6 steps to prevent pain from playing HARP

[@bellestansfield3961]

Glad I saw this so I start with the right posture!!! THANK YOU.

[@schehrezade46]

Dear Christy-Lyn, thank you SO much for this video. I have spine and hand problems and trying to figure out the right specialist to help me. This is truly a gift for me - exactly what I’ve been looking for!

[@karissathatcher9206]

What a great video!! I love how you broke it down into a list!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Thanks Karissa! I wanted to make it really easy to apply 😃

[@michaelgoldsmithii6469]

This is so incredibly helpful. I recently came to my harp instructor, Sylvia Woods, with pain issues in my left wrist. We're working on correcting my form, to keep a bad habit from continuing. So important to cover this issue. Thanks, Christy!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Oh yes, I’m glad you have someone to help you! It can be a bit tricky to figure out in your own, so that’s really great. All the best!

[@reginaclarke1574]

Sylvia is my instructor, too! Via Skype.

[@michaelgoldsmithii6469]

@@reginaclarke1574 Neat! Yes, she's really wonderful. I've been studying under her for a few months now. Coming along really well. :)

[@maryboatright5190]

Thanks. This is wonderful. I need this.

[@joylynn4016]

Learn so much from you, thank you..

[@annabelbrown9628]

This was really helpful. Particularly the bit about sitting tall. I am terrible about slumping.... so now I take time and get that bit of string pulling me nice and tall. It really should apply to everything we do but it's so easy to forget. Thanks for doing this lovely video Christy-Lyn

[@LearningtheHarp]

Wonderful, I’m so glad it’s helping already! Keep it up 👍🏻

[@jacomiententeije5417]

Very helpful.

[@amandareynolds3108]

Amazingly helpful! Thanks so much!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Pleasure! 😃

[@tanjavandenbroek5898]

This really helps! In your video you mention a seperate video on playomg the harp while having shoulder problems. I cannot seem to find that video, could you help me by naming the title?

[@webbfamilyau]

Wow, this is so helpful. Thank you.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Pleasure! Good to hear from you, Fiona. Sending love ❤️

[@Tinykniter]

Great info! Can’t wait for the next one on harp ergonomics 😀

[@LearningtheHarp]

Yay! 😃🎉

[@marymoquinart934]

I’ve been playing the piano for almost 50 years and my back always hurts, I was totally sitting too upright. Rolling my pelvis back as directed has made all the difference in both my harp and piano playing! Thanks so much! Also having my seat high enough so my knees are lower than my hips has helped. Just these little shifts have made practicing comfortable!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Woah that’s amazing to hear!

[@emblamiriam]

The best checklist by far that I've come across! Thanks for sharing, both of you 🙏🏻

[@LearningtheHarp]

Awesome, that’s good to hear! Thanks Embla 🥰

[@marysheehansosinski7817]

Hi Christy-Lyn. I noticed that you're sitting toward the back of the chair. Most harpists sit at the edge of the chair. When you speak with Susan, would you please ask about that? I'd prefer to sit closer to the back but I was told to make sure the harp is balanced by my legs and not resting on the chair. Thanks!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Yes I’ll ask her! Thanks Mary, good to hear from you ❤️

[@rumilb]

Weird, I did not get a notification for this. Came here via instagram. Why is KZbin messing with my notifications!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Oh that’s strange! 🤔 No idea... But I’m glad you saw the Instagram post! 👌🏻

[@HarmonieZvuku-harfy-kalimby]

Thank you very much. I finally start with "serious" learning - I have just totally fall in love with harp, so I play about 1 hour/day (I know, you maybe play 6hrs but 1hour with my work and all stuff to do is just a miracle) and two days ago I woke up with awful pain of neck. Firstly I didnt think it could be from harp, but it could be... Neutral posture is fine, but what about actual playing harp? What position with neck/head when I have to constantly watch strings? I heard something about arms and wrists from other harpist, but now I am not sure if I dont hurt my neck.... Thank you! PS: 2 cents for video improvements, it looks like you room doesnt have enough carpets/sofa/curtains - it sounds with too much "echo"

[@HarmonieZvuku-harfy-kalimby]

More about my neck - yesterday I just could turn my head to the left. Did you experience something like that? Maybe there is even bigger problem because of my really little harpie :) aaah I really need normal harp... But I want therapeutic harp firstly (27 strings or so) and later floor harp but in other video you say that I definitely should have floor harp at first, agh, this harp world... :D

[@LearningtheHarp]

I’m going to have to make more videos about posture and positioning at the harp, I think 😊 About your head and neck: you shouldn’t be turning your head at all to see the strings - it should stay upright like I talked about in this video for neutral posture. You should turn your harp into a diagonal so that you can see the strings - ie you should move the column of your harp slightly to your left, so that it’s no longer going in a straight line out from your body. Does that make sense? Yes, the audio in this video is much worse than normal, sad! After recording I noticed that my high quality microphone didn’t record (argh!) so I had to use the (very poor) audio from the internal microphone of the camera. I only found out afterwards and it didn’t seem worthwhile to re-record the whole video... but it will be better next time! And yes we have plans to make the room less echoey too, thanks for the suggestion 😊👍🏻

[@HarmonieZvuku-harfy-kalimby]

@@LearningtheHarp Thank you Christy! Yes it makes perfectly sense with neck... I didnt know that. Well there is another problem - really small harp and wearing eyeglasses - there is problem with highest strings - its on periphery of glasses, so it making me to turn head... But if I turn harp more it looks quite better thank you. Argh, I really should go for live lessons. But I know that first thing what I would hear is you cant play on this tiny harp, get a real one! :D About sound - it definitely would not worth it to record again. Problem with mic, so its no deal... :) So much looking forward to another ergonomics. I think you should definitely make also ergonomics about harp itself. I mean - choosing harp regard to ergonomy. For example I played on some floor harp and the connection between neck and soundbox were not made in good way. It was a problem for me to comfortably play highest strings. I couldnt reach it...

[@reginaclarke1574]

I notice she has you sitting in a chair with a back. Is that advised? Also, did the seat of the chair tilt down so your legs were not at a 90-degree angle? Thanks.

[@LearningtheHarp]

These are great questions, I’m going to have to find out what Susan recommends when it comes to chairs!

[@MrDrew33isme]

My fingers hurt when I play mine :( It’s like the strings are scraping my fingers

[@LearningtheHarp]

Oh no! I wonder why...? Do you have this problem in any other parts of your life?

[@toddszabo6258]

So are you married?😃