Happy Friday, & welcome to another installment of “5 Questions with…”
This week, I’m happy to virtually introduce you to Christine MacPhail. I met Christine at Lyon & Healy’s Harptacular Orlando (check out my Harptacular vlog here). She was one of the featured local artists, & I just love how she looks like she’s having a blast when she plays!
Since meeting Christine at Harptacular, we’ve been in touch via Instagram, & she agreed to do this email interview for the Fischarper blog!
Without further ado, enjoy this interview with Christine MacPhail.
How would you describe your playing style?
If I had to describe my playing style in one word it would be: fluid. My favorite components of music are melody and rhythm, so it’s extremely important to me to never break the flow of a song. My goal is to create a harp version which allows the listener to hear and feel the melody line so clearly that they find themselves humming or singing along.
I have a lighthearted personality, so my playing style is also very relaxed and fun. I don’t worry too much about having proper technique, and I have a casual attitude about the right or wrong way to play the harp. I’m far more concerned with making sure that I am enjoying myself! 😊
Would you walk us through your arranging process?
My repertoire is primarily pop songs, so the song books that I originally purchased were piano/vocal/guitar arrangements. I stopped reading the dreadful baseline which is written in most piano sheet music years ago and started playing a combination of arpeggios and block chords in the bass instead. Since I wasn’t using the full arrangement, and to save space in my gig book (pre-tablet days!), I bought fake book lead sheets, and they quickly become my preferred style of sheet music.
As I mentioned in Question 1, my focus is always melody-driven fluidity. I don’t do any formal arranging; it’s usually more about what hits me in the moment as I’m playing the song, which will surely be different the next time. I add a few notes in the treble to fill out the melody, and I keep most of the bass notes on the beat, so the bassline serves as a rhythmic and harmonic undertone. I rarely venture higher than C5 or lower than C1. I also believe in letting the melody breathe, so I don’t overfill the empty spaces. Instead, I allow the break to be part of the music.
I prefer to play an easier arrangement with confidence and sensitivity, rather than struggle through a more challenging arrangement. I’m also not as moved by more sophisticated harmony as much as other musicians, so complex chord structure isn’t important to me, and therefore my arrangements are usually quite simple.
What are your tips for making a music profession work?
I’ve been a wedding and special occasion harpist my entire musical career, so I can’t speak to the classical or teaching professions, but to succeed as an event harpist, I think one of the most important aspects is to view your work as a small business. You must do the same promotion, advertising, bookkeeping, etc., as anyone who owns a small business.
In the event industry, networking and social media are extremely important. Get to know the event planners and catering executives in your area. Also spend time thinking about your client and what might be important to them as they plan their event. Finally, try to separate your own identity from that of your business. For example, don’t take your failure to book an event as a personal defeat. Focus on the gigs you do book, not the ones you don’t book.
Do you have any tips for musicians looking to find their own style?
I love this question because encouraging others to play in their own style – to live in their own style – is one of my passions. Find what moves you and follow it!
With music, step away from the harp and think about what you like about the songs on your own playlist. Why do you enjoy a particular song? Is it the melody, harmony, rhythm, genre, singer’s voice, arrangement, or some other factor? Then try to incorporate that element into your repertoire and arrangement choices at the harp.
Another idea is to learn several very different songs extremely well, and then play them one after the other and notice which one(s) make your heart soar. Follow any clues that your emotions reveal to you about your own style.
While you may have to conform to the expected style for some gigs, once you have found your own distinct style, you can promote it via social media, YouTube, blogging, etc., and start to find more avenues for self-expression.
Do you have a favorite song to play?
This question made me laugh, as I typically state that my favorite song is the one that I just played. I truly love to play the harp, and when I’ve finished a song, I’m so enamored with it that I inevitably declare: “That song is my favorite!”
I would have to name Van Morrison’s “Moondance” as my true favorite. It combines all the elements which I dearly love: a fluid melody and a strong rhythm, and it even has a nostalgic 70s feel which takes me back to my childhood. I’ve been playing it for almost 50 years, and yet I never tire of it. I could play it for an entire set if I thought the audience wouldn’t get restless. I’ll name it my official favorite.
And there’s 5 Questions with…Christine MacPhail. Be sure to go say hi to her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, & YouTube!
What was you favorite part? Would love for you to drop it down in the comments!
-Barbara
Cover image & pin by Ali Nasser of Nasser Studios, edited by Barbara Fischer of Fischarper, LLC
Christine first saw a harp at the age of 5 when her father ran his fingers along the strings of an antique harp in a museum, and it was love at first sound. She began harp lessons and quickly decided to make the harp her career. She is currently a wedding and event harpist in Orlando, Florida.
Barbara Fischer runs Fischarper, LLC and loves her job as a harpist and private music educator. She enjoys blogging about various aspects of the music field on fischarper.com/blog. For more music resources, check out the Fischarper store. Find out where you can find Barbara on the interwebs here. And you can sign up to receive Fischarper updates by joining the email list.