How to play hands together (without pauses!)

[@LearningtheHarp]

Time stamps for this video: 00:00 Introduction 00:37 Why you're getting hands together wrong 01:50 First section of Amazing Grace 02:44 What most people would do at this point... 03:39 Second section of Amazing Grace 05:24 How to practice to get hands together smoothly 05:50 Joining part 1 and part 2 07:16 How to break a song down 07:52 Playing part 1 and part 2 together 09:04 Why this method works

[@lizschafer519]

Thank you for posting this!! I'm a harp newbie and the two-hands-together has been such a struggle! 🙂

[@LearningtheHarp]

Such a pleasure! 😃 If you haven’t yet claimed your free Video Course to learn any of our songs at your level, I recommend that you get it because I take you through learning hands together in this way, during the song! Learningtheharp.com/free-trial

[@jeannieb.]

This was so helpful Chrysty-Lyn! I had not seen this video before. It was the one I needed! Been really struggling with pausing. But now I understand why and will slow it down and take one little section at a time until I really get it down. Thank you so much! By the way, does there ever come a time where you don't have to think about what the next phrase is? I see professional harpists just smiling and their hands are flying and they're having a great time. That's where I would love to be one day!

[@jackiemorrison6024]

This is great... both hands together is my problem...

[@champiyo]

I came back to say THANK YOU Christy Lyn for this BRILLIANT method of breaking a melody into small sections vertically!! This method just saved me! I almost lost self-confidence in harp learning (even in music learning as it's the first and only instrument that I know) and abandoned because of the struggles between two hands, thanks to you, I picked all up this summer and made great progress. I'm so proud of myself and will keep learning from you!! ❤️

[@greylight5]

Coming back to say - it works! Two days of practice and I've only learned two lines of a song, but I can play those two lines faster, more smoothly and effortlessly than I've ever been able to play before. I can even play them with my eyes closed. I combined this method with splitting up the hands, making sure to learn it piece by piece like this first with both hands together. Then once I was comfortable with that I worked on each hand separately until I could play it faster, perfectly smooth without any mistakes. Put the hands back together, a little more practice, and it's like I don't even have to think about it. My hands just know what to do. Sorry, just really excited. 😊 I've been trying for ten years to learn the harp and couldn't get past a slow, halting pace, carefully reading the music as I went and looking at my hands to place them for every chord. This is the breakthrough I needed! Thanks again.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Wow wow wow!! What an amazing breakthrough!! 😃😃😃😃 I’m SO happy for you, Jessica! Thanks for posting your comment here, I’m sure it will encourage others to give it a proper try like you did. WELL DONE!! ❤️

[@rondelby2482]

Pretty song. I now play it with some ornamentals also. I get requests for it and once played it at a memorial service

[@SamanthaBallard]

I love how in sync we are with teaching these concepts XD that's exactly how I teach hands together too. Practicing placing between chunks is the key (without playing the next chunk)! One of my teaching catchphrases is "The hard part is getting to the string, once you're there you can play it no problem." Of course sometimes at the beginning just playing can be hard but once you've got the basics I find it's always a placing that trips people up

[@LearningtheHarp]

Ooooh so true!! I like the catchphrase 👌🏻😁 Thanks for the comments Samantha, it’s always so nice to hear from you ❤️

[@dedecallichy7446]

Thanls so much for your gentle and encouraging teaching. I improve so much!

[@LearningtheHarp]

That’s wonderful to hear! Keep it up, Dede 😃😃

[@moirbasso7051]

"Amazing progress!" I love that you are honest enough to realize when you made a verbal ha-ha. Brava on the teaching! "Slow and steady wins the race," my Suzuki teacher used to tell my kids. She was right.

[@markusfaller1333]

This is really one of the most important thing: don't wait too long to bring hands together; since I lean from the lessons of Chisty-Lyn I can play the right and left hand together smoothly. The hands should be not noticed as separate but like a coupled tool, as if they are a pair of scissors. And this works only if you practice very small sections. Thanks for all your tips!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Wonderful, well done!! 😃 That’s a good comparison.

