Beginning Harp Lessons: How to Buy a Harp | Cymber Lily Quinn | Rosalani Music Academy

Choosing a harp for the first time can feel overwhelming. There is a lot of information and lots of decisions to make.
In this video, I'll walk you through the various things you'll want to think about as you choose your first harp.
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Your First Harp consultation is just a website away. Stop by my website, RoslaniMusic.net, and ask your questions. Sign up for a free first lesson and let's chat!
Rosalani Music - online & in Hawaii
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rosalanimusic.net/harp-lessons/
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She was named a Master Teacher at The Music Place, a children’s music school in California. She has completed Level III training of , a body-based singing instruction style. She is also trained in Heart-Based Singing, and Sounding Circles sound healing techniques.
She has won 5 Big Island Music Awards for her harp music, was awarded as a Music Achiever by the National League of American Pen Women. And she has been featured on National Public Radio and Hawai’i Public Radio. She especially enjoys playing the music of Hawai’i’s last monarch, Queen Lili’uokalani.
Cymber grew up in a musical family, in a musical town - Greeley, Colorado. She lived on the Big Island of Hawai’i for 15 years, and recently returned to her roots in Parker, Colorado. She plays harp and sings professionally.
Her goal is to support children and adults in learning music the way they want. And to help professional musicians make a living while have a good home life wherever they live.
For more information, pricing and to schedule a trial lesson, text or email [e-mail].

[@ms863]

Solid and interesting content. I got into the history of Harps more when I found out they have holy in purifying abilities that can rebuke demonic activity and improve your overall mood and space

[@deenibeeniable]

What a nice presentation. You are so well spoken. I know absolutely nothing about harps, but very recently I stumbled (happily) on a video of Lavinia Meijer playing Philip Glass's "Metamorphosis" & I was just floored. Then I saw a video of Brandon Acker & Keryn Wouden doing Mishima. So now I'm suddenly interested in harps, how they are made & kinds of harps. I'm glad I found your video.

[@soulpatch59]

My heart broke. I fell in love with the head and especially the sound of the Paraguayan in your other video. John Kovac's website says it is no longer available!

[@CymberLilyQuinn]

Oh no! I didn't know that. If you live near a harp store, they might sell Paraguayan harps. There are lots of good harp makers.

[@CODpwns4]

So far the only instruments I play are the guitar (acoustic and electric), piano, and the ukelele. This is the next instrument that I seek to learn. Thank you for your wisdom Ms. Quinn! However, I'll have to save up before I purchase... Sorta a broke college kid over here haha

[@permartinsteen7047]

Yes, yes, very intelligent.

[@user-kh9ki3kq8m]

I tried building a harp with my grandfather and I failed miserably... now I just have 36 strings, and 82 pins lying around my house nagging me about how I don't have a harp...

[@CymberLilyQuinn]

Contact your local luthier for help. A good guitar maker can also help you sort out the harp parts. Good luck!

[@leonorbelo]

Hi Cymber I just fund Your videos and i'm delightful! I love your delicacy to play the harp. Btw I've always wanted to play the harp but never could pay for classes I'm 20 now but do you think that if I buy a fullsicle Harp I could learn the basis and even play very simple musics through youtube ? What is your experience ? xoxo Eleanor

[@susannekalejaiye4351]

Eleanor Belo You asked about harps about 2 months ago. I’ve been playing harp for 5 years now. Your question: can you learn to play using lessons on KZbin… yes, but most of the lessons get “advanced” rather faster than we “learners” do.The harpsicle, (or fullsicle) is a good little harp to get. They have a great reputation. I spent about 3 months choosing my harp (full levers 30 strings) after investigating about seven different harp makers (no I didn’t get a harpsicle but I am considering getting one just so I can travel and play). By far the harpsicle harps are the “best deal” when considering: money size and weight. After getting my harp, I found very quickly that I want MORE strings - and so far almost everyone I’ve spoken to who has gotten a harp has the SAME reaction. BUT, if it is a choice between harp and no harp… go with the harp!All the best! Susanne

[@CymberLilyQuinn]

Hi Eleanor, I also started playing harp by getting a small harp and playing by using "teach yourself" books and videos. You can definitely start this way, but I highly encourage you to get a teacher - either locally or online. There are some posture and hand positions that can make playing a lot simpler -- or a lot more painful and lead to injuries.

[@georgcantor7172]

According to Alfredo Colman in his book, ___The Paraguayan Harp: From Colonial Transplant to National Emblem___, the Paraguayan harp had its roots from the Jesuit Missionaries who brought the instrument with them for their liturgical practices (apparently Jesuit Catholics used the harp in their Church services). The harp was then introduced to the Guaranis (the people indigenous to Paraguay whom the Jesuits called "los indios"), and the Guaranis took the harp as their own and modified it. (Interestingly, the Jesuits thought the Guarnais were too stupid to play, let alone build, a harp. There was a lot racism back then. And for a while the Guarnaris were made into slaves. ) Colman doesn't write that the Celts brought their harps to South America and modified it into the Paraguayan harp. Instead, Colman states that the Guarnaris modified the Jesuits' harp to fit their environment and needs. Colman writes, " In 1607, the Superior General of the Order created the Jesuit Provence of Paraguay for the purpose of evangelizing the Guaranis." These Jesuits brought with them the harp, the guitar, and a whole lot of trouble. Colman makes it sound that the Jesuits in Paraguay were from either Italy, Spain, or Portugal or all three. In any case, the Pope from Rome was supporting these Jesuits.

