Your Back-to-School Assignment

“What did you do this summer?”

That’s the traditional “first day of school” question. It used to be the first school assignment of the year, too, to write an essay about what you did during the summer. It was a great way to bring the fun summer memories back to school with you.

You may not have to write that particular essay for school, but taking a moment to consider what you did with your harp this summer is a fun way to start your harp studies this autumn. For instance, did you go to a harp camp? Did you play somewhere special? Did you take lessons with a different teacher? Did you learn a new piece or two? Or did you just take a vacation from the harp? (By the way, that’s okay too.)

Everything you did with your harp this summer will have changed your harp playing. 

• If you learned new pieces, you developed your repertoire and probably strengthened your technique along the way. 
• If you went to a harp camp, you were intrigued or inspired by new things that other students were doing with their harp playing.
• If you took a lesson or two with a different teacher, you learned new ways to understand music and playing the harp.
• If you took a vacation from the harp, you’re coming back to the harp ready to learn and grow.

Before you go to your next lesson with your teacher, write a list, or an essay if you want, in your lesson notebook. That way, when your teacher asks, “What did you do this summer?” you’ll have exactly the answer your teacher is looking for.

And here’s a bonus pointer that is sure to earn you a gold star. Also write down your biggest harp “aha” moment from the summer or your favorite harp thing you did. It will make you and your teacher both smile!