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Verlene Schermer       
            Karmalu Productions		 Verlene


Performance and Workshop Calendar
All times are Pacific Time. Please use this Time Zone Converter for your local time!
2024  January   February   March    April    May    June    July    August    September   October   November    December

Video links and handouts are available for online workshops presented starting in 2020! Click here for list!
(Read about past years' performances, tours, and workshops)

2024 Overview (click the date for more information on each):

January 6 Online Workshop: Music for Memory Care
January 13 Online Workshop: Basic Ear Training
January 14 Performance: with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse in Willow Glen
January 20 Online Workshop: Advanced Ear Training
January 21 Workshop for Harpers Hall: Improvising Fun

February 10 Online Workshop: Playing by Ear Part 1a: Template for Melody (Major Keys)
February 10 Online Workshop: Playing by Ear Part 1b: Context for Chords (Major Keys)
February 17 Online Workshop:: with Playing by Ear Part 2a: Template for Melody (Modes and Minor Keys)
February 17 Online Workshop:: Playing by Ear Part 1b: Context for Chords (Modes and Minor Keys)
February 25 Performance: with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse in Willow Glen

March 10 Performance: with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse in Willow Glen
March 17 St. Pat's Day Performance: with Celtic Moon at Jack's Brewing Co. in Fremont
March 17 St. Pat's Day Performance: with Celtic Moon at Capers in Campbell
March 23 Pagan Bunny Burn with Celtic Moon (tickets sold out!)

April 13 Online Workshop: Songs from Eastern Europe
April 14 Performance: with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse in Willow Glen
April 20 Online Workshop: Harp Chord Intensive
April 27 Online Workshop: The Sing-Along Harper

May 12 Performance: with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse in Willow Glen
May 18 Online Workshop: Sing-Along Harper Summer Song Fest
May 19 House Concert Performance: with Celtic Moon at Dala's Nest
May 25 Online Workshop: Vocal Improvisation for Therapeutic Musicians

June 1 Online Workshop: Finger Punctuality
June 9 Performance: with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse in Willow Glen
June 15 Online Workshop: New Grooves for Improvisation

July 13 Online Workshop: Arranging Movie Music for Lever Harp
July 14 Performance: with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse in Willow Glen
July 20 Online Workshop: Playing and Improvising Middle Eastern Music (rescheduled)

August 3 Performance: with Celtic Moon at Celtic Tea Shoppe in San Jose
August 4 Performance: with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse in Willow Glen
August 10 Online Workshop: Moods & Modes of O'Carolan
August 17 Online Workshop: Songs for World Peace Day
August 31 Performance: with Harpers Hall and Celtic Moon at the Scottish Games in Pleasanton

September 1 Performance: with Celtic Moon at the Scottish Games in Pleasanton
September 7 Online Workshop: Scandinavian Songs and Tunes
September 8 Performance: with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse in Willow Glen
September 14 Online Workshop: Playing and Improvising Middle Eastern Music
September 21 Performance: with Celtic Moon at Celtic Tea Shoppe in San Jose

October 10 Performance: with Celtic Moon at Creekside School
October 12 Online Workshop: Nordic Songs & Tunes
October 13 Performance: with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse in Willow Glen
October 19 Online Workshop: Harp Clarity & Fluidity

November 9 Online Workshop: Winter Music
November 10 Performance: with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse in Willow Glen Rescheduled to November 24!
November 16 Online Workshop: Celtic Christmas
November 24 Performance: with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse in Willow Glen
January -
  • Saturday, 1/6/24, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PDT -- Verlene will be presenting a two-hour workshop, “Music for Memory Care” for any instrument, any level. This workshop is open to all musicians, particularly those who play in Assisted Living or Memory Care units. You will be able to add to your repertoire of music that is not only appropriate for this demographic but is also sure to touch a memory deep within that brings joy and light. You’ll find they will sing along, whether or not they know all the lyrics, and amazingly, they can remember these lyrics far easier than they can remember what they had for lunch. That’s probably true for us all! You’ll get handouts in lead sheet form to many of the songs I perform at several facilities where my concerts are regularly scheduled. Singers, harpists, guitarists – all are welcome! Cost of the workshop: $30 per person. Register here!

