6 things you need for teaching yourself harp

[@amethaelf]

I am 66 years old and have just purchased my very first harp on line - am currently waiting for my baby to arrive! I know nothing at all about harps however have always dreamed of having one as I just love the beautiful sounds they make. I will be learning entirely on line so am extremely daunted by this but my will to learn the harp is strong. It's the start of a whole new exciting dream come true for me. Cant wait to actually see my harp for the very first time!

[@Sophietheharp]

When you said "use recordings" I thought you were going to say "record yourself" which is actually another helpful thing to do. I find it a bit scary, because can be a bit confrontational, but it's a good way of picking up on things to work on. Thanks for the video!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Very good suggestion!! It definitely helps a lot 👍🏻👍🏻

[@Maryane57]

I love your method of teaching Tiffany...I have no music background and I love that you teach by calling out the notes rather than numbers...numbers confuse me ...I'm a fan ❤ Nothing personal Christy-Lyn, I have learned a few key points from you and I am trying to learn the piece you played with my friend Joshua Aaron 😀 ❤

[@shannonsharpstory]

Great advice! I’m teaching myself right now but am hoping to take a few lessons. One thing I would add is to play for others as much as you can. I know this might be pretty scary for some people, but it really helps with motivation in actually learning a full song well rather than just grazing through it. I recently spoke to a wonderful professional harpist and after I bemoaned that my technique was a bit sloppy in my Christmas church performance, she encouraged me saying that playing for others is what is most important right now. The technique will come as I practice it more- on my own and by sharing the joy of the harp with others. 🙂👒

[@LearningtheHarp]

That’s such a wonderful encouragement, I’m glad the professional harpist was so positive! 🤗

[@LearningtheHarp]

Well done for going ahead with your harp playing and performing for others. You’re right, that really really helps!!

[@maniestacio9245]

Methods review - yes please! 🎶

[@Mezilesialan]

Thank you both very much. One of my faults is moving on to another tune, before I can play the present one really well. 😊Alan

[@dorothychiapiano]

So cool to see 2 of my favourite harp personalities here together discussing the harp. Learning the harp is one of my retirement plan. I am currently looking to buy a harp and researching all things harp. I have subscribed to both Christy-lyn and Tiffany's youtube channel. My intention is to self learn. I like how you mentioned that we can do occasional harp lesson....so that is on my bucket list. Great advice here. Thank you!

[@sandragayle7866]

Great topic! I was very fortunate to have had Sylvia Woods as a guide it was a lot of help going to her harp center each week playing the different sizes of harps as well. Lots of books which was great. Christina Tourin was another great help to me When I lived in Los Angeles. when I moved to Oakland CA, I had Chris Caswell as a teacher. Then I studied at Mills College in Oakland Which is a all female college. My harp teacher's was from all over the world. Then moving back to Los Angeles to study with the Jazz great Alice Coltrane. So it's been a rich experience. I love to work with handicapped children as well as adults on the harp. I did sound tracks for motion pictures with Spike Lee, and did some work with William Hannah. I really enjoy both of you guys work along with Fiachra.I am a big fan of Fiachra for his beautiful musicianship, as well for his love of nature and animals. But thank you ladies for all of your hard work. It's a pleasure.

[@tiffanyharpandsong]

I say my "self-taught" is really a misnomer because I've gleaned things from so many people too! And I agree Fiachra is amazing :)

[@moirbasso7051]

Two of my favorite 'singer-harpers' working together! Huzzah!! Brava, Ladies. [Alice Giles has 'courses' for beginning harp, that I (personally)have really benefited from. She is SO thorough!] Both of your vids are great- so much information.

[@canacludhmorharp]

Thank you much Christy-Lyn. You are amazing. Thank you.

[@irenechiang1153]

Thank you!

[@DianaSchneider1]

Love this! The pointers definitely brought a couple of my shortcomings to the surface 🤪. All for the better good though. Thanks, ladies.

[@archangelsaphalon8215]

love you both ladies. God bless you for all the teachings I greatly appreciate it :) Im a subscriber to both of you. thanks again for everything! Great tips

[@tiffanyharpandsong]

Awesome! Thank you 😊

[@jeanneallen6594]

Helpful!

[@evolenet8039]

I agree with all of your tips, but I will recommend to most people to start off with a few personal lessons (face to face or skype) before teaching yourself fully. I see people both online and in real life begin the harp by "crooking" their fingers and wrists, which is a terrible position and slows down their progress so much! A good hand position isn't intuitive, so it's so much easier to learn correctly the first time than unlearning a technique when you're stuck. Once that's acquired, learning alone is fantastic! (I personally took about a year of lessons, paying by the hour, then due to money and location constraints I kept learning alone. So I agree with every one of your tips). By the way, has anyone tried learning with Harpcolumn videos (monthly fee, I think)? Thank you ladies for your videos :-)

[@LearningtheHarp]

Thanks for sharing your story! Very good point. Glad you enjoyed the video 😃👍🏻

[@tiffanyharpandsong]

100% agree, in fact that's our last bonus tip in the video! I wish I had stuck with a few more lessons in the very beginning, I know I would have progressed much faster in the technique department!

[@celloafterdark4173]

Tiffany looks like Cate Blanchett! Loving your channel Christy-Lyn- I’ll have to check hers out too!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hehe that’s actually really true, I never thought of that!! Woah.

[@tiffanyharpandsong]

Omg that's so funny. I've been told that more than once (and dressed up as Galadriel for halloween more than once...)

[@celloafterdark4173]

Tiffany Schaefer - Harp & Song oh, I’ll bet that looks fantastic!!

