Confab: a meeting or conference of members of a particular group.
“You have created a harp conference that is second to none.” FRANK VOLTZ
“JPG’s motto, ‘For the love of the harp’ says it all. With enthusiastic students, delicious catered lunches, a student recital and final sharing session, it’s a well- organized, joyous celebration for harpists of all levels. Don’t miss this ‘Confabulous’ weekend!” KIM ROBERTSON
“JPG is an absolute gem. The collaborative energy is uplifting and inspiring. Without a doubt, JPG is one of the best harp retreats on the planet! I can't wait to visit lovely Chattanooga again!” SUNITA STANESLOW
PLAY! LEARN! FUN!
3-DAYS LIVE IN PERSON
with Deborah Henson-Conant!
REGISTRATION CLOSED
Build your Confidence, Improv & Harmony Skills during a 3 day
Imagine 3 DAYS LIVE – playing & learning together IN PERSON in a supportive, fun environment.
Imagine your creative confidence, your joy of improv, your knowledge of music theory, and your experience of FUN at the harp EXPANDS – with every note you play – as you PLAY, PLAY, PLAY for 3 days together!
Now … imagine this: it only costs $345 for all three days.
And there’s only one catch: there are only a limited number of spots and over half of them are already gone. So secure your spot now!
We have reached our capacity. Please continue to check our website for JPG Harp Confab 2025!
How do you get started? Click on the STORE page and then click on HARP CONFAB to complete the application and pay with your credit card.
Here’s What you Learn
As you PLAY you LEARN – and here are some of the things you’ll learn
HARMONY
How to expand, alter & subsitute chords to 7ths, and 9ths (including the delicious “sus4” chord!) and why it sounds soooooo cool when you do)
The easy modulation-formula (with built-in ‘think-time’)
How modes can expand your repertoire
The secret of harmonic “families” – and how they make improvising soooo much easier and fun on a harp!
Throughout it all, you’ll get more and more familiar with LEAD SHEETS, coming away with a powerful skill of improv
PROGRESSIONS, SNIPPETS & VAMPS
How simple progressions open up a world of improv – expanding any song into an improvisation (including songs you only half-know!)
How to use “Snippets” – the tiny improv structures that let you create improvs at a moment’s notice.
How vamps give you time to breathe and the opportunity expand your musical coordination while you’re playing
ADDITIONAL SESSIONS INCLUDE:
How to tell your story with harp – so that you can command a room – no matter what your technical level – when someone says “Play something for me”
Sing and Play Harp with 3-chord magic. You’ll learn the basics of THE simplest way to sing and play harp (hint: it’s the same way I learned to play ukulele when I was 7!)
The 7 Strings of Passion – the fundamental principles you can use with ANY creative project – that take you from IMPULSE to CREATIVE EXPRESSION.
We’ll start each day with a modulating warmup that you can take home and use over and over. Then we’ll play-and-learn, play-and-learn – as you immediately apply everything you learn, in a safe, fun, creative adventure together.
That means you walk away with music in your body, your mind and your heart!
And YOU EXPERIENCE the FREEDOM and JOY of IMPROVISING!
How do you get started? Click on the STORE page and then click on HARP CONFAB to complete the application and pay with your credit card.
Meet your creative coach Deborah Henson-Conant
I’m Deborah Henson-Conant, and I’ve been composing, arranging and creating shows since I was a kid. I now play shows with symphonies and on solo stages with the electric harp that was created for me by CAMAC Harps, the “DHC” Harp.
But I started on the ukulele, playing and singing my own little-kid arrangements, telling stories, improvising and playing and singing with other people. And guess what? I use many of the same skills and principles to arrange the music I record and perform today – including the Grammy-Nominated album “Invention & Alchemy” and the song that won first prize in the International Songwriting Competiton (ISC).
JPG’s President, Beverly Inman-Ebel, has taken lesson from DHC and raves about Deborah’s positive attitude, encouragement to harpists wherever they are on their journey, and passionate about getting harpists to truly enjoy playing.
We are thrilled to be able to bring Deborah to Chattanooga. She redefines what can be done with the harp and has the voice of an angel. While she simplifies the mysteries of music to us, she has written scores for the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and the Salzburg Orchestra in Austria as recently as 2023.
2024 JPG Harp Confab Schedule
Dates – July 25-27 2024
CHECK IN on Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m., on July 25th. Because all harpists register online, all you have to do is give your name and you will be given your workbook and concert ticket if you ordered that. Next, you will place the column of your harp on one of the colored circles on the floor, and place your harp bag in the storage area. Bring your bench and music stand. chairs are available if you need them.
Thursday – 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Friday - 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Friday Dinner - 4:45 p.m.
Friday Performances:– 6:00 p.m.
Saturday - 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Daily Breaks and Lunch are provided each day.
JPG Harp Confab Capacity:
Number of teachers – 1
Number of students – 50 max
Location: JPG Harp Confab is held in beautiful Chattanooga, TN with easy access from CHA airport and BNA and ATL airports by shuttle van. It is also accessible by I75 and I24. The address for our 2024 camp is:
The Oak Street Center
433 Oak Street
Chattanooga, TN 37403
Courses for 2024:
Deborah excels with teaching all levels of harp players. She will free you from paper. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish in 3 days!
Fees:
Click on STORE above for all purchases.
The fee for the 2024 JPG Harp Confab is $345 which includes:
Instruction by DHC
Workbook
Lunch and snacks daily
Friday pre-performance dinner
Friday Performance by fellow harpists and Deborah Henson-Conant.
Cancelation Policy: Registration is refundable, except for the small percentage that SquareSpace keeps, until May 1, 2024. By May 1, supplies are purchased, printed, etc. Even then, we will do our best to work with you if the reason for cancelation is illness or a death in your family.
Lodging:
Chattanooga is a tourist city and there are many hotels in the downtown area close to where we will hold the confab. To get the best price, sites, such as priceline.com or airbnb.com can offer discounts and many options.
What to bring:
Bring your harp, music stand, and bench. Chairs are provided, if needed. Dress is comfortable. We recommend you bring a sweater in case the room is too cool for you. We strive to strike a happy medium, but people have different temperature needs.
To Register:
Please go to the STORE page which is at the very top of this page and the third button from the right.
Details about the classes
Three classes will focus on Hands on Harmony.
How scales becomes chords
How chords are expanded, altered & substituted (and why we’d want to do that)
How to modulate from one key to another
What Modes are, why they’re useful ~ and the 2 modes we use the most
What the harmonic ‘families’ are on the harp
How to play creatively from a simple lead sheet
Three classes will focus on Progressions.
What a progression is and several useful progressions to know
How to play the same progression in different keys
How to modulate from one key to another
What Modes are, why they’re useful
The 2 modes we use the most
Additional classes include:
How to enter the music with a harp
Sing and play harp with 3-chord magic
The 7 strings of Passion