[@CymberLilyQuinn]

This is very interesting! Thank you for sharing. I have never heard of a Jesuit harp. Could you point me to a picture or article? Thanks!

[@georgcantor7172]

@@CymberLilyQuinn , Sure! Check out Alfredo Colman's book titled, ___The Paraguayan Harp: From Colonial Transplant to National Emblem___. You can get it at your public library. If your public library doesn't have the book, then you can ask the librarians there if they can borrow the book from the Library of Congress, which does have the book. Most public libraries have this relationship w/ the LoC. My public library has. :) Coleman's book has pictures (B&W) and the anatomy of the harp.

[@CymberLilyQuinn]

@@georgcantor7172 , I'll check it out. A cursory Google search says that the Jesuits took European harps, so now I'm fascinated to find out what they took with them...thanks!

[@KrowndPrince]

can you explain the difference between double string and single...also what is the closest type of harp that is biblical? (if that makes any sense) i know about harrariharps but wondering if there is any other alternatives

[@CymberLilyQuinn]

+beatlechick14 Thanks for answering this question! :)

[@CymberLilyQuinn]

Harps in the Bible, I believe, were a class of instruments that had multiple strings and no fretboard, and included L-shaped Egyptian harps, lutes, and the familiar triangular shape we have today. When God sent demons to earth (look it up), King David sent them back with his harp, which was probably more like a lute.

[@beatlechick14]

+Cymber Lily Quinn There were two Hebrew words used in the bible that were translated as "harp". Kinnor is the one King David played and it was more like a lyre. I've read the bible and have learned a lot about David. He never banished demons from the world (that's in God's hands). When an evil spirit came over King Saul, David would play his lyre and the spirit would leave him. (1 Samuel 16:23) Here's a link for a little more on the two Hebrew words that were originally translated as harp, biblehub.com/topical/h/harp.htm 😊

[@CymberLilyQuinn]

+beatlechick14 Thanks so much for this additional information. I love learning new ways of looking at things. :)

[@nunyabiz334]

Would this type of smaller harp do well in a very humid environment?

[@CymberLilyQuinn]

Yes, these harps do very well in humid climates. What harps *don't* like is change. They hate going from dry climates to wet climates and back again. If you need to take your harp to various climates - maybe you're a world-traveling harpist - then you might look at a carbon fiber harp. It stays the same no matter what the climate.

[@fatimaaquino7426]

Hello there! I want to deeply learn how to play the harp, but I don't want to purchase one to sudden just in case I don't feel into it, so I was wondering would the teachers have their harps for their student beginners to learn and later on purchase one?

[@susannekalejaiye4351]

Hello Fatima Aquino, You have an wonderful question about harp teachers which you asked five months ago. If you find harp teachers in your area, you must ask them. They might have harps, but if they do not have harps for students, they may know of students who are selling a harp. Best of luck with this wonderful instrument

[@CymberLilyQuinn]

Hello! I also started with an inexpensive harp "in case I didn't like it". I encourage you rent several different harps from your teacher or your local harp store. It's good to try several harps before purchasing one.

[@zetax7397]

Hello, I am interested in getting a rees harpsicle without any levers but I don't know if it is worth it to not get levers. Is it worth the extra $200? I don't know how to play yet

[@beatlechick14]

Hi I'm a harpist too! I have a lap harp with no levers and a petite pedal harp (and I just sold a fully levered larger folk harp). Choosing a harp is a super personal decision. In my experience I prefer having it fully levered. I like to play pieces without accidentals but if one comes up I have the lever! But I might be buying a non-levered harpsicle soon too! Non-levered harps are fantastic for beginners, so I like to rent it out for lessons. Also it makes the harp a tiny bit lighter. So you really need to see what kind of music you want to play and if it would work without those levers.

[@CymberLilyQuinn]

+beatlechick14 Thanks for your great insights. I totally agree that buying a harp is a personal decision. I sometimes tell students that the best way to buy a harp is like Harry Potter going to the wand store. It's not so much that you pick the harp, but that it picks you. I encourage them to go to the nearest harp store and play all of them. Then see which one speaks to them. The big black harp you see in the background came into my life that way. It's a Salvi Egan electroacoustic. I wasn't going to buy a big harp that day, but I had an immediate and deep connection to it. It's actually too large for my little body, but every time I put my fingers on the strings, I'm in love again. Which is why every time I try to sell it, it never sells. That said, a lot of my students don't know what kind of music the want to play, and so I have learned to simplify the buying process for them, knowing that pretty quickly, they *will* know what kind of music they want to play, and they can switch.

[@caryscats9124]

I want your first harp where to get it ?

[@CymberLilyQuinn]

This is a Harpsicle Harp from Rees Harps in Indiana.

[@Mr.Ali_Ryuji]

Hi just suggestion maybe you can remake your video with more clearer voice and more lesson for beginner. btw I love harp but still couldn't decide what type of harp should I buy first for beginner let say if I want to use it in long term. Kuddos for your video.

[@CymberLilyQuinn]

Yes, I will be remaking this video soon with new harps and new information. Until then, I recommend that you rent your first harps. Check with your local harp store for rentals.

[@Yos576]

Can Paraguayan music be played on any of them?

[@CymberLilyQuinn]

Yes, you can play Paraguayan music on any harp.

[@Yos576]

Cymber Lily Quinn 👌 thanks :)

[@dennychibuye8825]

Are your harp lessons free?

[@CymberLilyQuinn]

The first lesson is free. After that I offer one-off lessons, and quarterly and annual packages up to one year. Private message me, and let's chat...

[@kwantumspin]

you talk like noam chomsky