Hi! I started teaching myself how to play the harp and did it for about 6 months... It did help me, but with NO previous music experience, it was VERY difficult. Later, I found a group class at the Irish Arts Center in my state and everything became more fun and it actually started to make more sense in my brain. This is how I met my harp teacher!! When I outgrew the group class, two years after, I continued to take private lessons and now I take them in a regular basis. Group lessons were great and fun, but I started to see bigger and faster results after starting private lessons. I have to say that it could definitely be done, teaching yourself, but it would probably take you more time and add a lot of frustration (especially if you don't have a previous musical experience). A teacher will guide you a long the way, encourage you and you will even feel a sense of emotional assurance because you know that there is someone there with you in this journey. I know is not easy to find a harp teacher (I couldn't find/afford one for 6 months!). Music lessons in general are expensive, and even timing all this together could be challenging, but it would diffidently be worth it. I personally think that if you can find a local teacher, it would be the best option because the teacher can observe you from all the angles and therefore give you a better feedback. However, Skype lessons is the next best option because these lessons will still be personalized and the teacher can answer all of your questions! I don't think that you have to have a teacher, but even if you find another harpist that can guide/give you suggestions once in while, it will still make a big difference. If for whatever reason you can't take harp lesson, as Christy-Lyn mentioned, there are other options, such as getting methods books (especially the ones that include videos). Now that we have UA-cam, learning something new is even more possible! Whatever method we use to learn/improve our harp playing, I do think that we need to always aim to improve our technique because there is just something sweet about developing a good technique: our fingers become more agile, are skills become more efficient and harp playing becomes easier (less stress = more fun)!! Whether or not you are teaching yourself or take lessons with a harp teacher, there are 4 things (that come to my mind at this moment) that you will need/have to do, in order to learn the harp: - Determination (you'll need this even before getting the harp) - A harp - PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE - Patience ... ahhh and more practice Good Luck and Blessings, - Andrea =)
Hi Denisse. I really love your comment and I see now that I never replied!! Sorry about that - you wrote some amazing information here. Thank-you for sharing your story and your experience along the way, and for giving tips to other aspiring harpists. You're amazing! :)
I am in my 50s with no previous musical experience and can’t read music. Should I learn how first? Are there tutorials on how to read music that come along with the lessons or do the teachers assume you can already read music?
Ally Katt Hi! You don’t need to be able to read music to start learning harp. It would be a plus to anyone who can do it already, but it is not necessary if you have a teacher. If you just tell your teacher and if she/he feels comfortable teaching by ear, then everything should work fine. So basically it means you will memorize the piece little by little (in chunks) as the teacher/video tutorial teaches models how to do each section. You will memorize them after a lot (I should say enough) of repetition. So this is why practice is a must! As a total beginner the teacher will introduce some basic technique and will select/suggest beginner pieces that will help you progress based on where you are and needs. As you learn by ear, you should consider going over music flash cards or even play some type of app game that would help you learn to read music. I used the “Music Tutor” App. There is a free version of it which is really good. It just includes ads. I enjoyed it a lot and later bought the paid version. Hey, 6 years later from when I started, I’m still slow at reading music but now I can learn a piece out of sheet music! That is a BIG accomplishment for me when I knew nothing! I know there are also on tutorials about how to read music and some tricks to help you memorize and read better and faster along with music theory. You can try them out! I watched a some at some point but after a while got a little bored of the theory and just wanted to apply the little I learned... this is probably why it has taken me so long to learn to read music and get better at it, but I don’t think its bad, it was just what I felt it worked best for me having 3 kids and barely having time to practice. Do what works for you and enjoy your harp journey! Best luck and blessings, - Andrea
staying focused is the hardest part about starting. I tend to get bored if I do the same thing over and over and try a song i cant do yet so i get discouraged but... i just started 2 days ago haha
I’m struggling with understanding proper fingerings. For instance, if I have two notes back to back quickly, should I just pluck that one string again with the same finger or a different finger? Similarly, accompaniment arpeggios are tricky to keep proper technique. I find my fingers separately hitting the strings to prevent choke the sound of the previous notes. Help please! I don’t want to be a “claw” player!
@@nonenoneonenonenone I don’t have the money to afford lessons. Getting a harpsicle was already a stretch. However, I have learned dozens of instruments in the past through UA-cam. As a music teacher myself, I always encourage my students to utilize it, hence why I asked this two years ago.
I can guarantee you the most I would do is to buy a harp as a showpiece for the living room, I just wanted to see what it takes to learn this thing! 😅 BTW I do play guitar, bass and drums!
hi Christy-Lyn's, thanks for you video, I also want to learn by my self. I have't get a harp, what suggestion do you give me to buy a harp for a beginner?
Nancy Chan. Have you searched UA-cam for "how to buy a harp"? there are more and more videos about it. Another choice is to contact luthiers (companies that make harps such as Salvi or Camac in Europe, Lyon and Healy or Dusty Strings in the USA, or Ayoma (? spelling?) in Japan). All of them have a range of harps: different sizes, different prices, and they are used to answering beginner's questions. Almost all harps are expensive (or at least they feel expensive). Remember, though all harps have many things in common, they also can sound quite different. I bought because I fell in love with the sound of my harp - decided after months of emailing and then a few skype calls. My ONLY sorrow is "too few strings"- I should have bought a harp with more strings. Mine has 30, I should have bought a harp with 36 because of music I want to play. I hope this helps.
There are conflicting opinions about these Pakistani harps. You can watch two videos of mine to hear different opinions: “Are cheap harps a good way to get started?” And “Buying a harp for your wife - advice for husbands”. Oh, and of course also “Buying a harp - everything you need to know”. Hope that helps!
Im just passing through..since im looking for a video that explains how to compose sections for a harp in an orchestration. But i do want to ask one thing. If im fixing to teach myself the harp...then how is it still teaching myself if im using a video...to teach me?
Oh wow so exciting, congratulations!! You can start with my series of 14 UA-cam videos for absolute beginners to get started. It’s free 😃 Start with the video called “How to play the harp: start here”. All the best!! Let me know how it goes ❤️
Hehe there’s an idea! 😄 Maybe I will someday! It would have to be a bit different because hand position and the way you pluck the strings is much more crucial with harp than it is for guitar and piano.
i played harp and power of God hit me and i began singin to jesus.i was taken up to heaven.my spirit went there and came back.harp is a heavenly instrument.
Biggest issue I have is affording a quality harp. They are so expensive I have to play what I can afford which is not much but I persevere and still play a low cost Pakistani harp. It works but has no lever and can be finicky to tune.
There's a "cardboard" lap harp that although has risen in price as of late, is still under $200. The sound quality is supposedly quite good: waringmusic.com/product/waring-harp/ There are some YT videos if you search "cardboard harp" or "Waring harp" of some people playing them if you want to check out the sound. Amazon also has some good deals on lap/Celtic harps as well. You can also rent harps if you google it in your area from music stores.