  • Saturday, 1/13/24 10:00 am- 12:00 pm PDT Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online workshop, "Basic Ear Training" open to all harpists, guitarists, and other instrumentalists as well. In this workshop, open to all musicians, you'll start with matching pitches, then move to intervals, and then on to phrases that include steps, skips, larger leaps, and chord patterns. Each section will include instructions and demonstrations, tips and concepts to help you identify and match what you hear. You will participate by filling in your answer sheets (handouts provided ahead of time) for each set of examples that Verlene will play off camera on four different instruments (harp, keyboard, guitar, and violin). At the end of each section, she will show the answer key so you can check your answers. Cost of the workshop: $30 per person. Register here!
  • Sunday, 1/14/24, 4:30 - 7:30 pm -- Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse Willow Glen, located at 1173 Lincoln Ave., San Jose, CA.
  • Saturday, 1/20/24, 4:00 - 5:00 pm PDT -- Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online workshop, "Basic Ear Training" open to all harpists, guitarists, and other instrumentalists as well. In this workshop, open to all musicians, open to all musicians. In this workshop, you will be presented with more advanced sequences as well as chord identification. As in the Basic Ear Training workshop, you will participate by filling in your answer sheets (handouts provided ahead of time) for each set of examples that Verlene will play off camera on four different instruments (harp, keyboard, guitar, and violin). At the end of each section, she will show the answer key so you can check your answers. Cost of the workshop: $30 per person. Here’s how to register: Register here!
February --
  • Saturday, 2/10/24 10:00 am- 12:00 pm PDT Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online workshop, “Playing by Ear Part 1a: Template for Melody (Major Keys)” for lever or pedal harp. In this workshop you'll learn how to use the major scale as a template that will help you remember melodies and play them by ear on your harp. There will be numerous examples that will help to build your skill and confidence, working through the “3 D’s” of playing by ear. This can be applied to songs you have known all your life, or songs that you are hearing for the first time. Cost of the workshop: $30 per person. Here’s how to register: Register here!
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  • Saturday, 2/10/24 1:00 - 3:00 pm PDT Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online workshop, “Playing by Ear Part 1b: Context for Chords (Major Keys)” for lever or pedal harp. you'll learn how to add chords to any melody. You'll learn the function of each chord, and also how to recognize what chords the melody suggests. There will be several examples of well-known melodies, as well as some lesser known, and some completely unknown melodies. Cost of the workshop: $30 per person. Here’s how to register: Register here!

  • Saturday, 2/17/24 10:00 am- 12:00 pm PDT Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online workshop, “Playing by Ear Part 2a: Template for Melody (Modes and Minor Keys)” for lever or pedal harp. In this workshop you'll learn how to alter the major scale to recognize when a tune is in Mixolydian mode, Aeolian mode, or Dorian mode, and when it is in a Harmonic Minor key. Cost of the workshop: $30 per person. Here’s how to register: Register here!

  • Saturday, 2/17/24 1:00 - 3:00 pm PDT Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online workshop, “Playing by Ear Part 2b: Context for Chords (Modes and Minor Keys)” for lever or pedal harp. In this workshop you'll learn how chords function in Mixolydian mode, Aeolian mode, and Dorian mode, as well as in a Harmonic Minor key. There will be several examples of well-known melodies, as well as some lesser known, and some completely unknown melodies. Cost of the workshop: $30 per person. Here’s how to register: Register here!

  • Sunday, 2/25/24,4:30 - 7:30 pm -- Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse Willow Glen, located at 1173 Lincoln Ave., San Jose, CA.
March --
  • Sunday, 3/10/24, 4:30 - 7:30 pm Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse Willow Glen, located at 1173 Lincoln Ave., San Jose, CA 

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  • Sunday, 3/17/24, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm -- Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon at Jack's Brewing Co., located at located at 39176 Argonaut Way in Fremont, CA.
  • Sunday, 3/17/24, 6:00 - 9:00 pm Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon at Capers, located at 1710 West Campbell Ave. in Campbell, CA.

