Samantha Ballard Harp Studio

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@Alittlepillowcompanyhome 55 минут бұрын

I have been struggling with my right thumb shortened and kinda locked for years (but didn’t notice til Iast month!). I use my right hand all day in my job and think maybe I’ve just never let go of the tension! It’s bumming me out with my harp playing since I realized what was going on. This video is so timely for me. Would love to have a lesson with you someday! You might see ways to help that I’m not able to figure out on my own 😊Do let me know if/when you have an opening!

@Alittlepillowcompanyhome Сағат бұрын

Ah…#5! Think I’ve gotten sloppy at times there 🫣

@Alittlepillowcompanyhome 18 сағат бұрын

These remind me of a qigong series I saw once upon a time. Love them all!

@Alittlepillowcompanyhome 23 сағат бұрын

So so so helpful!!!

@Alittlepillowcompanyhome Күн бұрын

I just went to your website and signed up for your lesson waiting list (Heather McCoy). If you ever have a last minute cancellation or sudden opening, do let me know. I work from home (east coast time zone) and could fill a gap. I have something specific I’d love help with :)

@Alittlepillowcompanyhome Күн бұрын

Finally someone on KZbin who has long fingers showing those of us also with long fingers what it’s supposed to look like! I’ve been struggling for months now with watching/learning from teachers with small hands and everything feeling awkward and uncomfortable. This has been the BEST video I’ve encountered and I can feel myself letting out a huge sigh of relief. Bless you 🙏🙏🙏

@Alittlepillowcompanyhome Күн бұрын

This is so excellent! Thank you!!

@falashkadan 3 күн бұрын

Thank you for your advices ❤

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 2 күн бұрын

I hope it's helpful! Thanks for watching!

@Lililotte 4 күн бұрын

Very helpful! 🙏💕🎶

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 4 күн бұрын

I'm glad to hear it!

@stilted 5 күн бұрын

Haha, with only 26 strings it's easier to tune every time - but i still don't hit the goal! I try to not skip more than one day in a row though ☺

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 4 күн бұрын

Hey that's still pretty good!

@AbsoluteApril 5 күн бұрын

Good tips thank you! Time to re-practice some techniques!

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 5 күн бұрын

Always great to revisit exercises! Thanks for watching :)

@xtaasiedua7826 5 күн бұрын

Thanks 🙏🏾

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 5 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching! I hope it's helpful!

@janedoe-vh4uk 6 күн бұрын

Thanks for all the tips! Great tutoring. I will definitely work on this❤

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 5 күн бұрын

Thank you! I hope you find it helpful!

@jennifersmith7042 18 күн бұрын

So helpful! Thank you!

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 16 күн бұрын

Thanks Jennifer, I'm really glad to hear it was helpful!

@inthedaysstillleft1257 22 күн бұрын

Thank you. I think I have long thumbs. Is it possible to have the thumb too high?

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 20 күн бұрын

The only time I would say the thumb is "too high" is if the space between your thumb and second finger becomes strained or the thumb and second finger feel a huge stretch between them. The position of the thumb is mainly about maintaining that round space between 1 and 2, and making sure the thumb has both leverage to play and room to move forward for good carry-through. Good question!

@inthedaysstillleft1257 20 күн бұрын

@@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio Thank you.

@diasharp8670 24 күн бұрын

I tried these hacks tonight and even after only one practice session my arpeggios have improved! Yay! Thank you!

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 20 күн бұрын

Ahh yay, I'm so glad to hear that!!

@jeanneburns-sloan1471 25 күн бұрын

As always, very informative. Thank you!

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 20 күн бұрын

Thanks so much Jeanne!

@rebeccasims3333 25 күн бұрын

Thank you.

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 20 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@naturalthemelodious 26 күн бұрын

4 Practice Hacks For Playing The FF Intro

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 20 күн бұрын

😂 you're not wrong

@judyho351 Ай бұрын

Thank you

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 26 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching! :)

@traciaugustyniak4365 Ай бұрын

what great technique hints! Thank You!

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 26 күн бұрын

I'm glad it was helpful!