I researched quite a bit about small harps and decided to purchase a 20-string harp by Derwent (UK). I found very good reviews and got my harp a couple of days ago! I'm very impressed, it sounds quite nice. Maybe that's something you can check out?
A Rees Harpsicle will run you like $425 and is a quality instrument. The levers will add more to the cost for sure, but if you're just learning, you may not need them! Me, I wanted to play Gothic harp, so I ended up having to commission a custom one. It was more than $425 haha :(
Interesting! My main comment is that I think there are very different levels of teaching oneself. You've looked at the use of books, videos, and so on - effectively constructing your own lessons - but I'm one of those who plays intuitively, has never had a lesson, or even used video guides or books (except right at the very beginning... but I didn't get far through the book!). My main problem to begin with is that I can't use my thumb (an old geology accident involving a severed nerve), which scuppers all the basic plans for standard fingering etc. I also don't read music, and I don't play anything else. This basically means that I've had to construct the entire method of playing on my own, and in many ways it's radically different from what it's 'meant' to be. Please have a look at some of my videos if you want to see how different it is! So, how to begin? To start with, I treated it mainly as a meditation; I didn't worry about playing particular tunes, and certainly not in the 'right' way. Unlike a lot of instruments, you can do that with a harp, and still get a lot of pleasure from it - as long as it's in tune, it's going to sound lovely even if it's random! After I was comfortable with the feel of playing it and had learned what I felt worked and what didn't, I started to pick out tunes that I knew. This means the basic melody; everything else was improvisation. The advantages of that is that it gives you freedom to play things in the way you want to, or which feel right, rather than following set notes and metre. You can alter anything you want to (especially important if you're singing as well), and you rapidly develop your own personal style. It's also great for those that don't cope well with following authority! ;o) Disadvantages of learning intuitively like this: it takes a long time before you feel really confident in performing (I'm still embarrassed if there's a 'real' harpist nearby!), it takes a while to learn new tunes (I have to be able to hear them fluently inside my head before I can play them), and probably it does limit some of the repertoire (I suspect that I could never learn some of the hardest - especially classical - pieces). If you're not in a rush, though, and just want to enjoy exploring, then it works. Sort of! ;o)
It is possible and I have played harp for many years and I use to play weddings. I started playing harp on my left shoulder and still do to this day. I was discouraged by a few about this technique but kept on and I play quite well. I use it in church or a gig or 2. I can play "Over the Rainbow quite well and some others. Carol of the bells is another on I can now play. I have tried right shoulder but I cannot keep in timing. Too old now to switch anyways. I also through trial and error learned to build the harp and have made several and all customers liked them and they lasted. You can do almost anything if you set your mind. Building them is the least expensive way. I would not spend hundreds of dollars when I can build one that sounds just as good for much less.
Hahahaha! Maybe it will catch on! Thanks for the comment, Tiffany :) I really appreciate your input because I know you are self-taught from the start. You're a great example to show that teaching yourself can have amazing outcomes!
I just started teaching myself the harp this year! Harp is something I've wanted to learn for many years so I'm excited to finally be doing it. One thing I struggle with is picking what song I should try to learn next. Do you have any books that you would recommend? I also want to learn some pop songs but I don't know how to make my own arrangements yet/don''t know where I can find them for the harp.
There are quite a few "teach yourself to play the harp books." Some are better than others. I used Sylvia Woods book (and her Arranging book for understanding more advanced things like adapting songs). These two books move forward steadily.
Hi Sarah. Sorry for the delayed reply! I agree, a harp method book is very helpful for taking you through increasing levels of difficulty and teaching you the technique along the way. I really like Pamela Bruner’s “Learn to play the harp beautifully” books. Hope that helps!
Yes you can! I've tried it and it's possible. ☺ As a self-taught harpist, I feel like one of my problems is at one point I started to I feel like I have not progressed so much anymore.. Like I don't know what to do and learn anymore after I learned the basics. I basically learn songs that I like without actually following any harp books... Cause whenever I try to play an actual harp song, I come into these two problems: either my harp is too small (only 22 strings) or the lever changes are impossible to do. If possible I change the arrangement to fit my harp, especially the lever changes.... but somehow I feel like I would have learned much more if I followed what's actually written, instead of changing the arrangement to something that I can already play/do on the harp... and the problem goes on... I learn new songs but I don't feel like I just learned something new. I don't know how to explain this, but I'm sure you know what I mean 😂
Hi Mustakim. Sorry for the late reply!! I think I understand what you are saying - it sounds like you feel like your skills aren't improving even when you learn new songs, is that right? I wonder whether you are able to read sheet music? And whether you have found sheet music for small lever harp? My experience has been that when I see my learning plateau it can be very helpful to learn something from sheet music because it doesn't allow us to simplify the piece to suit our current skills, and we are rather forced to learn new skills. What do you think?
You need a teacher to guide your progress and select your repertoire. That is what they do. You also play better when you play for someone, and if they correct your bad habits and mistakes.
Hi Christy! Thanks for the book tip. Play the harp beautifully by Pamela Bruner is such a good book. It helpt me so much! I didn't like the beginner book from Sylvia Woods. Now I'm back at playing the harp and enjoying it every moment. The book is very detailed. I also use UA-cam, look for videos like you make. So again thanks a lot! Xxx
Hi Digna. Such a pleasure, I'm so glad you're enjoying Pamela Bruner's book. I love it!! It's so good to hear that my videos are helping. Is there anything else you'd like to see from my videos? I'm planning to do more tutorials in the future, where I actually show you how to play step-by-step. Do you think that would be helpful? By the way, you might not have seen my harp recommendations on my website... maybe that will help you too! www.christylynmusic.com/harp-starter-kit
i Ireally like your motivation videos! But for now i'm looking for easy to intermediate songs to play. Maybe you can teach us a song and while doing focus on the right technique.. Or just a part of a song. I also think how to play a fast song is also a good topic :)
Thank you so much 💕 This video really helped me because I can’t afford a harp or a teacher but I have a burning desire and feel so much less alone! You are so nice and welcoming thank you ❤️❤️❤️
New subscriber here 😊 How many strings should I get if I want to just play Gospel songs for my 1st harp? I pray you can give me advice. I will be playing harp in our church. And i will be only playing gospel songs. I hope you can reply pls 🙏 it will be a great help! 😊
New subscriber here 😊 How many strings should I get if I want to just play Gospel songs for my 1st harp? I pray you can give me advice. I will be playing harp in our church. And i will be only playing gospel songs. I hope you can reply pls 🙏 it will be a great help! 😊
I taught myself harp many years ago and have played at many functions. I get in moods to play and when I come back to the harp, I play better. A lot of troubles can get in the way and stop a person from playing. Lately I have not been playing because of this. Also, I have diabetes and sometimes no energy or moods to play. I have had balance problems similar to vertigo but not dizzy. It's just swimmy head problems that make me not want to play. Pray for me. I have learned a lot from your videos and thank you. Ron
Suddenly the harp is really becoming a deeper stronger dream somehow... I just lost my mother March 22nd. Harp is somehow Alost out of nowhere calling to me.. very strongly. What harp would you buy first? I've heard less then 26 strings is losing a good sound. Is an electric acoustic harpsicle something that I should think of too? I don't have any musical background when it comes to reading music, or playing an instrument. My Dad plays, and makes banjos, but that was something I didn't really get into much. I'm 36 with a 9 year old, and a 6 year old. Is this dream too big?