  • Saturday, 3/23/24, Time TBA Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon at the Pagan Bunny Burn (event is sold out!)
April --
  • Saturday, 4/13/24, 10 am - 12 pm pacific time Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online workshop, "Songs from Eastern Europe" for all instrumentalists and singers. You'll learn tunes in 7/8, 5/8, 9/8 (not a slip jig!), 4/4 and 2/4 from Armenia, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine. You'll watch and listen to each tune on YouTube, some that show the dance, and all with singing. You'll be provided with lever harp arrangements that can also be played on piano, with lyric for the first verse in phonetic spelling, and chord names on top of the melody. In addition, classical and finger style guitarists will be provided with arrangements of the tunes in guitar notation and tablature. These tunes are fun to play and can be added to your therapeutic repertoire to pull out when someone requests something from this part of the world. If you are not a therapeutic musician, you can enjoy playing these tunes to experience a bit of the flavor of Eastern Europe! Cost of the workshop: $30 per person. Register here!
  • Sunday, 4/14/24, 4:30 - 7:30 pm Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse Willow Glen, located at 1173 Lincoln Ave., San Jose, CA
  • Saturday, 4/20/24, 10 am - 12 pm pacific time Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online workshop, "Harp Chord Intensive" for harp (lever or pedal). In this workshop, you will have an opportunity to really drill those chords in root position and inversions, as well as "root-five-octave" patterns. You'll learn how to get to your chords on time with both hands using a set of common chord progressions. This would be a great warm-up class to next week's "The Sing-Along Harper" class. Cost of the workshop: $30 per person. Register here!
  • Saturday, 4/27/24, 10 am - 12 pm pacific time Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online workshop,"The Sing-Along Harper" open to all harpists, whether you sing or not, and whether or not you have a copy of the book by that title. If you've ever wished you could play harp along with group sing-alongs like guitarists do, with only words and chords on your music stand, this class is for you! You can also use the fingerpicking patterns for accompanying melody instruments. If you have not purchased the book "The Sing-Along Harper" and would like to, you can order a hard copy or PDF here. Cost of the workshop: $30. Register here!
May --
  • Sunday, 5/12/24, 4:30 - 7:30 pm Verlene will be performing a special Mother's Day show with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse Willow Glen, located at 1173 Lincoln Ave., San Jose, CA
  • Saturday, 5/18/24, 10 am - 12 pm pacific time Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online workshop, "Sing-Along Harper Summer Song Fest" open to all harpers and even non-harpers! We’ll be playing from start to finish, several songs that celebrate the coming Summer months! If you either took one of my Sing-Along Harper workshops or own the book “The Sing-Along Harper,” you’ll enjoy jumping right in on these songs using the provided patterns or your own patterns to play along. You’ll be provided with a songbook of 20 songs, and we’ll try to get through all of them during the 2 hour workshop. The songs are in the “words and chords” form that you see guitarists playing from, and I will let you know the lever settings for each and also anything else you’ll need to know in order to play along. We won’t spend a lot of our time explaining the music theory, so we’ll have time to enjoy playing and singing the songs! Cost of the workshop: $30. Register here!
  • Sunday, 5/19/24, 4:00 - 9:00pm Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon in a house concert at Dala's Nest in Menlo Park, CA. Please contact Aimée to purchase tickets! ($25)
  • Saturday, 5/25/24, 10 am - 12 pm pacific time Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online workshop,"Vocal Improvisation for Therapeutic Musicians" open to all musicians (even if you don’t consider yourself a singer!) The use of the human voice in therapeutic music can be an effective way to connect and share empathy. We’ll cover how to create a soothing tone of voice, how to be expressively empathetic, and how to use patterns and variations to stay within a key or mode if you are singing a cappella. We’ll do a bit of ear training to find anchor notes. If you are an instrumentalist as well, you can accompany your vocal improv, and there will be chord progressions to apply that you can transpose to any key. Cost of the workshop: $30 per person. Register here!
June --
  • Saturday, 6/1/24, 10 am - 12 pm pacific time Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online workshop, "Finger Punctuality"
    for lever or pedal harp. Whether we are playing dance tunes or therapeutic music, the goal is to play fluidly, which means there should never be an unintended pause or interruption to the rhythmic flow. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to eliminate those annoying hesitations that don’t improve with simple repetition. You’ll learn how to analyze the problem areas and get solutions that will remove the hiccups and bring a tune up to tempo and into your performable repertoire! Cost of the workshop: $30 per person. Register here! 
  • Sunday, 6/9/24, 4:30 - 7:30 pm Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse Willow Glen, located at 1173 Lincoln Ave., San Jose, CA
  • Saturday, 6/15/24, 10 am - 12 pm pacific time Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online workshop, "New Grooves for Improvisation" for advanced/beginner – advanced harp (lever or pedal). You will need to have some experience with improvisation to be prepared to participate. In this workshop you’ll learn how to establish a groove in a variety of time signatures and rhythmic feels, and how to maintain the feel as you improvise. We’ll cover: Swing in 4/4, Jazz waltz, Bossa Nova and other Latin grooves, a few different Jig rhythms, and some odd time signatures. Cost of the workshop: $30 per person. Register here!
July --
  • Saturday, 7/13/24, 10 am - 12 pm pacific time Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online workshop, "Arranging Movie Music for Lever Harp" for intermediate - advanced harp. Movie theme music can be a great addition to your repertoire both for entertainment and for therapeutic environments like bedside music, and assisted living concerts. We’ll look at a few pieces of music, taking them from what you may find in piano sheet music to what works best on lever harp. We’ll cover how to alter the arrangement to make it more harp friendly, how to choose the best key and octave, and what to do about any accidentals or key changes that come up! Cost of the workshop: $30 per person. Register here!
  • Sunday, 7/14/24, 4:30 - 7:30 pm Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse Willow Glen, located at 1173 Lincoln Ave., San Jose, CA