@linglingwannabe8996 Ай бұрын

I would have loved to have this video during my years as a harp student. Continually forgetting this and how to tie string knots, were real nightmares

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio Ай бұрын

haha, remembering string knots is tough! Took me years before I could do it without looking up a picture. P.S. I love your username :)

@jeanneburns-sloan1471 Ай бұрын

Loved this! Thank you!

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio Ай бұрын

So glad to hear that! Thanks for watching :)

@harpgirl72 Ай бұрын

that is a nice sounding harp. Can you tell me what model that is?

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio Ай бұрын

Thank you! It's a Fisher harp that he no longer makes, but his new models also sound amazing!

@user-pe9gz8si8k Ай бұрын

@vinedasan Ай бұрын

What a good guide to navigating the mind-games of learning to play 😊

@denisemayosky1955 Ай бұрын

Scales? We play scales?🤨😬😅

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio Ай бұрын

Haha! :D I'm a weirdo and actually love playing scales

@vinedasan Ай бұрын

Not me guiltily thinking about how neglected my scales are at the moment, nope nope…. And about how key changeups are good… 😂

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio Ай бұрын

Maybe a good time to add them to the rotation then 😄

@user-pe9gz8si8k 2 ай бұрын

Arthritis here and yes it really does help.

@vinedasan 2 ай бұрын

These videos are such a fun relatable conversation between you and the watcher 😊 thanks for more great insight!

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 2 ай бұрын

Thanks Colleen!! :) I've been trying to work on my camera presence haha

@caroleadams5050 2 ай бұрын

Excellent video. I enjoy all of your videos. You know how to teach.

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much, Carole!

@teresamarie8514 2 ай бұрын

Whoa, this is so helpful! I’ve been playing the harp for 13+ years and never heard the difference between dynamic and static stretching and when to do them. Seriously mind blown and hoping this helps me practice longer chunks comfortably, especially pedal harp which has always been an ergonomic challenge for me 😅 Thank you Samantha! Your channel is awesome!!

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 2 ай бұрын

Wow, this is exactly the type of comment I love to see! I'm not glad that you haven't heard of dynamic stretching for the last 13 years, but I am SUPER glad that you can now use it to your advantage! It's a huge game changer!

@teresamarie8514 2 ай бұрын

Yes it is!! I’m working on La Source by Hasselmans and have done a couple minutes of dynamic stretching before every 30 minute practice, and have had ZERO pain in my shoulders. Thank you again!!

@teresamarie8514 2 ай бұрын

Also, I meant to say, love your channels (plural)!! ❤️

@marie-jothum122 2 ай бұрын

What a glorious teacher!

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 2 ай бұрын

Thank you, Marie-Jo! :)

@2dbuy 2 ай бұрын

Thanks again Samantha for another great video on the importance of being relaxed. It's good to take the time once in a while to check. I'm sure with me some of the difference between whether a tune comes together or not is down to how relaxed i am when i play

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 2 ай бұрын

It's amazing how much of a difference how relaxed or tense our body is makes... Even I need to check in while I play and it makes it a lot easier to get the result I want!

@user-pe9gz8si8k 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for this. I’ve been having trouble placing after playing. Can I ask what make is your harp? It sounds very bright yet mellow.

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 2 ай бұрын

I hope you found this video helpful! This harp is an early Fisher harp; he doesn't make this kind anymore but his Eirann model has a beautiful sound!

@2dbuy 2 ай бұрын

I appreciate this, I often bring a lot of tension from life with me when i start to play. Often focus on the physically off playing, so we might do stretches to our body. I closed my eyes while doing that with you and I felt like that was mental "stretching" to get your brain in the right place to play.

@aureharp 2 ай бұрын

Thank you and bravo for your clear instructional videos ! 👏

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! :)

@pixiepuppet4924 2 ай бұрын

What you're describing, I've heard a the difference between guilt and shame. Guilt is- "i did wrong" and shame is - i AM wrong". There's no place for shame when you're learning a new skill. 😊

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 2 ай бұрын

Oh that's a great differentiation! Although I hope there's not much guilt when learning a new skill either! It's less "I did wrong" and more "I'm not finished yet," maybe.