I was shocked seeing some of the comments. This video is explaining CAN you teach yourself. The answer is "All by yourself, No you can not get the techniques etc. but watching amazing tutorials on line YOU CAN do it yourself. I am a beginners proof, with no musical experience education, or teachers (other than listening to music) that even at 69 you can learn. I found Christy-Lyn at the beginning of Covid, I was not familiar with internet either. I stumbled apon her Sally Gardens and Common Mistakes of the Self Taught Harpist (that gave me immediate two hands on harp and grounding) and immediately was able to follow her very explicit, close up visual of her hands. Her wonderful group, guided me to the video courses that could most help me. Professional harpists, whos hands moved so rapidly also assumed people had some musical back ground intimidated me. In one yr. I was able to play 10 songs and guidance for hand placement and posture were extremely helpful. Just to mention I also have tremor challenges plus.. Having a personal teacher is definately an asset but your hr. runs out, when you have challenges becomes difficult. Video courses are extremely positive method because you can rewind as many times as you need (unlike a personal teacher). Two thumbs up I give to the only complete rewindable tutoral harp teacher connection there is or was at that time. Wishing everyone a happy harp journey in finding what works for you. Even if you have a once a week teacher, you can excellerate your experience using Christy-Lyns courses.
Hi Christy I've been following you for ages. Your amazing. Do you do online harp lessons can you teach me please just let me know how much it costs please and if it's possible. I only have a very small harp I want to get good your amazing if I could be half as good as you I'd be a very happy woman. Lots of love Carly xxx
Aw, hi Carly! Unfortunately at the end of May I’m stoping teaching one-to-one lessons for the time being, because I want to put all my time into creating online courses. But there are lots of great teachers out there! Pop us an email (link in description) and we can send you some recommendations 😊
What about the Jolie harp from Music Makers? You can also order it in kit form and put it together yourself! It’s a lovely sweet sounding folk harp. Or the Serrana from Dusty Strings - that is a South American type harp with lower tension strings and narrower spacing. The Salvi Ana or the Lyon and Healy Prelude are made to look and feel like a pedal harp. They are very big, with a huge sound! Lots of options for you, hope that helps!
It's definitely doable. Easier when you have previous experience and can sight read. Ive played piano since i was 5 and played sax in middle school. Picked up harp at age 24. Only real issue ive run into is proper hand positioning which is difficult without an instructor.
Hi Siebven! Thanks for your input, great to hear that you're learning the harp as an adult :) Have you found any resources that helped you with hand positioning?
Thanks for the reply Christy! I think what helped me the most with hand positioning was Hannah White's videos here on youtube. She gives thorough explanations, very informational. It was especially helpful for me because I am SO BAD at accidentally using my pinkies! After 15years of piano theyre strong and I rely on them heavily for extended reach and rolling chords. It's a habit that is going to be hard to break if I dont pay very close attention. Watching videos with high techincal difficulty pieces also helped me understand why positioning is so important. Part of learning harp is working towards smooth and graceful movements to avoid overworking our hands and avoiding a choppy sound. My instructors stressed the same thing when it came to piano. Improper hand positioning taxes our muscles and reflexes and sets us up to hit wrong notes!
Hi Christy, Many thanks for your worry about my left hand, but she is o.k. The problem is that I'm running my87th. year. I bought my harp last year in Asuncion (Paraguay) and here in Belgium it is impossible to find someone who could learn me playing on the harp. It's Always Keltish harp they learn. So now I do my best to learn a little bit on my own. I got a good studybook from there but it is only written in the guarini language. I'll do my best! Once more many thanks for your e-mail, and have a wonderfull season.Love, Gaston De Vleeshouwer, Antwerp, Belgium.
How many strings does your lever harp have? I am looking to rent one and I don't know how many strings I should get. I have been looking at some with 36 to 40 strings. Is that too big or the right size?
Just to let your viewers know - you can learn how to play the harp - there are so many avenues now with UA-cam, programs such as Christy-Lyn, harp coaching...I started to learn how to play in 2008 - I live in Hawaii, and not a lot of teachers. I'm a librarian by profession, so I am a strong believer in self-directed learning. You can now engage a coach anywhere in the world online, and with this video technology, you can accomplish a great deal. Gotta go practice now! =]
Hi. I'm not sure if a single or double string harp is very different to play. I'd like to learn double/cross string if it means I don't need to pay a fortune on a pedal or lever harp.
I’ve been learning harp for the last month and just bought a lovely harp from a widow who wasn’t playing anymore. I am an oboist who earned a DMA and played in a professional symphony for years but am now wanting to play music for enjoyment (not just work!) I fell in love with the sound of the harp. It is motivating because of the sound and a lot less stressful on my body. I am struggling with positioning my left hand. My fingers are hitting other strings as the make their way toward my palm (only on the left hand, and especially finger 4). PS, I LOVE your videos. They are encouraging and very positive. Thanks for posting them!
Hi Elliot! I think you'll find the videos in my "How to Play the Harp" series helpful. Arm position: ua-cam.com/video/GOcq3H55j84/v-deo.html Hand position: ua-cam.com/video/VL8EPm_qppc/v-deo.html How to pluck: ua-cam.com/video/n3kR2XyPOQo/v-deo.html
Learning the Harp with Christy-Lyn! Thank you so much! I appreciate all the content you put out there for us. I just bought your “Over the Rainbow” lesson kit and LOVE it! You are such an encouraging teacher. After I master this one I will go down your list. Thanks again!
I actually received my first harp about 3 weeks ago and feel intimidated. Since the day I ordered the harp, my arthritis began to show up in a shoulder. I went to only one physical therapy and will do the best with PT on my own. Most everything has increased in price from 20% to 300% higher costs. I am imagining online lessons will be too expensive. I need encouragement. Have any advice to fifer?