  • Saturday, 7/20/24 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PDT -- Back by popular demand! Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online harp workshop, "Playing & Improvising Middle Eastern Music." This is open to all, and it is not necessary to have my book by the same title. I will be sending handouts ahead of time and will work from those. Of course, those interested in the book can order a hard copy or PDF here. Cost: $30 per person. Register here!
August --
  • Saturday, 8/3/24, 10 am - 12:30 pm pacific time -- Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon at the Harry Potter Birthday and Lughnasa Festival at the Celtic Tea Shoppe, located at: 4432 Pearl Ave. in San Jose.
  • Sunday, 8/4/24, 4:30 - 7:30 pm pacific time -- Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse Willow Glen, located at 1173 Lincoln Ave., San Jose, CA.
  • Saturday, 8/10/24, 10 am - 12 pm pacific time Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online workshop, "Moods & Modes of O'Carolan" open to lever or pedal harp, all levels. We'll look at some of the lesser-known O'Carolan tunes, all of which are useful for therapeutic applications, as well as for background music. There are tunes in four different modes: Ionian (the basic major mode), Mixolydian, Dorian, and Aeolian, plus a bonus tune in Harmonic minor. They are great for playing at any tempo. Cost $30 per person. Register here!
  • Saturday, 8/17/24, 10 am - 12 pm pacific time Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online workshop, "Songs for World Peace Day." This class is open to all levels and all instruments and singers. We will be looking at several songs that can be played on lever harp, pedal harp, piano, or guitar. All will have lyrics, so singers are welcome! You'll get a lead sheet with melody, words, and chords, and a harp arrangement that is lever harp friendly. Singers and guitarists can use the lead sheet to sing and accompany on guitar. You'll learn music from the Middle East, popular songs from the Western hemisphere, and a few of my own original songs from my Peace CD. We'll listen to YouTube versions of each tune, and play through each during class. Cost $30 per person. Register here!
  • Saturday, 8/31/24, all day -- Verlene will be performing with both Harpers Hall and Celtic Moon, and will also perform a solo set during the Scottish Games at Pleasanton.
September --
  • Sunday, 9/1/24, all day -- Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon at the Scottish Games at Pleasanton.
  • Saturday, 9/7/24 10:00 am - 12:00 pm pacific time -- Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online harp workshop, "Scandinavian Songs and Tunes." This class is open to all levels and all instruments and singers. You’ll learn songs and tunes from Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Most will have words with guidance on pronunciation. You will get arrangements that can be played on lever harp, pedal harp, or piano, in addition to lead sheets with melody, lyrics, and chords for singers, guitarists, and other instrumentalists. A video replay will also be available to all who register. Cost: $30 per person. Register here!
  • Sunday, 9/8/24, 4:30 - 7:30 pm pacific time -- Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse Willow Glen, located at 1173 Lincoln Ave., San Jose, CA.
  • Saturday, 9/14/24 10:00 am - 12:00 pm pacific time -- (Rescheduled from 7/20) Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online harp workshop, "Playing & Improvising Middle Eastern Music." This is open to all, and it is not necessary to have my book by the same title. I will be sending handouts ahead of time and will work from those. Of course, those interested in the book can order a hard copy or PDF here. Cost: $30 per person. Register here!
  • Saturday, 9/21/24, 10 am - 12:30 pm pacific time -- Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon for the Mabon Harvest Festival at the Celtic Tea Shoppe, located at: 4432 Pearl Ave. in San Jose.
October --
  • Thursday, 10/10/24, 10:30 - 11:30 am pacific time -- Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon at Creekside School. This is a school for autistic students from Kindergarten through Highschool. We're looking forward to sharing our music and our instruments in this context!
  • Saturday, 10/12/24, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm pacific time -- Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online harp workshop, "Nordic Songs & Tunes." This class is open to all levels and all instruments and singers.  If you took the Scandinavian Songs and Tunes workshop, here is another selection of tunes, this time expanding to Denmark, Iceland and the Faroe Islands, which are part of the Nordic region. You’ll also learn songs and tunes from Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Most will have words with guidance on pronunciation. You will get arrangements that can be played on lever harp, pedal harp, or piano, in addition to lead sheets with melody, lyrics, and chords for singers, guitarists, and other instrumentalists. I’ve also added guitar tab for all the songs and tunes so a guitarist can either play chords using the lead sheet, or play melody and chords with the tablature. A video replay will also be available to all who register. Cost: $30 per person. Register here!
  • Sunday, 10/13/24, 4:30 - 7:30 pm pacific time -- Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse Willow Glen, located at 1173 Lincoln Ave., San Jose, CA.
  • Saturday, 10/19/24, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm pacific time -- Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online harp workshop, "Harp Clarity & Fluidity." In this class you’ll learn how to create more clarity by using selective damping techniques, and more fluidity by using selective hovering techniques. You’ll get handouts with exercises and tunes for practice to use during and after the class, as well as guidelines for how to apply these two essential techniques to your current and future repertoire. Cost: $30 per person. Register here!