[@ViolinViolaMasterclass]

I love this!! Thank you🥰 I’m a violin and viola teacher and I bought a harp last year to learn something different...I can’t wait!! It’ll be done in February...I’ve been watching your channel to learn in advance🙏 question: what do you use for your Patreon harp circle...Skype, FaceTime?? I would love to be able to do that for my Patreon students too...I never thought of that❤️🎻 lots of love!!

[@tiffanyharpandsong]

We both use Zoom! I like that you can set up a recurring meeting link and whoever has the link can just click and join - no phone calls to worry about!

[@celloafterdark4173]

Oooo, harp circle? That sounds so fun!

[@karissathatcher9206]

Thank you for this video! I was interested in tip #4: Be Structured. I am an advanced harpist, and I no longer have regular lessons. I would love more tips on how to keep my practice structured and what I should practice as an advanced harpist!

[@LearningtheHarp]

I’ll have to ask someone else for advice, because I’m not always the most structured myself 😆👌🏻

[@karissathatcher9206]

@@LearningtheHarp Well, at least we know we're not alone in that! :D

[@carmenfreeman693]

Thank you. 🙏

[@kyradearadodaday]

Christy-Lyn, how long did you take structured weekly lessons before you had the foundation to be self-taught?

[@LearningtheHarp]

1 year 8 months of weekly lessons, then my first teacher passed away so I taught myself for about 6 months while waiting for the next teacher to have space for me. Then I had a few more months of lessons and then my second teacher was no longer available. I would have liked to have done lessons for longer, until I stopped seeing rapid progress in my technique and complexity of pieces... but it didn’t happen. I took a few once-off classes when I visited another city where there were other harp teachers (I was preparing for a big harp exam), but otherwise I just did a lot of watching videos on KZbin and critiquing my technique.

[@LearningtheHarp]

But also keep in mind there are WAY more resources now to teach yourself online. And I was super serious about progressing. Some of my students have taken 3 months of lessons to get the basics of beginner technique, and taught themselves from there. It’s up to you 😊

[@kyradearadodaday]

@@LearningtheHarp Thank you for your thoughtful response. That gives me a great mental framework. I subscribed to your channel and look forward to your videos. You are so knowledgeable, direct, and optimistic (effervescent). Thank you for sharing your love of harp with us!

[@The_Art_of_Music_Official]

I am someone who is currently learning the harp (self taught), but am in a place where I cannot get to a teacher at all... any tips and resources for lesson books or whatnot?

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hi there, so good to hear from you! Such an exciting journey to be learning to play! 😃🎉 I used to recommend books but I’ve found that people got a lot more success when they followed step-by-step video instruction, so you can see exactly what you need to do, learn good technique, and also practice along with the video. So I create video courses which you can try, if you like? The first one is free 😃 www.learningtheharp.com/free-trial/

[@The_Art_of_Music_Official]

@@LearningtheHarp Thank you!

[@jocelynreyes9469]

Hi ! Thank you so much for sharing harp playing tips!How much does it cost to take harp video lessons with Cristy -Lyn? I am beginner and had bought a Drake lever harp. Thanks a lot. 😊

[@LearningtheHarp]

You can start with a free trial and get one free Video Course, and then after that you can either purchase courses one by one, or there are a few different membership options that give different prices per credit. More info: www.learningtheharp.com/ and www.learningtheharp.com/shop/ and www.learningtheharp.com/sign-up/

[@Lizriley-fi5zb]

How do I access your Patreon channel please?

[@alexolala2]

I really want to do this Instrument kindly help me on how I can access the Instrument

[@SURAH267]

Ye both great 👍 people

[@vehrkalia]

Tiffany, I fell in love with your harp! What harp is it?

[@tiffanyharpandsong]

Hi! It's made by Greg Meyer in Ohio.

[@vehrkalia]

@@tiffanyharpandsong thanks!

[@amandalovesmusic]

Any advice on how to get my 4 year old started? I only played violin in my youth , but she loves the harp. There are no Suzuki teachers around me for harp and the online lessons don’t cTch her attention

[@LearningtheHarp]

On Instagram check out the accounts raffer.tv and harpistkeziah. She is teaching her toddler to play harp, it’s inspiring!

[@chavaleah4]

have you checked out the new L&H "DRAKE lever harp & what do you think compared to the Ogden?? Thanks, Love your videos!!

[@LearningtheHarp]

I’ve seen it online but haven’t had a chance to try it yet. Interesting!!

[@ofhopbc2041]

What does a beginners course cost?

[@kathyhall3964]

Thankyou, I'm 68yrs, am I to old to lean to play the Harp

[@LearningtheHarp]

You’re not too old! There are even people in their 80s learning to play. If you are passionate and motivated, age won’t stop you!

[@elsdegroot9156]

I started at 69 and I love it. My teacher is happy with a pupil that’s so motivated to learn. I love watching your video’s and it’s really helpful to master specific aspects

[@qltygrl3187]

Do you have a video about the method books?

[@LearningtheHarp]

Not yet, but I’m making a beginner series very soon, where I’ll take you through all the first beginner concepts in a series of videos. I think we’ll be releasing it in 2 weeks! 😃

[@tiffanyharpandsong]

Yay! It's been fun re-living the memories from this summer :) I just realized I never gave you the other link we mentioned in this video with helpful KZbin channels - here it is! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmWXp5-LaNOcZpo

[@LearningtheHarp]

It was such fun!! Thanks for the link 👍🏻😘

[@jacomiententeije5417]

🎶🙂🎶

[@sethnakht12]

thanks , precisely what i needed !