Hi Jamie! Congrats on the new harp! Sorry to hear about your shoulder pain, playing the harp shouldn’t bring pain. I would suggest you first review your positioning at the harp - you’ll see me explain this in the video series “How to play the harp - start here”. I also cover positioning at the harp in my beginner Video Courses. You can get your first course free with our free trial, which is exciting! www.learningtheharp.com I really help you apply foundational technique while you learn the song, so you can play without causing pain or bad habits. Another UA-cam video that might help is called “6 steps to prevent pain from playing harp” or a video by Stephanie Claussen called “Dealing with pain? Tips and resources for harpists”. Hope that helps and that you feel better soon!❤️❤️
I wanted to accompany my singing with the harp. I love singing songs from Ireland & Scotland and I thought the harp accompaniment would suit my voice :)
I'm 17 and recently gained an interest in the harp to help build dexterity I'm not certain if it'll be a hobby or a career though [the latter probably won't happen]b
It will not be a career for you unless you are very exceptional, but you can learn to play very well and on a level near to a professional later in life, if you study assiduously. Sadly, one has to start by a certain age, unless you are transferring from another instrument, or has an exceptional talent and teacher. Definitely not by teaching yourself.
I'm going to teach myself to play the harp. I never even touched a harp. But, I ordered one, and I should get it by January 13th, 2021. I'm telling you, because you are the sweetest!
That’s super exciting!!! Congratulations on making the big decision to learn. I hope you have a really fun and satisfying experience of learning, and that you’ll continue for many years to come! Sending love 😃💕
Hi, I'm a new subscriber, I've recently fallen in love with the harp, and would really love to learn to play, I will be saving up to get my own first harp, but in the mean time want to learn as much as I can about it.
Hi, I have a harp that I was given, and I really would love to learn to play the harp, at least the basics. I Subscribed to your website, and really would love to have you help me in any way you can. I love the harp even though I am not that musically learned person! Love to her from you Thanks!
Hi sister! My three main recommendations would be: 1) get a method book to help you learn step-by-step. I like Pamela Bruner’s Learn to Play the Harp Beautifully Book 1 - it’s on my website under recommended resources. 2) Learn Sailing in a Lake (Free!) from my video “A Common Mistake of Self Taught Harpists” 3) If you like my teaching style, try using a video lesson (from my website) because that is the most in-depth instruction you can find online. I’d start with After the Rain because it’s the easiest. Hope that helps!
@@LearningtheHarp Hello Christy, Yes I do like your teaching style, I love the Amazing grace you fixed, I hope to learn that with your help too, yes I will follow your suggestions. Thanks
I took 1 month of Spanish guitar lessons before I left and pretty much learn to teach my self how to play guitar it’s been over 20 years now I’m 34. So I think is possible to teach yourself especially if you have a photographic memory that takes very things like a sponge 🧽. Why I’m here well I woke up wanting to learn this angelic instrument but I’m wondering how much is the price range for a Harp?
Well done, sounds like you’re a good candidate for teaching yourself! A starter harp is between $270 and $3500. If you’re serious about learning and willing to invest some money to start on something really good, I would recommend around $2000 - the Ravenna 26 or 34 are both excellent for starting 😊 If you just want to give it a try with something really cheap and you’re willing to put it together yourself, you could get a Fireside harp kit for $169. The soundboard is cardboard but it sounds sweet and it’s fun!
@@LearningtheHarp You should not be telling anyone to teach themselves. You do them a disservice, and are doing a criminal disservice to professional harp teachers. Shame on you. It's a lie. No one can learn to play well without several years of lessons. Stop cheating and misleading innocent victims.
You can do anything you want with a folk instrument, including the harp. But if you want to play well, you have to take lessons with a teacher, and expect to pay them. You cannot learn from videos. Anyone who tells you you can, is lying. You can do video lessons, if it is absolutely impossible to take a lesson in person, but the harp is full of sacrifice, and people will drive hours for a lesson.
Hi! I started teaching myself how to play the harp and did it for about 6 months... It did help me, but with NO previous music experience, it was VERY difficult. Later, I found a group class at the Irish Arts Center in my state and everything became more fun and it actually started to make more sense in my brain. This is how I met my harp teacher!! When I outgrew the group class, two years after, I continued to take private lessons and now I take them in a regular basis. Group lessons were great and fun, but I started to see bigger and faster results after starting private lessons.
I have to say that it could definitely be done, teaching yourself, but it would probably take you more time and add a lot of frustration (especially if you don't have a previous musical experience). A teacher will guide you a long the way, encourage you and you will even feel a sense of emotional assurance because you know that there is someone there with you in this journey.
I know is not easy to find a harp teacher (I couldn't find/afford one for 6 months!). Music lessons in general are expensive, and even timing all this together could be challenging, but it would diffidently be worth it. I personally think that if you can find a local teacher, it would be the best option because the teacher can observe you from all the angles and therefore give you a better feedback. However, Skype lessons is the next best option because these lessons will still be personalized and the teacher can answer all of your questions! I don't think that you have to have a teacher, but even if you find another harpist that can guide/give you suggestions once in while, it will still make a big difference.
If for whatever reason you can't take harp lesson, as Christy-Lyn mentioned, there are other options, such as getting methods books (especially the ones that include videos). Now that we have UA-cam, learning something new is even more possible! Whatever method we use to learn/improve our harp playing, I do think that we need to always aim to improve our technique because there is just something sweet about developing a good technique: our fingers become more agile, are skills become more efficient and harp playing becomes easier (less stress = more fun)!!
Whether or not you are teaching yourself or take lessons with a harp teacher, there are 4 things (that come to my mind at this moment) that you will need/have to do, in order to learn the harp:
- Determination (you'll need this even before getting the harp)
- A harp
- PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
- Patience
... ahhh and more practice
Good Luck and Blessings,
- Andrea =)
Hi Denisse. I really love your comment and I see now that I never replied!! Sorry about that - you wrote some amazing information here. Thank-you for sharing your story and your experience along the way, and for giving tips to other aspiring harpists. You're amazing! :)
Thank YOU Christy! We are all in this together. So, I am happy to share my experience =).
Have you checked out Harp Academy online? I am...I will be attending this summmer.
I am in my 50s with no previous musical experience and can’t read music. Should I learn how first? Are there tutorials on how to read music that come along with the lessons or do the teachers assume you can already read music?
Ally Katt Hi! You don’t need to be able to read music to start learning harp. It would be a plus to anyone who can do it already, but it is not necessary if you have a teacher.
If you just tell your teacher and if she/he feels comfortable teaching by ear, then everything should work fine. So basically it means you will memorize the piece little by little (in chunks) as the teacher/video tutorial teaches models how to do each section. You will memorize them after a lot (I should say enough) of repetition.
So this is why practice is a must!
As a total beginner the teacher will introduce some basic technique and will select/suggest beginner pieces that will help you progress based on where you are and needs.
As you learn by ear, you should consider going over music flash cards or even play some type of app game that would help you learn to read music. I used the “Music Tutor” App. There is a free version of it which is really good. It just includes ads. I enjoyed it a lot and later bought the paid version.