@pixiepuppet4924 2 ай бұрын

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio For sure! I like how you even took it farther and helped provide a level of separation when you mentioned "I don't like how that sounds" because then it helps look at the things you can change and improve on. ^_^

@ValfreyjaAndTheHarp 2 ай бұрын

Thank you, I'll be working on this. I do it automatically for some shapes, but I just noticed that it's tough getting into a proper ready position with 1-5-8s. It feels like I need a lot of tension to stretch my fingers into that shape, so when I'm playing at speed I find I end up rooting my 2nd finger on 5 and then grabbing the other strings as needed, and it feels messy and slow and I worry I'm stuck in a bad habit. Do you have any tips for those 1-5-8s or even bigger stretches?

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 2 ай бұрын

Good question... the first thing I would be curious about is if there's any way to change the way you hold your hand for large chords to see if some tension can be eliminated. Everyone's hands are different so I can't know without seeing it, but sometimes turning the palm a bit flatter and the thumb a bit lower (I know, not what you usually hear haha) it can be more comfortable. Aside from that, I think that even if you can't get your entire hand in the full shape, still opening all the fingers so that they're nearby where they need to place will still help you get there faster even if you can't place them all at exactly the same time. Great question though, that might be a good topic for a future video!

@ValfreyjaAndTheHarp 2 ай бұрын

@@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio Lower thumb!! 🙀Haha but right, that makes a lot of sense. The stretch feels so big that I didn't even really consider that I could change my hand shape, but I'm seeing I have more wiggle room there than I thought. Thank you soo much, I will experiment.

@jeanneburns-sloan1471 2 ай бұрын

Love it. Definitely something I need to work on.

@acolleenjones 3 ай бұрын

Ah, Bob and Brad! I've followed them for years. Great tips including a link to their video for extra help. Brilliant! I know I have too much tension when I play, so this video is very helpful!

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 2 ай бұрын

It was the first time I'd seen one of their videos, but I liked that the movements were really nice and gentle! Thanks so much for watching, I'm glad to hear it was helpful :)

@2dbuy 3 ай бұрын

Thank you Samantha. I stretching is something I genuinely forget to do so much of the time and I don't think I have ever had anything suggest anything specifically as a harpist. As someone who has struggled with carpal tunnel before I really appreciate this view.

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 2 ай бұрын

Oh 100%, these kinds of routines can be easy to forget about but so important for preventing injury!!

@monkemaster4756 3 ай бұрын

Thank you, I am just starting harp and my teacher gave me this video

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 2 ай бұрын

Congrats on starting to play the harp, that's so exciting! And I'm honoured that your teacher recommended my video :)

@monkemaster4756 2 ай бұрын

@@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio Thank you so much! I just got a new great harp and this really help me start!

@ValfreyjaAndTheHarp 3 ай бұрын

Wow, my playing felt better immediately after trying these cues. It seems so simple, I didn't expect to notice such a difference. I'm going to write these on a sticky note by my harp. Thank you so much for making this channel, I really appreciate it!

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 3 ай бұрын

Wow that is so awesome to hear!! It really is one of those things that seems so simple, and yet when we remember to pay attention, it feels like magic! Still feels that way to me after all these years haha :)

@diasharp8670 3 ай бұрын

Just found your wonderful channel and subscribed. The topics you’re choosing are exactly what I need, and your explanations are great! Thank you!

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much, Dia! I'm really happy to hear you've been enjoying the videos so far and finding them helpful! :)

@abigailrosestickney1652 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the pointers 🙏🏼

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 3 ай бұрын

My pleasure! Hope it's helpful :D

@xtaasiedua7826 3 ай бұрын

Hi dear Thank you so much I am Esther from Ghana 🇬🇭 Can you assist me with where and when to add Chords to a melody.. I’m a beginner Thank you

@samanthaabreu782 3 ай бұрын

Thank you :) I was using the static, now Im going to try this one.

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 3 ай бұрын

That's great! 😄 And you can still use your static stretching routine, but definitely after practice rather than before!

@johnduffy6546 4 ай бұрын

Stretching is always good;

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 4 ай бұрын

Stretching is great! But what kind and when you do it also matters - I have a video about this coming out soon! :)

@annecrosbygaudetmusic 4 ай бұрын

So good, Samantha! Well done 🎶❤️

@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 4 ай бұрын

Thanks Anne! 🥰

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