December is a perfect time to reflect on the past year . . . or, perhaps, the past 30 or 40 years!

From 1983 through 2013, I mailed catalogs several times a year to harp players worldwide. The catalogs featured music books, cassettes (and then CDs), harps, accessories, and gift items.

In the Fall 1993 catalog, I introduced the Sylvia Woods Harp Center “Harp Lover’s Club.” Here’s how I described it.

This club is for all of you “Harp Lovers” out there. Even if you’re not a harp player, you can still love harps. With your 1-Year Membership, you'll get a subscription to “The Harp Lover’s News,” which you’ll receive four times during your 1-Year Membership. The newsletter includes articles by Sylvia and other members of the Harp Center staff, guest articles, harp games, puzzles, news about new products, special money-saving coupons, and much, much more!

Another feature in the Harp Lover's News was the opportunity to sign up as a pen pal. This was before the days of social media, and pen pals were a way to connect with people with similar interests. Over 100 people signed up to be included on the list, and many wonderful friendships were formed. We even heard that one woman flew from the US to the UK to play harp at the wedding reception of her pen pal's daughter!

My employee Heidi Spiegel's illustration of "the penman" became the logo for the pen pal program and was printed in some newsletters and catalogs. You'll find more of Heidi's black-and-white illustrations throughout this newsletter.

After 1998, the Harp Lover's News was replaced by free e-newsletters with many of the same fun features. So, the newsletter you are now reading was inspired by the original Harp Lover's News.

And now, since it is December, I am sending you my best wishes. I hope you have a very happy holiday season with your beloved friends and family. Keep making the world a better place with your music.

-- Sylvia

Ten of the articles from the original Harp Lover's News can be found in the Fun Stuff and Sylvia's Helpful Learning Tips sections in the Useful Information & Fun Stuff category on my website. Here are the summaries. Click on the links or photos to read the full articles. The text printed in blue are quotes from the articles.

My Harp Saved My Life

by Linda Chapman



Linda's Dusty Strings FH-36B harp prevented her car from running over her in 1994.

"I had just taken the harp out when the car started to roll backwards. I was still holding the harp and the tailgate hit me and knocked me and the harp down. I let go of the harp, grabbed the undercarriage of the car and hung on, expecting to be dragged all the way down the hill. I went about 30 feet and then stopped. I could hear someone screaming and I wondered who it was. Then I realized it was me! The only reason I had stopped moving was because the harp had jammed under one of the rear wheels and had turned the car in the road."

Don't "Try"

by Ellie Choate

"Don't try, just do it." Ellie Choate talks about sitting down at the harp, even if you don't feel like practicing and are procrastinating. "Something wonderful can happen in five or ten minutes, something that can take the edge off of all that other junk that might be obstructing your forward motion. And maybe before you know it, that five minutes turns into fifteen, or thirty, or . . . "

Harp Center wins "AMA" Award

On the cover of our 1995 Fall Catalog, we featured a photo of Park Stickney taking his harp for a ride in the sidecar of his motorcycle. A few months later, we received a plaque from the American Motorcyclist Association stating, "In recognition of valuable contributions in the interest of motorcycling, the American Motorcyclist Association has bestowed this MOST VALUED PLACE AWARD upon the SYLVIA WOODS HARP CENTER."

Who would have thought?!?!?

Memorable Wedding Gigs



In this article, I talk about six of the most memorable weddings where I played my harp. They include The Longest Procession, The Noisiest Wedding, The Most Annoying Happening, The Most Precarious Position, The Most Appropriate Animal Noise, and The Worst Minister.

Summer Outdoor Gig Guide



"Summertime is the perfect time for outside weddings and parties. However, these events can present additional challenges for harp players. Here is a list of some of the things you need to be sure to take with you whenever you're playing a party, wedding, or other function. I have broken down the list into categories. The items marked with an asterisk are particularly important if you're going to play outside. By the way, it is always a good idea to assume that you might be playing outside unless you know for certain that the entire event is indoors."

A Holiday Tale for Harpists: Songs from My Childhood on the Planet Zworp

I wrote this story about the different winter holidays celebrated on the fictional planets of Zworp and Doz.

"The moral of this tale is directed to all the harp players on the great planet Earth. When you're playing at parties and gatherings at Christmastime, don't forget the people who celebrate a different holiday at the same time of year. Remember, December isn't just for Christmas! Add some Chanukah songs to your Christmas repertoire."