Hey, 6 years later from when I started, I’m still slow at reading music but now I can learn a piece out of sheet music! That is a BIG accomplishment for me when I knew nothing!
I know there are also on tutorials about how to read music and some tricks to help you memorize and read better and faster along with music theory. You can try them out! I watched a some at some point but after a while got a little bored of the theory and just wanted to apply the little I learned... this is probably why it has taken me so long to learn to read music and get better at it, but I don’t think its bad, it was just what I felt it worked best for me having 3 kids and barely having time to practice. Do what works for you and enjoy your harp journey!
Best luck and blessings,
- Andrea
My late husband left me his harp.. I’ve been looking at the harp, and I think it’s time for me to teach myself to play his harp...
Do it!!! 😃
How’s it going?
Been a year. Have you learned?
Thank you very much!!!!! Playing the harp has been a bit dream of mine, and this make me feel more closet to it!!
It is totally possible!! Is there anything standing in your way?
Playing the harp for enjoy, learning on my own. Ethereal instrument, love the sound. Thank you
staying focused is the hardest part about starting. I tend to get bored if I do the same thing over and over and try a song i cant do yet so i get discouraged but... i just started 2 days ago haha
I’m struggling with understanding proper fingerings.
For instance, if I have two notes back to back quickly, should I just pluck that one string again with the same finger or a different finger? Similarly, accompaniment arpeggios are tricky to keep proper technique. I find my fingers separately hitting the strings to prevent choke the sound of the previous notes. Help please! I don’t want to be a “claw” player!
You need a teacher. Fingerings are part of the art of the harp, not just the craft.
@@nonenoneonenonenone I don’t have the money to afford lessons. Getting a harpsicle was already a stretch. However, I have learned dozens of instruments in the past through UA-cam. As a music teacher myself, I always encourage my students to utilize it, hence why I asked this two years ago.
Thankyou the Harp is A Beautiful Instrument :)
I can guarantee you the most I would do is to buy a harp as a showpiece for the living room, I just wanted to see what it takes to learn this thing! 😅
BTW I do play guitar, bass and drums!
What are the different types of harps? Do the size varies by the frequency range?(Sopranos, alto, bass)
No, their range is limited by the number of strings and size, but they all have the same middle range.
hi Christy-Lyn's, thanks for you video, I also want to learn by my self. I have't get a harp, what suggestion do you give me to buy a harp for a beginner?
Nancy Chan. Have you searched UA-cam for "how to buy a harp"? there are more and more videos about it. Another choice is to contact luthiers (companies that make harps such as Salvi or Camac in Europe, Lyon and Healy or Dusty Strings in the USA, or Ayoma (? spelling?) in Japan). All of them have a range of harps: different sizes, different prices, and they are used to answering beginner's questions. Almost all harps are expensive (or at least they feel expensive). Remember, though all harps have many things in common, they also can sound quite different. I bought because I fell in love with the sound of my harp - decided after months of emailing and then a few skype calls. My ONLY sorrow is "too few strings"- I should have bought a harp with more strings. Mine has 30, I should have bought a harp with 36 because of music I want to play. I hope this helps.
Hello!
I would like to begin with a small harp.
Maybe a Celtic harp. Do you have any advice to do this?
Yes, watch my video “Buying a harp: everything you need to know” 😊 All the best!
Learning the Harp with Christy-Lyn!
Yes!!! I’m already on it! 👍🏽
Thank you! 😊
Roosebeck Celtic Heather Harp. ... is that harp good for beginners I was planning too get one
There are conflicting opinions about these Pakistani harps. You can watch two videos of mine to hear different opinions: “Are cheap harps a good way to get started?” And “Buying a harp for your wife - advice for husbands”. Oh, and of course also “Buying a harp - everything you need to know”. Hope that helps!
Im just passing through..since im looking for a video that explains how to compose sections for a harp in an orchestration. But i do want to ask one thing. If im fixing to teach myself the harp...then how is it still teaching myself if im using a video...to teach me?
Hehe, good question! 😆
You are not going to learn that from videos. Study books on orchestration like Berlioz and Rimsky-Korsakov. Listen carefully to music.
Hi iv just baught a 27 sting harp with levers is there any tuition online I can go
Oh wow so exciting, congratulations!! You can start with my series of 14 UA-cam videos for absolute beginners to get started. It’s free 😃 Start with the video called “How to play the harp: start here”. All the best!! Let me know how it goes ❤️
Are you from New Zealand? :)
Why are there so many apps available to teach different instruments and nothing for harp? I think it’s time for you to make one Cristy!
Hehe there’s an idea! 😄 Maybe I will someday! It would have to be a bit different because hand position and the way you pluck the strings is much more crucial with harp than it is for guitar and piano.
Because you can't learn it that way, period.
All I do is learn songs but I'm not even good at reading music. I need a teacher!!
Sounds like that might help! 😃 Are there any teachers in your area?
i played harp and power of God hit me and i began singin to jesus.i was taken up to heaven.my spirit went there and came back.harp is a heavenly instrument.
Biggest issue I have is affording a quality harp. They are so expensive I have to play what I can afford which is not much but I persevere and still play a low cost Pakistani harp. It works but has no lever and can be finicky to tune.
Can I ask where you purchased from?
I just ordered a 28 string levered Pakistani harp also and am curious which model you purchased
There's a "cardboard" lap harp that although has risen in price as of late, is still under $200. The sound quality is supposedly quite good: waringmusic.com/product/waring-harp/
There are some YT videos if you search "cardboard harp" or "Waring harp" of some people playing them if you want to check out the sound.
Amazon also has some good deals on lap/Celtic harps as well.
You can also rent harps if you google it in your area from music stores.
I researched quite a bit about small harps and decided to purchase a 20-string harp by Derwent (UK). I found very good reviews and got my harp a couple of days ago! I'm very impressed, it sounds quite nice. Maybe that's something you can check out?
A Rees Harpsicle will run you like $425 and is a quality instrument. The levers will add more to the cost for sure, but if you're just learning, you may not need them! Me, I wanted to play Gothic harp, so I ended up having to commission a custom one. It was more than $425 haha :(
Did you manage to get a new harp ?
Interesting! My main comment is that I think there are very different levels of teaching oneself. You've looked at the use of books, videos, and so on - effectively constructing your own lessons - but I'm one of those who plays intuitively, has never had a lesson, or even used video guides or books (except right at the very beginning... but I didn't get far through the book!).
My main problem to begin with is that I can't use my thumb (an old geology accident involving a severed nerve), which scuppers all the basic plans for standard fingering etc. I also don't read music, and I don't play anything else. This basically means that I've had to construct the entire method of playing on my own, and in many ways it's radically different from what it's 'meant' to be. Please have a look at some of my videos if you want to see how different it is!
