunity to share your work in a supportive, kind environment.

Grow your skills with harp and storytelling, poetry, and other spoken word in this fun four-session class on Zoom.

Whether you dream of performing story,  poetry, or other spoken word for others, offering them in myriad settings (church, therapeutic, organization, with kids or seniors, and more),  playing them for yourself (say, as a contemplative or magical practice), this class is intended to cultivate and support your joyful expression.

Topics include:

  • Openings and Closing: Framing and mood, the art of introduction and endings
  • Respecting and Honoring Sources
  • Choosing Material and working with different forms
  • Creating Stories and Poems
  • Working with Sound Effects, Chord Progressions, Tunes and Songs, Improvisation, and Modes
  • Storytelling, Poetry, and Spoken Word performance skills
  • Practices for Centering Oneself and for Connecting with your Listeners
  • Weaving Larger Pieces: Taking your Elf Owl skills to the next level

Who: Harpers of all levels, including complete beginners, are welcome. If you can strike strings, you can use a harp with spoken word!

Cost: $125

Register here for Elf Owl Harp – Sunday Class

Register here for Elf Owl Harp – Tuesday Class

Materials and information will be emailed to you before class begins. Sessions will be recorded.

Do you have questions or need more info? Please ask!

To whit – to whoo! (or, in Elf Owl language: pew-pew-pew!). We hope to see you in the grove!

Discover Plant Remedies and Lore from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales

I just put the finishing touches on my 24 page full-color Celtic Illuminations Herbal Healing Guidebook — part of the Celtic Illuminations Herbal Healing Bundle that I’ve donated as a Silent Auction item for the Vashon Wilderness Program’s fundraiser. I am an instructor at VWP, helping kids connect with nature and one another — precious learning right now — and I’m delighted to support the incredible work of this organization.

My herbal healing bundle contains ten herbal remedies — some featuring plants from my local Pacific Northwest — harvested and crafted with ceremony and care by me, the guidebook filled with illustrations (several which I painted for this book) and Celtic plant lore, stories, and prayers, plus my own practices for connecting with the plants. Also included is short meditation audio that I recorded with harp, a harp and song CD, and more. Visit here for more details 

And while you’re at it, check out the other auction items!

24 page full-color guide book cover. Illustration by Jane

Radio Show – Episode 42 – The Bear – January 19 and 26, 2020

In Episode 42 we venture into the winter landscape with music, a tale, and more inspired by the mystery and magic of the Bear in Celtic folklore. Enjoy Celtic tunes, songs, and poetry plus some music from other genres, and plenty of enchantment.  I’m pleased to tell a story inspired by Debra Knodel’s song, “Binwag’s Lullaby” – a favorite among our fans — and will air that music too. The story also includes a snippet in the story of Deb’s newest bear magic piece, “Tundra Lullaby.”

Enjoy harp in the music of the Casey Sisters,  OMNIA,  as well as in the story and song following, and a bardic poem composed and spoken by Kevan Manwaring.

Our second hour is a re-airing of Episode 21, “New.”

Listen to both shows here.

Hear this show on demand for two weeks.

12:02: Paul Machlis – Early Morn
12:06: Kevin Burke – The Cottage Groves / Maudabawn Chapel / The Beare Island Reel
12:11: Laura Risk – Sunday River
12:16: Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas – Miss Laura Risk
12:20: Courteous Thief – Mountains and Sea
12:26: Kevan Manwaring – Tallyesin – The Song of Taliesin
12:29: The Casey Sisters – The Bandonbridge Suite: b
12:32: Jane Valencia – Bear Lore
12:34: Beginish – Beginish
12:38: OMNIA – Grone Lunden
12:43: Jane Valencia – The Bear King’s Lullaby
12:51: Spookytree – Debra Knodel and Jane Valencia – Binwag’s Lullaby
12:57: Eve Goodman and Sera – Gaeafgwsg