How nice that I'm learning to play the harp, not the drums or the trumpet! It's been a very enjoyable lesson from a very kind and beautiful teacher! Thanks, Christy-Lyn!
I actually learned on a pedal harp in college and I'm finally saving up for a harp of my own. While I'm still just waiting I'm going to study up on these things I didn't learn especially!
I actually CHOSE to get this piece because of my aversion to lever changes that I wanted to get over. I'm so pleased to discover it IS possible thanks to your very detailed description and excellent video course of the music.
I'm a bit too early in my rediscovery of the harp yet but I've been sure to check if there's any lever changes in music I want to play. I'm amazed with how detailed and well explained your videos are. You really explain the whole physicality of the different technique so well. Thank you thank you thank you
Yep but I’ve only been playing three weeks. I completed Sally Gardens and I loved it. I need to smooth it out a bit. I also learned your versions of amazing Grace and Scarborough Fair. Right now I’m working on Nearer My God. I have avoided lever changes but it gas only been 3 weeks for me. I do have a question though. I noticed that the crystals make it easy to find my notes, but when I put my f# I could no longer see the crystal and I had to stop to find it! Maybe I should put another crystal in the under side? What do you think?
Truly lovely and so beautiful to see such passion and love to teach and heal and relax and bless people peace be with you always and a lovely Christmas 🙂🤗🥰 God bless
Watching your video I had to remember that it is nearly summer in South Africa now. Where I live in Germany, there is no snow and probably won't be over Christmas. But the temperatures are quite low and the sky is grey. I like it that way, though.
I only played pieces without lever changes so far (where I had to put some levers up at the beginning and then could start playing without needing to change during the play). My levers take rather much effort to pull up, I need a good amount of strength. It´s not too difficult if I do it before playing, but during the play I am afraid I would jostle my harp too much because of the strength I have to use to get the lever up. Though my harp is rather new, maybe the tension wil change once I use the levers more often
@@LearningtheHarp That would be great. You sing very well and it puts tears in my eyes. Our language is being revived now in my country 💓 Tapadh leat gu mòr
It doesn’t really work to bend pitch with the levers, but you can do it by pressing on the string above the bridge pin. Some harp players do it quite a lot, for example Deborah Henson-Conant, Catriona McKay, Maeve Gilchrist etc.
This was Christy Lynn! Probably would be super helpful for one that is a little more advanced than I. 🙂 This is going to be a very very basic, probably dumb question, but I'm a beginner! I am trying to attempt a song with a couple of sharps in it, and I'm seeing the sharps at the beginning of the piece by the treble clef but I can't tell exactly which notes they are. The sharp signatures are cockeyed and look like they could be on two different lines. How does a beginner tell which notes they are exactly and which levers to put up? I know I need a personal teacher, but can't really afford one just yet.
Thank you so much for this information. I'm considering buying a 33 string "harpsicle" w/levers. Anyway, my only experience with the harp was many years ago. I rented a full size pedal harp from my teacher. There is a bit difference (as far as cost and operation) between the two. I like concerned about the ability of adding an "accidental" with the lever harp. I have a lot of experience with the piano and the guitar. Do you think the 33 string Harpsicle (it cost about 2000 on Amazon) would be a good choice? I really didn't want to spend $9000 plus on a pedal harp. Thanks again! Amie
Hi Amelia. Good to hear from you! Harpsicle is a good company that make reliable harps, but everyone will have a different preference for the “feel” and tone of a harp, which is hard to tell without trying it in person. There are quite a few different harp companies that make harps in the $2000-3000 range. Is there a way you could visit a harp shop to try playing different harps? Or perhaps rent a harp for a while before deciding?
No one likes stress but we can always learn to manage it. Keep it up!
Excellent !
Lever change 'on a beat' = brilliant
Yay! That idea really helps me 😃
This was incredibly helpful, in my eyes you are the best harp teacher on UA-cam ❤️🎶
Awww thanks so much, Nick! 😍
I agree.
@@SharonCullenArt me too!!
How nice that I'm learning to play the harp, not the drums or the trumpet! It's been a very enjoyable lesson from a very kind and beautiful teacher! Thanks, Christy-Lyn!
I actually learned on a pedal harp in college and I'm finally saving up for a harp of my own. While I'm still just waiting I'm going to study up on these things I didn't learn especially!
Thank you for this information.
Thank you!
QUESTION OF THE DAY: Have you ever avoided a piece because it has lever changes? I know I have... 😁
I actually CHOSE to get this piece because of my aversion to lever changes that I wanted to get over. I'm so pleased to discover it IS possible thanks to your very detailed description and excellent video course of the music.
I'm a bit too early in my rediscovery of the harp yet but I've been sure to check if there's any lever changes in music I want to play. I'm amazed with how detailed and well explained your videos are. You really explain the whole physicality of the different technique so well. Thank you thank you thank you
Of course YES, so many times :D Thank you for these tips !
Yep but I’ve only been playing three weeks. I completed Sally Gardens and I loved it. I need to smooth it out a bit. I also learned your versions of amazing Grace and Scarborough Fair. Right now I’m working on Nearer My God. I have avoided lever changes but it gas only been 3 weeks for me. I do have a question though. I noticed that the crystals make it easy to find my notes, but when I put my f# I could no longer see the crystal and I had to stop to find it! Maybe I should put another crystal in the under side? What do you think?
