I’m about 2.5 weeks away from having my therapy harp ( being built for me) arrive at my front door. Meantime, besides continuing to study and practice, I have been working on my proposal for Independent Study, or Internship for the International Harp Therapy Program. I’ve been working as fast as I can as I know I have limited time left with my hands.
I’ve known since starting this program that my end goal was to be able to play bedside for people in Hospice. So when I brainstormed how I wanted my internship to look, that was the biggest piece of it. Normally, each student (who has successfully completed Level 1 of this program and ready to begin their level 2 requirements,) has to go into whichever facility, group, organization where they are wanting to do their internship hours, and formally present information and details about harp therapy, what it is, it’s rich history, and why it is so effective. Many people and organizations have not heard of it before and are clueless about the healing powers of sound. SO I had everything prepared to do my formal presentations.
First stop….made an appointment to meet with director of Hospice in Asheville. I sat down with her, told her about me, my credentials, my background, and my experience with Hospice, I had just started to talk about harp therapy. I didn’t get very far past that as she seemed to need no more information and was very enthusiastic about what I had shared. Her only question to me was …”when can you start? ” It speak volumes to me about the stellar reputation of harp therapy. It also is very fortunate that I am in Asheville NC, which is the MECCA of alternative healing and service in the South.
Second stop, the Nursing facility I had chosen to also offer some internship hours to. This is a facility where I had volunteered time playing my Mountain Dulcimer bedside for patients as I had completed prior training certification in Caregiving and Comfort with the Mountain Dulcimer. I contacted the same director of therapy services there and fortunately she remembered me and my work from 1.5 yrs ago. I told her I was a second yr student in the IHTP program and starting Internship hours playing for patients who are in severe decline of health. Again, she stopped me mid sentence and said…..”please….we’d love to have you, when can you start?” I chose them because I wanted something a bit LESS intense than to do all my bedside playing for Hospice patients in their last stage of transition. As meaningful as this work is, it can also be quite draining spiritually and emotionally for obvious reasons.
So 2 parts of my Internship proposal have been cleared as far as the locations themselves. Now I wait for my full proposal to be accepted by the IHTP (International Harp Therapy) board…..and for my harp to arrive. I have a boat load more repertoire learning to memorize as I’ve only been playing 9 months. But my core work of knowledge regarding resonance, knowledge and skill in all the Greek modes, and ability to improvise effectively with them in specific patterns…..has been assimilated in my mind,spirit and hands.
More at another time. Do want to share these photos I took of the beautiful stained glass windows in the Asheville Hospice facility’s chapel. See Below. Thanks for your interest!
Harp Healing. Ginny Oman 