How to improvise on the harp

[@resamunde7650]

Dear Anne, thank you for that inspirational video, your tips and examples! I feel very happy discovering that I'm already using many of your suggestions when I improvise on my harp. I also thought for a long time that improvising or composing is something only geniuses are capable of... now I know that this is not true and that you can learn it just like any other skill. It takes some musical experience and technical know-how but most of all it takes courage and curiosity. It's so much easier using a song or piece you are already comfortable with and slowly trying to modify it. It's really about playing around, trying out many things and deciding which musical ideas sound best to you. And it's so much fun! The music starts to become alive in a way that it simply doesn't do when you just play by written notes. Thanks again for your inspiration and motivation! Greetings, Theresa

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

Resa Munde Beautifully said, Theresa! Thank you so much for taking the time to write this thoughtful message! I’m so glad these tips support what you have already discovered about improvising. 🎶💕

[@claudiamirandaharpaterapia]

Very nice. Thank you!

[@irenechiang1153]

Thank you for teaching me.

[@pamelabusby18]

I loved that using amazing grace and the outcome! Will try it!

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

Good for you, enjoy! 🎶❤️

[@maurarussi6910]

This was really helpful. Thank you!

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

You’re welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed it! ♫♥️♫

[@rondelby2482]

Good video I improvise a lot on songs on my harp I never play the melody the same on 2nd verse. I improvise ot go up octive and also play a little differenr. This makes it and audience will not get tired of it after 1st round.

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

That sounds like a good strategy for improvising! Thanks for watching!

[@valeriacapri5058]

Dear Anna I'm an amatoriale Harpist since 2009 and my first instrument is the piano...you are a very inspirational and simple to understand..I really enjoy the way you explain concepts

[@kristinasterling815]

Love the idea of teaching how to improvise on the harp for harp therapy. I already play piano and am studying online how to play by ear with Karen Cuneo Ramirez. I ordered my first harp which is to come between Feb and April. In the meantime I am studying and listening as I would like to do harp therapy someday too! Do you take a lap harp or celtic harp with you? Do you have to go through credentialling to do this? Thank you for sharing your talent and knowledge. Tina

[@sthom4bad]

These are fantastic tips. Permission to simplify is so important. As someone with many years of classical training on another instrument, I was trained to believe than any small departure from the written score is a "mistake" and that playing "hard" music is evidence of real musicianship. It's going to be a challenge undoing that cramping, but this will help me.

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

Working as a harp therapist for a number of years really helped me appreciate simplicity. I have no regrets for my classical piano training, but I am so pleased that I chose a very different path with my harp.

[@ChoirFly]

Great tips! Permission to simplify is so profound. Thanks for sharing your gifts!

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

ChoirFly You’re welcome! Thanks for watching 🎶

[@christinatodd3912]

Wonderful. Thank you Anne. I've always found improvisation scary and I thought unattainable for me but I'm beginning to change my feelings about this after going through your lesson. I have been playing Drifting for a long time now and love it. I will now include your tips to learn the basics of improvisation . This is very exciting. It's strange as my father didn't know a note of music but could sit at the piano and play by ear including classical pieces. I've always had to have the sheet music. As always I'm very grateful for your kindness. This is another window to a new adventure for me on my harp journey,😊

[@SusanCarolHarpSinger]

Fantastic improvisation ideas & suggestions, Anne - thank you so much for taking time to share these! 💕🎶

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

Thank Susan, I appreciate that!

[@evolenet8039]

"Learn to mix and match patterns" : yes! Thank you for the great tip, just what I needed. I like the idea of changing the melody too!

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

Glad you liked that! Have fun!

[@animamunde9112]

I learn so much from your videos, And your compositions are wonderful. Thank you

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

You are so welcome! Glad it was helpful!

[@bdnewfound]

Wow, Anne. So very helpful!! Thank you for sharing your expertise. I agree that setting parameters is key! Your tips show clearly what those parameters can be.

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

Great! Glad it was helpful. Just sprinkling little idea seeds.

[@Meltiqueful]

Loved this video - great tips! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and expertise with us!

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

Amelia Gerlach Thanks for watching, Amelia 💕

[@Itried20takennames]

Thanks! Your videos are a great resource. Thanks for your time in making them.

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

Thank you, I appreciate that!

[@jeanninevermette933]

Great suggestions on improvisations! Thanks!

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

Glad it was helpful!

[@naomistephens7716]

Thank you this video is perfect, its the direction I want to take with my harp

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

So glad this was helpful, Naomi. Improvising is wonderful to explore at the harp.

[@ReenBlom]

The link to Studio doesn't work. Love Amazing Grace in disguise!

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

I have a new website for online harp lessons: musicdiscoveries.podia.com/online-harp-lessons

[@katiepresby9224]

I enjoy your videos and your music so much! Some of your pieces are are so lovely -- and I'm able to achieve them with some practice! (although still struggling on one little section of "Flying Free" -- LOL)

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

Oh good for you, Flying Free is one of the trickier ones!

[@webbfamilyau]

Hi Anne, this music is so relaxing and beautiful to listen to. You mentioned Harp Therapy. Where can I learn more about Harp Therapy? thanks, Fiona

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

Hi Fiona, thanks for watching! If you google “harp therapy programs” you will discover several excellent ones. Personally I did Harps For Healing, so I am a Certified Clinical Musician.

[@GaryBook]

It is important that people do the work to learn music theory and scales and modes. Once you do that, it is easier. As Miles Davis said, practice your scales. Knowing piano is also very helpful to see scales, because the have has eight strings, you are already in the key with the levers. Rick Beato on KZbin has the best lessons.

[@dspeelmanable]

When you arrange music, do you have a program that hears the notes and automatically puts notes in, or do you have to physically write notes into a program.

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

I type the notes in manually, it's faster for me.

[@dspeelmanable]

@@annecrosbygaudetmusic ive always enjoyed trying to improvise, but after playing some of your arrangements and your teaching videos, it has really motivated me to really pursue this further. Thank you❤

[@GaryBook]

The first piece is in the key of C, which would be only the white keys on the piano, C D E F G A B C and only using the chords C Dm Em F G Am Bdim C.

[@samanthathompson9812]

The difficulty I run into with improvisation (say, with ornamentation in celtic music) is in adapting finger placement on the fly. When not improvising (which is most of the time), I have to map out the choreography of the placement and fingering ahead of time. So if you don't know what you're playing ahead of time, how do you finger "properly"? I understand that with familiar chordal patterns fingering will be automatic, but what about if you put an ornament in randomly - I find that throws me off my muscle memory of that piece and there's then a domino effect of scrambling around.

[@annecrosbygaudetmusic]

If you feel like you are scrambling around, remember that "less is more" :) Try starting more simply and with more room to breathe. I have a hunch that will help!