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Harpers Hall makes its home in the San Francisco South Bay Area and Central California Coast. Our purpose is to promote an appreciation of the folk harp, to cultivate its living musical tradition, and to preserve the fun and magic of the harp for members and for the general public. To that end, we hold numerous events throughout the year, from harp jams to house concerts, festival performances to yearly weekend retreats. Journey through Harpers Hall to discover an enchanting world of harpers and learn their songs and their stories. Here you will meet many of the revelers, see the various lands they travel to, and find out how to join.

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Harpers Hall Calendar

Last update: February 11, 2024

Details of these events and gatherings (including address and phone numbers of gathering locations) are published in the Harpers Hall newsletter, The Reel Fling. Yearly subscription includes the newsletters and much more. Join us in the enchanting world of harps.

Most of our gatherings are on the third Sunday of the month. Exceptions are noted in red.

2024 January | February |March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |

    January 2024
  • 21st 1:30 - 6 pm Gathering at Dell Petersen's home in Fremont (Check groups.io calendar or email Dell for zoom info).
    • Workshop from 2:00 - 3:00: "Improvising Fun" by Verlene Schermer. Improvisation can be used in many settings: providing music behind meditation; playing bedside music; waiting for your cue to start processional music, for creative expression, or simply for fun! We’ll cover some basic concepts of improvisation and apply some simple tools for both right hand and left hand (melody and accompaniment)! Your handouts will include these concepts and tools along with some easy chord progressions you can use in any application.
    • 3:00 - 4:00 (approximately) share food and visit.
    • 4:00 - 5:00 works-in-progress.
    • 5:00 - 6:00 Play Games repertoire, or do an improv circle!

    February

  • 18th 1:30 - 6 pm Gathering at Verlene Schermer's home in San Jose (Check groups.io calendar or email Dell for zoom info). 
    • Workshop from 2:00 - 3:00: "Quilt Music: Tips for Learning an Arrangement" by Jane Valencia. Why can it be so hard to learn an arrangement? This workshop will share approaches to working up your piece with an eye (and ear) to pattern, successive steps, and clusters of detail. Rather than using a "0 to 60 mph" approach (right hand, left hand, both hands in full together!), we'll block out and stitch the music into being, growing our ability to play it - and play with it -- in the process.
    • 3:00 - 4:00 (approximately) share food and visit.
    • 4:00 - 5:00 works-in-progress.
    • 5:00 - 6:00 Play more of our games repertoire!

March

  • 17th 1:30 - 6:00 pm Gathering at Val Wann's home in Concord. (Check groups.io calendar or email Dell for zoom info).
    • Workshop from 2:00 - 3:00 "Learn a Song in Irish (Gaelic)!" by Val Wann.  We'll learn a simple children's song from County Donegal. This will include a bit of insight into the Irish language and even a bit of history. We celebrate Ireland on St. Paddy's Day! Ceiliúaimid Éireann ar Lá fhéile Pádraig!
    • 3:00 - 4:00 (approximately) share food and visit.
    • 4:00 - 5:00 works-in-progress.
    • 5:00 - 6:00 Play Games repertoire or do an improv circle!
    • 4:30 - 6:00 "Simply Scottish" workshop with Rachel
    • 6:00 - 7:00 potluck dinner
    • 7:00 - 9:00 Concert by Rachel and her partner Ron Jappy (concert is open to members of the Holsinger's homeowner's association, harpers & family, and guests, so RSVP is required!)
  • There will be no regular monthly gathering on the 3rd Sunday. Instead, we'll have a mini-retreat on the 4th Sunday (which is Memorial Day Weekend.)

  • 25th 10 am - 9:00 pm Mini-Retreat! We are not holding a full weekend retreat this year, but are planning a one-day retreat, so be sure to put it on your calendar!

    It will be at Verlene Schermer’s home in San Jose, and will be loosely scheduled, with opportunities to share music we can play together, play in small groups or jam sessions, and prepare lunch and dinner together in the kitchen.  

    There are some musical art projects planned for those who would like to participate, plus a few group musical games.

    We’ll have lots of time to visit as well as make music together, and after dinner we’ll have a ceilidh, which is like our works-in-progress, where anything goes: play your harp, tell a joke, recite a poem, do a dance.

    We will spend most of the day in the sunroom, but there is also space in Verlene’s music room, living room, the studio in the garage, and outside on the patio for smaller groups to visit or play music.

    Spouses are welcome, and can join in the music circles, or listen, read, take a walk, or indulge in other “retreat” stuff.  

    Plan to bring something to share for lunch and for dinner. We usually potluck it, but if you know what you want to bring, you can let Verlene know. If you have a main dish for dinner, consider bringing something easy like chips or chocolate for your lunch offering, or vice versa. And plan to take home leftovers!

    Come for the whole day for a taste of our weekend retreats and, with luck, we can enjoy a full retreat in 2025! If you can only come in the afternoon, that’s fine too!

    RSVP and let Verlene know what time you plan to arrive: email verleneschermer@gmail.com or call 408-497-4789.
  • 21st 3:00 - 7:00 pm Annual Barbecue and Swim Party! at Susan Nguyen's home in Saratoga. (No zoom for this one.)
      • Schedule: We'll have a few hours to swim and visit, then barbecue and share potluck dishes, and end with casual playing together (our repertoire music, or tunes you'd like to share)

    August

  • 18th 1:30 - 6:00 pm Gathering location TBA) (Check groups.io calendar or email Dell for zoom info).
  • Workshop from 2:00 - 3:00: Workshop by Verlene Schermer TBA
  • 3:00 - 4:00 (approximately) share food and visit.
  • 4:00 - 5:00 works-in-progress.
  • 5:00 - 6:00 rehearsal of the games repertoire in preparation for the Pleasanton Scottish Games. A set list will be sent via groups.io.
  • 31st Pleasanton Scottish Gathering & Games, Alameda County Fairground, The Harpers Hall Ensemble will be playing on stage in the Celtic Heritage area -- times TBA. The group will also have a booth in the area where you can try out harps, ask questions, find a teacher, or just hang out with the harpers!

      September
    • 22nd 1:30 - 6:00 pm Gathering at (location TBA) (Check groups.io calendar or email Dell for zoom info).
      • Workshop from 2:00 - 3:00: DIY Harp Stringing and Harp Maintenance for Lever Harps by Portia Diwa. Do you know how to tie a harp knot? In this workshop, we will practice tying a harp knot, and review how to change a string. We will talk about types of harp strings, regulating sharpening levers, how to find or create a string chart, gentle harp refinishing. If you have a harp that needs some maintenance, feel free to bring your harp, strings, and questions. If you have questions before the workshop, email Portia.
      • 3:00 - 4:00 (approximately) share food and visit.
      • 4:00 - 5:00 works-in progress.
      • 5:00 - 6:00 Play Games repertoire or do an improv circle!

      October
    • 20th 1:30 - 6:00 pm Gathering (location TBA) (Check groups.io calendar or email Dell for zoom info).
      • Workshop from 2:00 - 3:00: TBA
      • 3:00 - 4:00 (approximately) share food and visit.
      • 4:00 - 5:00 works-in progress.
      • 5:00 - 6:00 Play Games repertoire or do an improv circle!

      November 

      December

    • 8th4:00 - 8:00 pm Yule Party at (location TBA). (Check groups.io calendar or November Fling for more info).


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