[@clairelecuyer]

I totally agree! I think this is the MOST important tip I ever learnt thanks to Christy-Lyn, and it really made the difference, after having struggled for a while... I practice this with her lessons but also forces myself to do the same with the other pieces I learn from sheet music, and it works :)

[@phild1977]

This is the key to learning any instrument. Thank you for such a clear explanation.

[@criicket3178]

Thanks for all the help! I've played the piano for 15 years and took up the harp 4 years ago, but I stopped the harp after about a year. I finally restrung it and want to take it up again now that I have a bit more time. Your videos have been very helpful in bringing back what I learned when I was taking lessons :) Thank you!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Oh that’s lovely. It’s so great that you’re getting back into it. Well done for trying again! 😃

[@francishetherton1837]

Very important lesson. Thank you

[@MarionTomsett]

Am so happy - thank you !

[@TaisiaDanilova]

It's wonderful!!! You're the best!

[@sleepbootbianca]

Altough I ‘know’ this methode already from your Video Lesson Club, it was still refreshing to see this video!! Keeps me Sharp;-))

[@LearningtheHarp]

Haha, that’s great!

[@greylight5]

This is just what I needed!! I've always been told to practice the hands separately, but when putting them together, even on songs I've been playing for years, there's always hesitation. Too many fingers to place at the same time, trying to think how the rhythm goes, especially when the left hand is on the off beat. I am going to take some of the songs I already know and break them down like this, and see if I can get them smoother - maybe even memorize them.

[@lovetoplayharp]

This is really helpful, Christy-Lyn. It is also encouraging that I can progress further without the pauses. I've had good teachers, but maybe the placing ahead just didn't sink in the way it is with what you are teaching. Or maybe I've just reached a level where placing ahead is paramount if I'm to play at a higher level. Anyway. This is hitting right on the spot for me. Thank you!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Oh it’s so wonderful to make progress on something you’ve been working on for a while. Well done!! 😃🙌🏻

[@carmenfreeman693]

Thank you. 🙏 🎶

[@SirineSerenade]

Thank u so much ! I have difficulties playing two different tempos with the right and left hand...

[@joangalea4408]

BIG THANK YOU

[@Meltiqueful]

Great video!

[@helenwalton7892]

Totally brilliant thank you

[@heidipaloma3308]

What harp is that youre playing on"? I love it! And this is great advice. I should have learned trick this sooner! totally makes sense.

[@LearningtheHarp]

This is an Ogden from Lyon & Healy. If you decide to purchase one someday please tell them that you saw me playing it on KZbin, because it helps them to see how much KZbin encourages people to buy harps 😊

[@margaretlooney2174]

It's like you are talking about me and my struggles putting the 2 hands together 🙂🙈.. l love the way you teach. I have learned over the rainbow and am now working on sally gardens.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hehe that’s funny! 😂 Maybe I’ve been watching you practice 👀

[@margaretlooney2174]

@@LearningtheHarp 🤣🤣

[@barbaragittings5523]

Thanks Christie-Lyn, this is so helpful, definitely trying this tonight 😊

[@LearningtheHarp]

Ooh let me know how it goes!!!

[@jacomiententeije5417]

Such a good video!

[@sleepbootbianca]

What a lovely new ‘ intro’. You have on your video’s! Love it, very professional;-)

[@celticjanet]

Great help.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Yay thanks Janet! 😃

[@joangalea4408]

christy lyn. love this, much appreciated. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[@CarlCravens]

This sounds very similar to learning to play a combined medley on the guitar... where you play two songs at the same time. Tommy Emmanuel explained that you can't just learn to play one song, learn to play the second, and then just combine them. The two songs together are a _new song_ and you have to learn it all at once. It seems to me learning the two hands separately on the harp is the same problem... you've learned two different songs and you can't just play a different song with each hand at the same time, because your brain needs to learn both hands together as the single song they are.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Exactly!! 👌🏻

[@SharonCullenArt]

I’m playing 16 string lyre and this was so helpful. One day I may want to learn harp but I also play flute so I have to decide! I am playing my lyres with low notes facing away so that it will be an easier transition later. But I am playing melody left handed. Is it okay to learn harp on right shoulder with hands reversed?

