#260: What Your Desert Island Pieces Say About You

Here’s the picture: it’s the most unusual shipwreck in history. Somehow or other you have ended up alone on a desert island with just your harp. It’s interesting to consider how this might have happened. Did you swim to shore after the shipwreck with your harp strapped to your back? Or maybe you used it like a raft and your harp is what saved you. But somehow, against all the odds and flying in the face of reality, you ended up on this island with your harp. Even more amazing is that your harp is in tune, no strings have broken, and the weather is exactly what your harp needs to stay happy. 

But just wait - there’s more.

As you explore the island, you discover a charming hut which will be a perfect shelter for you and your harp, and when you enter the hut, you discover a harp bench, a tuning key, and a music stand. As you move closer, you realize that there is some sheet music on the stand, three pieces of music in fact, and they just happen to be your three favorite pieces in the world. Wow. Unbelievable.

Alright, yes, this is unbelievable. This harp version of Gilligan’s Island isn’t going to happen. But thinking about your three “desert island” pieces is fun. Which pieces would you pick, if you could only choose three pieces to have with you? And what do those pieces say about your harp journey so far, and your harp dreams for your future? 

Your desert island pieces can actually help you focus or refocus on what is important to you in your music. They can be a source of motivation or inspiration or growth or all of the above. They are both a reflection of what music means to you and where your harp happiness lies. Thinking about what your desert island pieces would be can tell you a lot about what you love, what you do well and what you should be doing next. 

If you’re like me, the choice isn’t an easy one. I have closets and shelves and cabinets filled with music. Just picking three pieces feels impossible, but I have done it, and I will share my choices with you, as well as tell you why those choices are important to me, not only because they are pieces I love, but because they remind me of what I need to be doing right now in my playing. 

It’s a fun scenario to think about and I think you’ll enjoy it and find a little enlightenment too.

Links to things I think you might be interested in that were mentioned in the podcast episode: 

• Email me your desert island pieces at [email protected]
• Music on Your Desert Island List blog post
• Harpmastery.com

Get involved in the show! Send your questions and suggestions for future podcast episodes to me at [email protected]

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