Wizard of Oz Musical Odyssey

This article includes background information that I learned about the Wizard of Oz movie. Here's an example.

"After the film was completed and was running in limited previews, 'Over the Rainbow' was actually cut from the movie because an MGM studio manager said 'it slowed down the picture.' Luckily for us all, it was reinstated in the final version."

At the bottom of the article, there's a link to my Wizard of Oz Quiz to test your knowledge of the movie.

Sylvia's Practice Tips:

Toys and TV

In this article, I propose some extremely unusual exercises to help you learn to make eye contact with your audience and get used to ignoring distractions when performing.

"These exercises are not meant to replace your regular practice routine. They're meant to be done in addition to your normal practicing. They're also meant to be FUN!"

How Great Danes and Bears Can Help You Learn to Play Pachelbel's "Canon"

My Pachelbel's Canon book has two sets of arrangements, one for the original key of D, and one for the key of G. This article includes lots of information about the music and how to play it. Here are some of the fun parts about great danes and bears!

To more easily learn to play Pachelbel's "Canon," it is important to understand that the entire piece is made up of a series of eight left-hand chords, which repeat in the same order every 4 measures.

The Secret of the Great Danes (Use for the Key of G)

In the key of G, the eight chords are as follows: G D E B C G C D. They ALWAYS come in this order. I have come up with a mnemonic device having to do with fast food at Carl's Jr. Restaurants to help you remember the order of the chords. Memorize this sentence:

Great Danes Eagerly Bite Carl's Good Corn Dogs

The first letter of each of the words is the order in which the chords will come. 

The Bears (Use for the Key of D)

This works the same way for learning the piece in the key of D, because the principle is the same. The order of the chords in the key of D is: D A B F G D G A. Here's a sentence for you to help you remember the order of the chords:

Don't All Bears Feel Good Doing Great Acts

Sometimes, the eight-chord notes are in different octaves in various sections, but the chords are still the same. Just remember your "Bears!"

Tips on Learning "Winter Bells"

"My composition "Winter Bells" is perfect for the holiday season . . . or ANY TIME throughout the year. When you first look at the music, it may seem a bit complex. However, as with any piece of music, the more you know about how the music is constructed, what chords are used, and in what order, the easier it will be to learn. In this article, I'll take you step-by-step through the chords and patterns used in the first part of this piece. If you follow these instructions and exercises carefully, you'll be playing (and UNDERSTANDING) "Winter Bells" before you know it!"

Learning "Searching for Lambs"

How an elf can help you search for lambs

This article was not in the Harp Lover's News, but, like the two previous articles featured here, it will help you learn a song. "Searching for Lambs" is from my Teach Yourself to Play the Folk Harp book. Like the article about Pachelbel's "Canon," it features a silly story about an elf to help you remember the order of the chords in the piece. And, for those of you in my generation who remember the comedian Lily Tomlin, she also plays a part in the story. "And that's the truthththththth!"

I created this quiz for the May 1994 Harp Lover's News, celebrating the release of my 76 Disney Songs for the Harp book. I ended the quiz section with these paragraphs to promote my book.

If you didn't do very well on this quiz, don't worry. Just buy Sylvia's new book, and you can brush up on your Disney Music Trivia.

If you did well on this quiz, you obviously know your Disney Trivia — a sure sign that you'll love Sylvia's new book!

Here's the 1994 Disney Music Trivia Quiz. You'll find the answers at the bottom of this newsletter, below the sale section.

Good luck!

1. What famous singer co-wrote many of the songs in Lady and the Tramp and also provided the voice for several of the characters in the movie?

a. Julie Andrews

b. Peggy Lee

c. Hayley Mills

2. Which of the following songs have won the Academy Award for “Best Song”?

a. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah

b. Chim Chim Cher-ee

c. A Whole New World

d. Beauty and the Beast

e. When You Wish Upon a Star

3. Who is on Uncle Remus' shoulder in the song "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah"?

4. According to the Mad Hatter, how many "unbirthdays" do you get each year?

5. In The Parent Trap, what actress sings the duet "Let's Get Together" with Hayley Mills?

a. Julie Andrews

b. Peggy Lee

c. Hayley Mills

6. According to the song "Chim Chim Cher-ee," what will rub off when you shake hands with a chimney sweep?

a. soot

b. good luck

c. your gloves

d. your fingerprints

7. How much does it cost per bag to "Feed the Birds"?

8. Who comes "out of the night when the full moon is bright"?

a. Old Yeller

b. Zorro

c. Cruella de Ville

d. The Headless Horseman

9. What creatures fill in the following blanks from a song from Dumbo? (The same two-word answer fits in both blanks.)

"Look out! Look out! ____________________ on parade, Here they come! Hippety hoppety.