Thanks for breaking down the steps like this, very helpful!
Such a pleasure, Sandra! Hope you got all the detail you needed 👍🏻
Awesome teacher! You make it look so easy!
Wonderful video and just in the nick of time for me! Thanks for helping us make all the nitty-gritty (slightly scary) stuff look so effortless!
Aw, that’s a lovely thing to say! I’m glad to help ☺️
Thank you I've always avoided music with lever changes. Now I wont be so scared of them.
That was very helpful! Thank you!
I use colored bands that I got for my lever changes...they are white and yellow so they can be picked out quickly during my changes. FYI
Truly lovely and so beautiful to see such passion and love to teach and heal and relax and bless people peace be with you always and a lovely Christmas 🙂🤗🥰 God bless
Thanks Glenn, you too!
This is exactly what I need! Lever changes=train wrecking in my brain! This helps enormously!!!
Hehe, that’s funny! Glad it helped 👍🏻👍🏻
This was really informative, thank you!
Yay! It’s such a pleasure, glad to help!
Wonderful!! That's another super-helpful and inspiring video 🤗
Thanks Javier! 😃😃
Great tips! Thanks!
Thanks Amelia!
Watching your video I had to remember that it is nearly summer in South Africa now.
Where I live in Germany, there is no snow and probably won't be over Christmas.
But the temperatures are quite low and the sky is grey.
I like it that way, though.
Yes it’s summer here! Pretty mild, with some hot days. But enough breeze to keep it pleasant.
This is so very helpful! What type of levers do you have, Christy-Lyn? They look much easier and smoother to use than my Lovelands.
These are “performance levers” from Lyon and Healy. They are specifically made by L&H for their harps. I like them 😃👍🏻
I only played pieces without lever changes so far (where I had to put some levers up at the beginning and then could start playing without needing to change during the play). My levers take rather much effort to pull up, I need a good amount of strength. It´s not too difficult if I do it before playing, but during the play I am afraid I would jostle my harp too much because of the strength I have to use to get the lever up. Though my harp is rather new, maybe the tension wil change once I use the levers more often
Hello there from Glasgow Scotland, will you ever come here and sing for us?
I would love to!! Hopefully someday 😃
@@LearningtheHarp That would be great. You sing very well and it puts tears in my eyes. Our language is being revived now in my country 💓
Tapadh leat gu mòr
Can u make a video about lyre harps? Which one should we buy, how can we play it...
I would if I could! I don’t know about lyre harps 😁
I’m not at this level yet but this is very informative!
Great! You don’t have to be intermediate to do lever changes, there are beginner pieces out there that can introduce you to easy lever changes 😊
My levers are rather stiff and sometimes hard to move quickly. Any suggestions?
Hello where do we get these levers pls
What is the trade mark or maker of the harp you are uding now and how much is it?
This is an Ogden by Lyon & Healy. I’m not sure of the current price but it’s probably around US$3500. There are cheaper harps out there 😊
@@LearningtheHarp Thank you so much for your reply and really grateful for very useful information. Thank you!!!
Can u bend pitch with the levers, or is that bad for the harp?
It doesn’t really work to bend pitch with the levers, but you can do it by pressing on the string above the bridge pin. Some harp players do it quite a lot, for example Deborah Henson-Conant, Catriona McKay, Maeve Gilchrist etc.
@@LearningtheHarp thank you for the reply!!
This was Christy Lynn! Probably would be super helpful for one that is a little more advanced than I. 🙂 This is going to be a very very basic, probably dumb question, but I'm a beginner! I am trying to attempt a song with a couple of sharps in it, and I'm seeing the sharps at the beginning of the piece by the treble clef but I can't tell exactly which notes they are. The sharp signatures are cockeyed and look like they could be on two different lines. How does a beginner tell which notes they are exactly and which levers to put up? I know I need a personal teacher, but can't really afford one just yet.
If there are two sharps, it would be F and C 😊 Just set all your F and C levers on the whole harp and you should be ready to go!
@@LearningtheHarp thank you so much!!🥰
Thank you so much for this information. I'm considering buying a 33 string "harpsicle" w/levers. Anyway, my only experience with the harp was many years ago. I rented a full size pedal harp from my teacher. There is a bit difference (as far as cost and operation) between the two. I like concerned about the ability of adding an "accidental" with the lever harp. I have a lot of experience with the piano and the guitar. Do you think the 33 string Harpsicle (it cost about 2000 on Amazon) would be a good choice? I really didn't want to spend $9000 plus on a pedal harp. Thanks again!
Amie
Hi Amelia. Good to hear from you! Harpsicle is a good company that make reliable harps, but everyone will have a different preference for the “feel” and tone of a harp, which is hard to tell without trying it in person. There are quite a few different harp companies that make harps in the $2000-3000 range. Is there a way you could visit a harp shop to try playing different harps? Or perhaps rent a harp for a while before deciding?
I've always been afraid the lever change would be in a spot where the string is still sustained and the sound of the lever change would be heard