I was missing my camera for a little while when I first arrived, but its been recovered and FINALLY, I can upload pictures of my work at the Sligo Harps Workshop. I've spent the last two weeks working under the direction of the illustrious and highly entertaining Rick Kemper, M.H.B. (stands for Master Harp Builder ;)

This is a picture of me from this past week where I spent an entire day going back and forth between sanding the sound holes of these 6 harps we're working on and gluing soundboards to the sound boxes. Rick had shown me what to do that morning and then while he was at work I stayed in the shop and sanded and glued while I listened to NPR or one of the numerous Celtic CDs stacked next to the CD player in the shop.
One thing that I like about this apprentice work is that Rick, having degree in engineering and having had experience building boats in the past, is so very knowledgeable and skilled in the construction of these harps that I have been able to learn a lot about the whys and hows of harp building. Why harps are made the way they are, why he chooses certain materials to create the best sounding, beautiful, lightweight, portable harps possible, and then he shows me how to do it. He often will give me a little demonstration in the shop while he's explaining a concept. Like why he places the template for the harp neck along the long grain of the wood so that it doesn't break when we put all of that pressure of 36 strings pulling on it. Working in the shop has been very eye opening so far.

After work has been a lot of fun too. I have been able to see some of the sights in Washington D.C. and have been able to learn more music on the harp. In between being a husband to his lovely wife Jill and father to 4 darling children, a lobbyist in D.C., and a harp builder, Rick has also learned to play a number of musical instruments including the Uilleann pipes, harp, flute, and concertina. (Check out the pay scale he uses for his lessons on his piping web page. Sometimes after work Rick, his daughter Caroline, and I will jam out on celtic tunes together. Caroline really knows how to fly over those strings! I am learning a lot from her and from being able to go to harp workshops and lessons together. We also just went prom dress shopping for her first prom this Saturday. It is so fun living with a family again after 4 1/2 years living away from mine!