They're here and there, ____________________ everywhere."

(See below if you need a hint.)

10. The following lyrics are from the middle of what very famous Disney song?

"Fate is kind, she brings to those who love, the sweet fulfillment of their secret longing."

(See below if you need a hint.)

11. What is the "thing-a-ma-bob that does the job"?

(See below if you need a hint.)

12. According to Peter Pan, who should you "never smile at"?

13. What famous 007 actor sang the song "Pretty Irish Girl" in Darby O'Gill and the Little People?

HINTS

HINT FOR QUESTION #9: Later in the song, these creatures are called "technicolor pachyderms."

HINT FOR QUESTION #10: This song is from Pinocchio.

HINT FOR QUESTION #11: You need these magic words to turn your pumpkin into a carriage.

The answers to this quiz are at the bottom of this newsletter.

Wizard of Oz

arranged by Sylvia Woods

PDF or book

15% off with Lover code

------------------------------

Over the Rainbow

arranged by Sylvia Woods

PDF or sheet music

15% off with Lover code

------------------------------

Teach Yourself to Play

the Folk Harp

by Sylvia Woods

PDF or Book / CD or mp3s / DVD

15% off with Lover code

------------------------------

Pachelbel's Canon

arranged by Sylvia Woods

PDF or Book / CD or mp3s

15% off with Lover code

------------------------------

Winter Bells

by Sylvia Woods

PDF or sheet music

15% off with Lover code

------------------------------

76 Disney Songs

arranged by Sylvia Woods

PDF or Book

15% off with Lover code

------------------------------

Chanukah with Friends:

for harp ensemble

by Ellie Choate

PDF

15% off with Lover code

------------------------------

Chanukah Music

arranged by Sylvia Woods

PDF or Book / CD or mp3s

15% off with Lover code

------------------------------

The Dirty Laundry Rag

for pedal harp

by Park Stickney

PDF

15% off with Lover code

------------------------------

Beauty and the Beast theme

arranged by Sylvia Woods

PDF or Book

15% off with Lover code

------------------------------

How Does a Moment Last Forever

arranged by Sylvia Woods

PDF or sheet music

15% off with Lover code

------------------------------

Theme from Up

arranged by Sylvia Woods

PDF or sheet music

15% off with Lover code

------------------------------

Music from Brave

arranged by Sylvia Woods

PDF or Booklet

15% off with Lover code

------------------------------

Music from Frozen

arranged by Sylvia Woods

PDF or sheet music

15% off with Lover code

------------------------------

Music from Tangled

arranged by Sylvia Woods

PDF or sheet music

15% off with Lover code

------------------------------

DISNEY MUSIC TRIVIA QUIZ ANSWERS

1. b. Peggy Lee

2. All of them

3. Mister Bluebird

4. 364

5. c. Hayley Mills

6. b. Good luck

7. Tuppence

8. b. Zorro

9. Pink elephants

10."When You Wish Upon a Star"

11. Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo

12. A crocodile

13. Sean Connery

15% off select sale items when you use the code word Lover

Our newsletter promo codes are redeemable online and are only valid for the products listed above in the monthly sale section. They are not valid for phone or email orders. This month's code word is Lover.

Here's how to get your newsletter discount at harpcenter.com:

#1. Put the items you want to purchase in your cart.

#2. On the page where you view the items in your cart, type this month's code word Lover in the "Enter Promo Code" box and click "Apply."

The actual price of the featured sale products on this page will then automatically change to reflect the discount. For example,

   Unit Price: $9.95 (the original price)

   Total Price: $8.46 (the discounted price)

You'll also see a note below the Promo Code box saying the name of the promo code you entered and the percentage amount of the discount.

REMEMBER: You must enter this month's code word Lover in the Promo Code box and click "Apply" on your shopping cart page by December 31, 2024, to get the discount!

If you forget, or if you have trouble adding it to your order, email Sylvia immediately.  

This offer expires at the end of the day on 12/31/2024.