November --

  • Saturday, 11/9/24 10:00 am - 12:00 pm pacific time -- Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online harp workshop, "Winter Music" open to all levels. Every harper most likely has a pile of Christmas music to pull out every November to polish up or re-learn for the holidays. This workshop will give you some great tunes with a winter theme to add to your repertoire. The advantage is that they can be played all year round because they are not all tied to the Christmas holiday! So, next year, you won't need to dust them off in order to play them again. You will get arrangements that can be played on lever harp, pedal harp, or piano, in addition to lead sheets with melody, lyrics, and chords for singers, guitarists, and other instrumentalists. There is also guitar tablature for all the songs and tunes so a guitarist can either play chords using the lead sheet, or play melody and chords with the tablature. You'll play (and sing some of them) and learn about how they can be introduced into your holiday performances. Cost: $30 per person. Register here!

  • Saturday, 11/16/24 10:00 am - 12:00 pm pacific time -- Verlene will be presenting a two-hour online workshop, "Celtic Christmas" open to all levels and all instruments and singers. You'll learn some old and new Christmas tunes from Chieftains, Irish Rovers, and more! You'll get some background info on the traditional tunes and YouTube links to all the tunes. You will get arrangements that can be played on lever harp, pedal harp, or piano, in addition to lead sheets with melody, lyrics, and chords for singers, guitarists, and other instrumentalists. There is also guitar tablature for all the songs and tunes so a guitarist can either play chords using the lead sheet, or play melody and chords with the tablature. Cost: $30 per person. Register here!
  • Sunday, 11/24/24, 4:30 - 7:30 pm pacific time -- Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse Willow Glen, located at 1173 Lincoln Ave., San Jose, CA.
December --
  • Saturday, 11/14/24, 7 - 8 pm pacific time -- Verlene will be performing in a Christmas concert with The Harpers Hall Ensemble at Bethel Lutheran Church in Cupertino, CA, located at: 10181 Finch Ave. across the street from Cupertino High School. Verlene will be leading the ensemble and also playing solo pieces.
  • Sunday, 12/15/24, 4:30 - 7:30 pm pacific time -- Verlene will be performing with Celtic Moon at Wheelhouse Willow Glen, located at 1173 Lincoln Ave., San Jose, CA.
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