[@jenbyrne6831]

Hello,I just love Celtic mucic,so I bought a 10 string lyre in hopes I can learn to play it,I was wondering if you could help me.my back ground is not very musically inclined 🙂 thank you, also I am a very new subscriber. Jenny

[@jayjustjay6306]

You mention it’s okay if at first you have a slight buzz when replacing the hands. Why is that? Does that lessen as you get more accurate with replacing? I have lots of buzzing troubles when playing low bass with my left hand doing those Rossi 4 finger ascending scales you showed in a previous video. Thanks for all the great content!!

[@faithtay2423]

The lever all down ? At what key to play Amazing Grace? Thank you

[@LearningtheHarp]

I play Amazing Grace in the key of C. If your harp is tuned in C it will be with your levers all down 😊

[@ruthpoirier7389]

Thank you Christy-Lyn this has been a help for me. You asked if we have ever played another instrument with two hands and I have tried and still try to play the piano but that pesky left hand is always a problem. My note reading in the bass clef is weak so I have opted to play the piano with using the cord symbols instead to make it easier... cheating I know.... but it works for me... I do have a question about the Video club. I am such a beginner at the harp (only have 3 lessons done) and I am wondering at what level the lessons are done at?. I have enjoyed this Amazing Grace segment but am concerned that I will be getting in over my head.... can you help me out. Thank you I look forward to your reply

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hi Ruth, great to hear from you! I’m glad you explained your situation because that helps me to understand where you are at with your harp playing so I can make a recommendation. When you say you’ve done 3 harp lessons, do you mean you’re currently taking weekly one-to-one lessons with a teacher? If so, it would be good to just keep going with the materials your teacher recommends for the first month or two. After that perhaps you could join the video lesson club as an additional resource. The lessons are mid to late beginner 👍🏻 If you are not taking lessons at the moment, I would say that the video lesson club would be a good choice, but maybe wait a bit before joining because some of the lessons I’m releasing will be a bit too advanced for you right now. Before you join, I would recommend you start with my video called “how to play the harp: start here” and follow all 14 of those videos with your harp. Once you’ve done those, you could get the beginner bundle of video lessons which includes After the Rain, a great first piece. And once you’ve done those three in the bundle, you’ll have a good idea of whether you like using the video lessons. At that point you could decide if you would like to join the video lesson club 😊

[@ruthpoirier7389]

@@LearningtheHarp Thank you so much your answer is clear and Yes I have had only 3 lessons but because I started at the end of her 12 sessions I will restart my lessons on the 24th of July for the next 12 weeks which will take me into October. You are great and I appreciate so much your simple yet very clear way of helping students to advance. By the way I am 61 years young and have fallen in love with my harp practicing (it will perhaps help me to adventure more into my piano skills). I can't seem to get enough playing I really want to advance quickly but I can see by your video that I must be patient... all the mistakes you mentioned I have done with my piano (self learned for the most part) and I do not want to struggle like I do presently with piano skills and having a musical piece inconsistently played . I want to be able to play it perfectly each time I play and with confidence. Thank you so much... you are a real help to all of us. P"S" Your explanation of your younger years with your piano teacher is what I needed to hear... I am a perfectionist in many ways and very hard on myself at times. I have sat at the piano and cried because of inconsistant playing especially when played in a public place like at church. I practice and practice and as soon as I play at church I make mistakes all the time.... Nerves is what I blamed but now perhaps it was more than that... thanks again.... have a wonderful day God Bless

[@brendalee6155]

Christy, how do I order a piece of your music? Thank you.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hi Brenda! You can go to my website www.learningtheharp.com/shop 😊

[@rondelby2482]

When I make videos I pause in some songs but when I am not recording I do ok. Is that kind of like a stage fright?

[@LearningtheHarp]

Yes, I’m sure that’s what it is. It happens to most people so you’re not alone! The more you do it the easier it will get ❤️ It’s really good practice for performing for people, too!

[@rondelby2482]

@@LearningtheHarp Thanks Christy that is wonderful advice and it will help me

[@christinehowansky7160]

Is this in C?

[@LearningtheHarp]

Yip! 👌🏻