So, how to begin? To start with, I treated it mainly as a meditation; I didn't worry about playing particular tunes, and certainly not in the 'right' way. Unlike a lot of instruments, you can do that with a harp, and still get a lot of pleasure from it - as long as it's in tune, it's going to sound lovely even if it's random! After I was comfortable with the feel of playing it and had learned what I felt worked and what didn't, I started to pick out tunes that I knew. This means the basic melody; everything else was improvisation.
The advantages of that is that it gives you freedom to play things in the way you want to, or which feel right, rather than following set notes and metre. You can alter anything you want to (especially important if you're singing as well), and you rapidly develop your own personal style. It's also great for those that don't cope well with following authority! ;o)
Disadvantages of learning intuitively like this: it takes a long time before you feel really confident in performing (I'm still embarrassed if there's a 'real' harpist nearby!), it takes a while to learn new tunes (I have to be able to hear them fluently inside my head before I can play them), and probably it does limit some of the repertoire (I suspect that I could never learn some of the hardest - especially classical - pieces). If you're not in a rush, though, and just want to enjoy exploring, then it works. Sort of! ;o)
Your sweet personality and lovely redhead are as pleasant as your music.
Aw, that's so sweet of you :) Thanks!
2ndAvenueSW ABSOLUTELY TRUE!!!!
Jesus loves you. John 3:16
It is possible and I have played harp for many years and I use to play weddings. I started playing harp on my left shoulder and still do to this day. I was discouraged by a few about this technique but kept on and I play quite well. I use it in church or a gig or 2. I can play "Over the Rainbow quite well and some others. Carol of the bells is another on I can now play. I have tried right shoulder but I cannot keep in timing. Too old now to switch anyways. I also through trial and error learned to build the harp and have made several and all customers liked them and they lasted. You can do almost anything if you set your mind. Building them is the least expensive way. I would not spend hundreds of dollars when I can build one that sounds just as good for much less.
You can't play very well that way unless you are left-handed. If you made it work for you, okay, but don't encourage others.
"Techneacher"... I could see that title catching on...a teacher that focuses on technique? Lol. Great video Christy-Lyn! Lots of good points.
Hahahaha! Maybe it will catch on! Thanks for the comment, Tiffany :) I really appreciate your input because I know you are self-taught from the start. You're a great example to show that teaching yourself can have amazing outcomes!
That's so sweet of you to say. But my perspective now is that I would have gotten along much faster in the beginning if I had had a teacher! ;)
I just started teaching myself the harp this year! Harp is something I've wanted to learn for many years so I'm excited to finally be doing it. One thing I struggle with is picking what song I should try to learn next. Do you have any books that you would recommend? I also want to learn some pop songs but I don't know how to make my own arrangements yet/don''t know where I can find them for the harp.
There are quite a few "teach yourself to play the harp books." Some are better than others. I used Sylvia Woods book (and her Arranging book for understanding more advanced things like adapting songs). These two books move forward steadily.
Hi Sarah. Sorry for the delayed reply! I agree, a harp method book is very helpful for taking you through increasing levels of difficulty and teaching you the technique along the way. I really like Pamela Bruner’s “Learn to play the harp beautifully” books. Hope that helps!
Next month I am moving to an area that has a harp circle, and I think that will be very helpful.
Yes you can!
I've tried it and it's possible. ☺
As a self-taught harpist, I feel like one of my problems is at one point I started to I feel like I have not progressed so much anymore.. Like I don't know what to do and learn anymore after I learned the basics.
I basically learn songs that I like without actually following any harp books...
Cause whenever I try to play an actual harp song, I come into these two problems: either my harp is too small (only 22 strings) or the lever changes are impossible to do. If possible I change the arrangement to fit my harp, especially the lever changes.... but somehow I feel like I would have learned much more if I followed what's actually written, instead of changing the arrangement to something that I can already play/do on the harp...
and the problem goes on... I learn new songs but I don't feel like I just learned something new. I don't know how to explain this, but I'm sure you know what I mean 😂
Hi Mustakim. Sorry for the late reply!! I think I understand what you are saying - it sounds like you feel like your skills aren't improving even when you learn new songs, is that right? I wonder whether you are able to read sheet music? And whether you have found sheet music for small lever harp? My experience has been that when I see my learning plateau it can be very helpful to learn something from sheet music because it doesn't allow us to simplify the piece to suit our current skills, and we are rather forced to learn new skills. What do you think?
You need a teacher to guide your progress and select your repertoire. That is what they do. You also play better when you play for someone, and if they correct your bad habits and mistakes.
Hi Christy!
Thanks for the book tip. Play the harp beautifully by Pamela Bruner is such a good book. It helpt me so much! I didn't like the beginner book from Sylvia Woods. Now I'm back at playing the harp and enjoying it every moment. The book is very detailed. I also use UA-cam, look for videos like you make. So again thanks a lot!
Xxx
Hi Digna. Such a pleasure, I'm so glad you're enjoying Pamela Bruner's book. I love it!! It's so good to hear that my videos are helping. Is there anything else you'd like to see from my videos? I'm planning to do more tutorials in the future, where I actually show you how to play step-by-step. Do you think that would be helpful?
By the way, you might not have seen my harp recommendations on my website... maybe that will help you too! www.christylynmusic.com/harp-starter-kit
i Ireally like your motivation videos! But for now i'm looking for easy to intermediate songs to play. Maybe you can teach us a song and while doing focus on the right technique.. Or just a part of a song. I also think how to play a fast song is also a good topic :)
That's such a great suggestion, thanks!! I've actually been preparing exactly that for some videos coming soon... yay! :D
Thank you so much 💕 This video really helped me because I can’t afford a harp or a teacher but I have a burning desire and feel so much less alone! You are so nice and welcoming thank you ❤️❤️❤️
I just bought a harp tonight!!! I'm so excited!
Lovely and useful for people that want to learn harp ! thanks !
New subscriber here 😊
How many strings should I get if I want to just play Gospel songs for my 1st harp? I pray you can give me advice. I will be playing harp in our church. And i will be only playing gospel songs. I hope you can reply pls 🙏 it will be a great help! 😊
New subscriber here 😊
How many strings should I get if I want to just play Gospel songs for my 1st harp? I pray you can give me advice. I will be playing harp in our church. And i will be only playing gospel songs. I hope you can reply pls 🙏 it will be a great help! 😊
I’m considering the purchase of my first harp, because I’ve always wanted to learn. This video was very helpful
Really useful information. I'll have to do most of my learning on my own for now, so this helps. Thanks, Christy!
