I took years of harp lessons.  I started on the piano when I was about 4 or 5 and quickly moved over to the harp.  I don’t think I really did anything but mess around for a few years, though.  I started having consistent lessons when I was about 8 and continued to take lessons until I graduated from college when I was 21.

13 years of harp lessons.

When I found out last week that a relative passed away and was asked to play the harp at the funeral, I said yes.  I haven’t really touched the harp in months…maybe even a year.

This morning I showed up at the church about 90 minutes before the service.  It was time to learn Amazing Grace…the requested piece to be played during the service.  I didn’t practice because I knew it would give me blisters.  I don’t like blisters.

Thankfully my mom/manager was there to tune the harp for me.

Thanks mom!!  This also gave me the opportunity to do this:

And this:

Then it was the moment of truth.  Could I sight read the piece?  And could I do that in a room full of people?  It’s one thing to play background music without practicing.  It’s something completely different to play with everyone staring at you.

And it went well.  Many years of lessons have made it much easier for me to play when I only have a few days notice.  It’s not ideal and I rarely play anything perfectly, but it’s been almost 12 years since I’ve had a lesson and I can still read music, play the harp and (sometimes) even impress a few people.

Not too bad.