Tweaking Hand Position for Effortless Playing (Student Feedback)

It's Feedback Friday! We're hearing from Roxanne today, and she has a very specific question about her technique. Hopefully, you can apply the feedback I give to your own playing!
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[@janetmyrick8063]

I came to harp from playing the guitar, able to read only the treble notes. Getting my hands to STOP going into a claw position was very, very difficult. I would walk around opening and closing my hands (French fries, not curly fries) to help overcome the bent wrist claw shape that my hands wanted to default to after 50 years of guitar. It was a tough habit to overcome, but I wanted to play the harp badly enough to do the work. It is amazing what one can accomplish if one doesn't give up, but I have a lot of sympathy for those in the midst of the struggle! I even taped my middle finger (loosely) toward my palm to keep it from jumping up until my hand learned to relax the middle finger while doing a 1-5-8. Your video was full of good information and genuine encouragement.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hey Janet, I really admire your perseverance and discipline! Awesome job on sticking with it, I hope making that change has allowed you to play more freely and comfortably 💚 --Carrie

[@sidhedances8582]

great feedback. Exercises helpful.

[@Velereonics]

Reading sheet music is so much easier than I think people expect. Reading while playing, sight-reading basically, is going to be harder on string instruments as opposed to winds since your hands are moving around, but I think what gets people is all the notation. I imagine it's also quite varied in harp music because like with piano and strings there's a lot more than just staccato, legato, a glissando, simpler stuff that dictates most of what winds do, but if people just learn the 4 basic note lengths and wander a few steps off the staff, they can brute force the rest.

[@PaisLeysaSkye]

Love the half of a heart movement !!! I always struggled with the shape I’m to create when I lift off!!!! THANK YOU

[@karissathatcher9206]

Such great tips! This is helpful to me as a teacher so i know how to help my own students! 😊

[@chantal2049]

Hi Carrie, thanks ever so much for this helpfull video!

[@LearningtheHarp]

You're so welcome, Chantal! Glad you found it useful 🤗

[@MrsHoeg]

This is so helpful!! Thank you!!!!

[@naomilacken152]

Yes! My 2nd looks like that playing the 6ths from C to F with 1st and 3rd fingers. This is a really big help! Thank you both so much! It annoys me every time I play it so very happy now😊❤

[@LearningtheHarp]

So glad you found this helpful for your own playing, Naomi! Glad to hear its been effective for you 😃 --Carrie

[@SharonCullenArt]

I used to have a pinky claw on LH only sometimes. I spent a few days taping it to my 4 finger with surgical tape! It actually worked.

[@okorolina]

I wasnt sure if having online lessons would really work for me bu after seeing this video, im so impressed that i will be signing up for lessons. I cant really afford the lessons in my area and traveling to the locations is hard on my schedule..

[@LearningtheHarp]

Oh wow that’s awesome! Carrie is a really great teacher, all her students love her. She’s so gentle and kind, and has a really good eye for detail so she can really give her students the help they need 🤗💕 You’ll love her lessons, I’m sure! Christy-Lyn xx

[@LearningtheHarp]

Have you had a similar struggle to Roxanne? Let us know in the comments!

[@denisemayosky1955]

I have, I think. But I try to keep my fingers down and relaxed like you guys say ("french fries, not curly fries!"), and it seems to help. But I will try the finger exercises!

[@TaisiaDanilova]

My favourite videos

[@bluebellmusik]

Hi! I have DEFINITELY had and still struggle with this problem. If I remember to think about it, it’s fine, but when I’m not watching it, oh boy, that 3rd finger has a mind of its own! I also love the heart shape idea and am trying to teach my right hand this technique. Right hand is tricky; it’s behind the strings & plays more so it’s easier to forget about lifting off on those longer notes. Thank you for the great tips ❤

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hi there, so glad you enjoyed the video ☺ It takes some intentionality at first, but once it's a habit it'll be so worth it! Keep up the great work ❤ --Carrie

[@TrinityDivineMozart]

That was cool and a wonderful feedback. 💛🎻

[@CzechJamie]

3rd finger right hand of mine seems a bit twisted at the last joint and i never noticed that before. ( I am 70 and a beginner.) That twist seems to cause a bit of a crossover so that when i place my fingers on the strings, i am having problems with a bit of crossing finger 4 onto the tip of finger 3.And finger 4 has a bit of a Dupuytren's contracture (when that finger is folded to the palm, it gets stuck in that position). When i bought my harp, i truly did not see that as a problem. Now, i seem to sometimes do okay, then, and seemingly most of the time, one finger interrupts the next finger. I haven't found a harp community. I tried last year to join this one but my US based credit card wouldn't allow the transaction. I think I will try, again. Thank you.

[@naomilacken152]

Playing Edelweiss I forgot to say!

[@kannette1]

What is the name of the harp you are playing - brand and specific harp name such as Dusty Strings Ravenna, etc? Thanks

[@LearningtheHarp]

Carrie is playing a Ravenna 34 😊👍🏻

[@Singer7771]

I’m 15 years old and hoping to start the harp soon! I already play piano and I sing as well and can’t wait to sing worship songs while playing the harp! I’ve been looking for a harp for a while now trying to be patient until the right one comes along, we can’t afford one that’s anymore than maybe $300 dollars. Do you have any recommendations for where to look since I’m just looking for a beginner harp?

[@LearningtheHarp]

That’s very exciting! See if you can find a second hand Harpsicle. That’s a good quality affordable harp. Even if you have to save for a few more months and buy a new Harpsicle for $600 that would be worth the wait rather than buying something cheaper that won’t last.

[@catholicdoula]

Love it - thanks. What's your website?

[@jeannieb.]

Very helpful video Carrie!❤ I'm kind of a mid beginner taking Christy Lynn's course and loving it!! There is so much to think about when learning a piece. I feel like the floating off motion is the least important at the moment lol. I've tried it many times and I don't feel very graceful with it😂. I love the way it looks, but I feel like learning the piece is more important in my mind I guess. Do I really need to slow down and learn this? I also find the strings, especially the lower strings, feel tight and take some muscle to pluck correctly, so floating off and pretending that I'm relaxed would almost look comical at this point. 7:38 I don't have the same smooth effortless look that you have when you're playing. I guess it takes time for hand and finger muscles to become stronger? I have a Dusty Strings Ravenna 34, as it appears you do as well? They aren't high-tension strings, but they feel like that to me with the lower and the higher strings.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hello! Glad you enjoyed the video 💚 You're so right, there is a lot to think about at once while learning to play! Lifting off the strings serves as an opportunity for your hand to relax and reset before returning to the strings, so I would try implementing it as early on as you can. I think it's harder to break habits than build them, so the sooner you can make it a habit the better! With that being said, I really do get that it can feel overwhelming with all there is to keep track of when playing. I would recommend just choosing 1-2 things to focus on at a time during a practice session, and then spend the next day reviewing those things and then focus on another aspect of playing. And repeat that throughout the week. I think you'll see more progress that way vs. trying to perfect everything at the same time. In terms of the strings tension, I would recommend watching the previous "Feedback Friday" video if you haven't yet and implementing the finger strengthening exercise I go over with Krystriana in the video. I hope that helps ♥ --Carrie

[@sradefarras]

My harp teacher calls it “rabbit ears”

[@LearningtheHarp]

That’s a good one! 😅