I taught myself harp many years ago and have played at many functions. I get in moods to play and when I come back to the harp, I play better. A lot of troubles can get in the way and stop a person from playing. Lately I have not been playing because of this. Also, I have diabetes and sometimes no energy or moods to play. I have had balance problems similar to vertigo but not dizzy. It's just swimmy head problems that make me not want to play. Pray for me. I have learned a lot from your videos and thank you. Ron
Suddenly the harp is really becoming a deeper stronger dream somehow... I just lost my mother March 22nd. Harp is somehow Alost out of nowhere calling to me.. very strongly. What harp would you buy first? I've heard less then 26 strings is losing a good sound. Is an electric acoustic harpsicle something that I should think of too? I don't have any musical background when it comes to reading music, or playing an instrument. My Dad plays, and makes banjos, but that was something I didn't really get into much. I'm 36 with a 9 year old, and a 6 year old. Is this dream too big?
I was shocked seeing some of the comments. This video is explaining CAN you teach yourself. The answer is "All by yourself, No you can not get the techniques etc. but watching amazing tutorials on line YOU CAN do it yourself. I am a beginners proof, with no musical experience education, or teachers (other than listening to music) that even at 69 you can learn. I found Christy-Lyn at the beginning of Covid, I was not familiar with internet either. I stumbled apon her Sally Gardens and Common Mistakes of the Self Taught Harpist (that gave me immediate two hands on harp and grounding) and immediately was able to follow her very explicit, close up visual of her hands. Her wonderful group, guided me to the video courses that could most help me. Professional harpists, whos hands moved so rapidly also assumed people had some musical back ground intimidated me. In one yr. I was able to play 10 songs and guidance for hand placement and posture were extremely helpful. Just to mention I also have tremor challenges plus.. Having a personal teacher is definately an asset but your hr. runs out, when you have challenges becomes difficult. Video courses are extremely positive method because you can rewind as many times as you need (unlike a personal teacher). Two thumbs up I give to the only complete rewindable tutoral harp teacher connection there is or was at that time. Wishing everyone a happy harp journey in finding what works for you. Even if you have a once a week teacher, you can excellerate your experience using Christy-Lyns courses.
NO, you cannot learn from "online tutorials" and anyone who say so is a cheat and a liar, and degrades the greatness of the harp.
it really beautiful , thank you for show up the video
Hi Christy I've been following you for ages. Your amazing. Do you do online harp lessons can you teach me please just let me know how much it costs please and if it's possible. I only have a very small harp I want to get good your amazing if I could be half as good as you I'd be a very happy woman. Lots of love Carly xxx
Aw, hi Carly! Unfortunately at the end of May I’m stoping teaching one-to-one lessons for the time being, because I want to put all my time into creating online courses. But there are lots of great teachers out there! Pop us an email (link in description) and we can send you some recommendations 😊
I would like to learn harp, but I live very far from any big cities with harp teachers, so I can't do that
How sweet you are ❤️😘😘
Is there any lever harps that hap a straight pillar instead of curved ones?? (I don’t like the curved pillar harps)
What about the Jolie harp from Music Makers? You can also order it in kit form and put it together yourself! It’s a lovely sweet sounding folk harp. Or the Serrana from Dusty Strings - that is a South American type harp with lower tension strings and narrower spacing. The Salvi Ana or the Lyon and Healy Prelude are made to look and feel like a pedal harp. They are very big, with a huge sound! Lots of options for you, hope that helps!
It's definitely doable. Easier when you have previous experience and can sight read. Ive played piano since i was 5 and played sax in middle school. Picked up harp at age 24. Only real issue ive run into is proper hand positioning which is difficult without an instructor.
Hi Siebven! Thanks for your input, great to hear that you're learning the harp as an adult :) Have you found any resources that helped you with hand positioning?
Thanks for the reply Christy! I think what helped me the most with hand positioning was Hannah White's videos here on youtube. She gives thorough explanations, very informational. It was especially helpful for me because I am SO BAD at accidentally using my pinkies! After 15years of piano theyre strong and I rely on them heavily for extended reach and rolling chords. It's a habit that is going to be hard to break if I dont pay very close attention. Watching videos with high techincal difficulty pieces also helped me understand why positioning is so important. Part of learning harp is working towards smooth and graceful movements to avoid overworking our hands and avoiding a choppy sound. My instructors stressed the same thing when it came to piano. Improper hand positioning taxes our muscles and reflexes and sets us up to hit wrong notes!
I love harp, but it'so sorry that I can't play the bass cords with my left hand. Gaston De Vleeshouwer at Antwerp, Belgium, Europe
Hi Gaston. I'm sorry to hear that! Is your hand injured?
Hi Christy, Many thanks for your worry about my left hand, but she is o.k. The problem is that I'm running my87th. year. I bought my harp last year in Asuncion (Paraguay) and here in Belgium it is impossible to find someone who could learn me playing on the harp. It's Always Keltish harp they learn. So now I do my best to learn a little bit on my own. I got a good studybook from there but it is only written in the guarini language. I'll do my best! Once more many thanks for your e-mail, and have a wonderfull season.Love, Gaston De Vleeshouwer, Antwerp, Belgium.
OMG it is so difficult how can I teach myself. Please help me
I’ll do my best!! What have you tried so far?
Take lessons.
@@LearningtheHarp Stop misleading people, tell the truth. They need to take lessons and pay a teacher.
How many strings does your lever harp have? I am looking to rent one and I don't know how many strings I should get. I have been looking at some with 36 to 40 strings. Is that too big or the right size?
I recommend 34 strings to start. That size has all the bass strings needed for most harp music, and less expensive than bigger harps.
You’re very adorable. :) I feel delighted from your smile. Thank you for sharing.
Just to let your viewers know - you can learn how to play the harp - there are so many avenues now with UA-cam, programs such as Christy-Lyn, harp coaching...I started to learn how to play in 2008 - I live in Hawaii, and not a lot of teachers. I'm a librarian by profession, so I am a strong believer in self-directed learning. You can now engage a coach anywhere in the world online, and with this video technology, you can accomplish a great deal. Gotta go practice now! =]
Hi. I'm not sure if a single or double string harp is very different to play. I'd like to learn double/cross string if it means I don't need to pay a fortune on a pedal or lever harp.
I’ve been learning harp for the last month and just bought a lovely harp from a widow who wasn’t playing anymore. I am an oboist who earned a DMA and played in a professional symphony for years but am now wanting to play music for enjoyment (not just work!) I fell in love with the sound of the harp. It is motivating because of the sound and a lot less stressful on my body. I am struggling with positioning my left hand. My fingers are hitting other strings as the make their way toward my palm (only on the left hand, and especially finger 4). PS, I LOVE your videos. They are encouraging and very positive. Thanks for posting them!
Hi Elliot! I think you'll find the videos in my "How to Play the Harp" series helpful. Arm position: ua-cam.com/video/GOcq3H55j84/v-deo.html
Hand position: ua-cam.com/video/VL8EPm_qppc/v-deo.html
How to pluck: ua-cam.com/video/n3kR2XyPOQo/v-deo.html
Learning the Harp with Christy-Lyn! Thank you so much! I appreciate all the content you put out there for us. I just bought your “Over the Rainbow” lesson kit and LOVE it! You are such an encouraging teacher. After I master this one I will go down your list. Thanks again!
