10th Annual Harp Guitar Retreat June 22nd – 25th 2017, 9th Annual Harp Guitar Retreat Great Success

John Doan’s Tenth Annual Harp Guitar Retreat is set for June 22nd to June 25th 2017.  I hope you will be able to make it. (see below for a daily itinerary, Saturday concert, testimonials, photos, fees, and registration information).

Harp Guitar Retreat Class with John Doan

The Ninth Annual Harp Guitar Retreat was a huge success with classes, private lessons, Harp Guitar Gallery, Music Nights, Concerts, and plenty of time hanging out talking about life and, what else, harp guitars!  We begin each day with a three hour group class where we are hands on the instrument exploring harp guitar playing techniques, music ideas, and even ensemble playing.

2. Harp Guitar Retreat Harp Guitars

We always have a great line up of harp guitars of all sizes and makes, all for you to test drive at your leisure.

3. Gerry Camp shows John Doan Emerald Harp Guitar

Gerry Camp brought his prototype 20 string Carbon Fiber Emerald harp guitar made in Ireland.  It is virtually indestructible and we were all impressed what a good sounding instrument it was, especially plugged in or with the new Tonewood Amp attached to its back. Continue reading

Harp Guitar Reigns (Rains) at Faerieworlds

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This past weekend I had the honor of performing my harp guitar music at Faerieworlds located in the enchanting forests not far to the west of Portland.  It is here where many of the local food and craftspeople, acoustic musicians, and various woodland and not so woodland citizens congregate to celebrate the end of summer.

 

 

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The day I performed the crowds still came in spite of the rain.

 

 

 

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Many people came to just to see old friends.

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There were many colorful booths that attracted a loyal clientele.

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Some people walked to the event from where they had been camping.

5bSome came on all fours.

In spite of the rain Ali Baba’s Tribal Treats always had long lines.

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Faerieworlds is a great place to come to meet people you might have things in common with.

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If it wasn’t sprinkles of rain there were bubbles filling the air.

I brought with me a good friend and truly awesome guitarist, Adrian Bellue who was quite busy snapping photos of the most interesting people at the festival.

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I persuaded him to add to his collection of selfies a groupie of the two of us.

He brought with him a portable guitar and began to draw crowds by his amazing and unbelievably intricate playing.  Not knowing if I would be able to get the crowds attention after his impromptu performance I joked with him to take a long walk on a short peer while walking backwards!

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Although I didn’t see Adrian for sometime after that I did manage to find the stage where I was to perform.

Thinking I was the only one playing a harp like instrument that afternoon I was surprised to find that there was not only one harpist but two playing right before me!

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Most of the audience immediately ripped out their cell phones and began videoing the beyond amazing “Harp Twins” who are identical twins who appeared to be playing exactly what the other was playing!

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They were definitely a hard act to follow so I set out to sound like three and a third guitarists playing at once with my 20 string harp guitar.

Once Adrian discovered I was performing he stopped taking photos of his favorite subject and captured a rare moment when the audience was not either taking pictures of my playing or taking their own selfies!

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After my concert set ended with a roar from the crowd Adrian and I thought to belly up to the Kombucha bar to have one last drink before hitting the road.

And those were some of my adventures at Faerieworlds. I hope you will be able to check it out next year.  You never know what will happen!

7th Annual Harp Guitar Retreat: Students Learn Lots About The Harp Guitar And Outdoor Concert with Special Guest Mason Williams Huge Success

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Harp Guitar Retreat Morning Class

Harp Guitar Retreat Morning Class

The 7th Annual Harp Guitar Retreat was a great event for all. All the participants made friends quickly starting off with a Thursday night performance for each other.

Weekend morning classes began with reviewing various exercises from the new harp guitar instruction book John Doan is preparing for publication. Continue reading