Yay, so glad you're enjoying it! Keep up the good work, only you make the progress actually happen 👏👏
how many harps does she have?
I have 3 harps :) A 34 string lever harp (Lyon & Healy Ogden), a pedal harp (Lyon & Healy Style 2000) and a Fullsicle. Do you also play? :)
I actually received my first harp about 3 weeks ago and feel intimidated. Since the day I ordered the harp, my arthritis began to show up in a shoulder. I went to only one physical therapy and will do the best with PT on my own. Most everything has increased in price from 20% to 300% higher costs. I am imagining online lessons will be too expensive. I need encouragement. Have any advice to fifer?
Hi Jamie! Congrats on the new harp! Sorry to hear about your shoulder pain, playing the harp shouldn’t bring pain. I would suggest you first review your positioning at the harp - you’ll see me explain this in the video series “How to play the harp - start here”. I also cover positioning at the harp in my beginner Video Courses. You can get your first course free with our free trial, which is exciting! www.learningtheharp.com I really help you apply foundational technique while you learn the song, so you can play without causing pain or bad habits. Another UA-cam video that might help is called “6 steps to prevent pain from playing harp” or a video by Stephanie Claussen called “Dealing with pain? Tips and resources for harpists”. Hope that helps and that you feel better soon!❤️❤️
@@LearningtheHarp i am just an old woman with arthritis. Today, i feel i can start. i haven't even tuned my harp, yet. thanks for your feedback!
I am looking for which harp is best to play for beginners with no musical experience.
i am a pianist and we have got a new Harp however i like to learn the harp as no one plays the harp in my state.
Do you have suggestions or help to learn how to play the lyre?
Dear Christy, what made u motivated to learn harp at the beginning?
I wanted to accompany my singing with the harp. I love singing songs from Ireland & Scotland and I thought the harp accompaniment would suit my voice :)
@@LearningtheHarp thanks for being great inspiration for me. 😊😊😊
How about a kinnor harp?
>3 love you
I'm 17 and recently gained an interest in the harp to help build dexterity I'm not certain if it'll be a hobby or a career though [the latter probably won't happen]b
It will not be a career for you unless you are very exceptional, but you can learn to play very well and on a level near to a professional later in life, if you study assiduously. Sadly, one has to start by a certain age, unless you are transferring from another instrument, or has an exceptional talent and teacher. Definitely not by teaching yourself.
I'm going to teach myself to play the harp. I never even touched a harp. But, I ordered one, and I should get it by January 13th, 2021. I'm telling you, because you are the sweetest!
That’s super exciting!!! Congratulations on making the big decision to learn. I hope you have a really fun and satisfying experience of learning, and that you’ll continue for many years to come! Sending love 😃💕
@@LearningtheHarp Thank you, so much! You're so nice!!!!
@@exipnosgiorgios TAKE LESSONS!
Hi, I'm a new subscriber, I've recently fallen in love with the harp, and would really love to learn to play, I will be saving up to get my own first harp, but in the mean time want to learn as much as I can about it.
Hello Gem, glad you’re here! Have fun diving into the harp information all over UA-cam. There are so many interesting things to learn!! 😍
You've just about covered every subject on why one would want to teach them selves 🎶🎀
It's the crazy way to play. Take lessons.
I would love to learn to play something that would be enjoyed at weddings and the like.
People study for twenty years to play at weddings. Have respect for them.
🎶🙂🎶
Is playing the harp as rough on your finger tips as the guitar or banjo???
Not as much, I’d say 😊
Hi, I have a harp that I was given, and I really would love to learn to play the harp, at least the basics. I Subscribed to your website, and really would love to have you help me in any way you can. I love the harp even though I am not that musically learned person! Love to her from you Thanks!
Hi sister! My three main recommendations would be: 1) get a method book to help you learn step-by-step. I like Pamela Bruner’s Learn to Play the Harp Beautifully Book 1 - it’s on my website under recommended resources. 2) Learn Sailing in a Lake (Free!) from my video “A Common Mistake of Self Taught Harpists” 3) If you like my teaching style, try using a video lesson (from my website) because that is the most in-depth instruction you can find online. I’d start with After the Rain because it’s the easiest. Hope that helps!
@@LearningtheHarp Hello Christy, Yes I do like your teaching style, I love the Amazing grace you fixed, I hope to learn that with your help too, yes I will follow your suggestions. Thanks
I took 1 month of Spanish guitar lessons before I left and pretty much learn to teach my self how to play guitar it’s been over 20 years now I’m 34. So I think is possible to teach yourself especially if you have a photographic memory that takes very things like a sponge 🧽. Why I’m here well I woke up wanting to learn this angelic instrument but I’m wondering how much is the price range for a Harp?
Well done, sounds like you’re a good candidate for teaching yourself! A starter harp is between $270 and $3500. If you’re serious about learning and willing to invest some money to start on something really good, I would recommend around $2000 - the Ravenna 26 or 34 are both excellent for starting 😊 If you just want to give it a try with something really cheap and you’re willing to put it together yourself, you could get a Fireside harp kit for $169. The soundboard is cardboard but it sounds sweet and it’s fun!
Wow thanks you for replying that’s awesome. Happy thanksgiving
You too! 😊💕
Harp is nothing like guitar. It is far more demanding and complex in a different way.
@@LearningtheHarp You should not be telling anyone to teach themselves. You do them a disservice, and are doing a criminal disservice to professional harp teachers. Shame on you. It's a lie. No one can learn to play well without several years of lessons. Stop cheating and misleading innocent victims.
I'm struggling with what to do in the base.
You can do anything you want with a folk instrument, including the harp. But if you want to play well, you have to take lessons with a teacher, and expect to pay them. You cannot learn from videos. Anyone who tells you you can, is lying. You can do video lessons, if it is absolutely impossible to take a lesson in person, but the harp is full of sacrifice, and people will drive hours for a lesson.
Wow nice big harp just sitting there instead of being played in the video like I thought is was.
in heaven harps are made of gold.harpist play for jesus.
im christian i lovIng singin psalms.i love harp to accompany my lyrics.ask jesus teach u.
U talk to much. I thought you were going to give us some tips. Want be visiting your channel no more.
😆 Ok bye!
Christy-Lyn's music. I see U have a
bit of attitude, U can't take constructive criticism. If your classy you want reply back. Got It
@@antoniochambers821 lol wtf.
I,ve just had 2 holes drilled into my skull from surgery, please get on with it, video is half over and still no playing.
You can't stop talking pure waffle can you even play the harp
i just got mine, a 34 ravenna, its harder thn i imagined, i live in morocco, i had to travel to france to get it, any advices are more thn welcomed
That's my dream harp! How are you liking it? Currently I only have a harpsicle.