![6 things you MUST know before you buy your first harp! [ep 65]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/What-is-the-best-beginner-harp-and-6-things-you-need-to-know-before-choosing-and-buying-a-harp-360x360.jpg)
I wonder if you’d agree that one of the most confusing things about starting the harp is finding out where to get your first instrument from? If you’re thinking about buying a harp, you’re likely already looking at the many … Read More
![How to get started with pedals on a pedal harp? [ep 62]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/How-to-get-started-with-pedals-on-pedal-harp-Coffee-Break-Harp-by-Zuzanna-360x360.png)
If you’re about to start playing a pedal harp, you may be wondering how you’re going to manage the 7 pedals and whether there’s anything you can do to prepare for that. In today’s Coffee Break Harp I’m going to … Read More
![How to deal with your INNER CRITIC at the harp? [ep 61]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/How-to-deal-with-inner-critic-when-playing-the-harp-360x360.jpg)
Does this little voice disturb you when you try to play the harp? Whether you’re a professional or amateur, you likely get to hear this voice every now and then, even if you’re not always aware of the exact words. The intention … Read More
![How to revive an old piece? Watch my practice! [ep 60]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/How-to-revive-or-revise-old-piece-on-the-harp-360x360.jpg)
Have you ever thought about reviving any of your old pieces? If you ever tried doing this, you may have noticed that even pieces that you once completed can start feeling rusty after a longer break. Sometimes it may feel like … Read More
![Learning the harp on your own? How you can keep progressing [ep 59]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/How-to-learn-to-play-the-harp-on-your-own-and-make-sure-you-progress-360x360.jpg)
Learning to play any instrument can feel like that at times. And even if you’re more on the introvert side (like me!), when you learn to play the harp on your own and it’s just you and your instrument, you … Read More
If you feel like bass clef is a struggle and takes so much longer to work out than the treble clef… it may be that you’re doing all the right things, but the way harp music is written doesn’t always … Read More
![Who’s afraid of ledger lines? [ep 57]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/How-to-read-above-and-below-the-stave-or-ledger-lines-on-the-harp-360x360.jpg)
How do you feel about reading notes above (or below) the stave? Even harpists who are fairly confident in reading music may feel intimidated when they have to do this. A student recently told me… When I see these extra … Read More
![How your fingers learn to match the notes to the harp strings? [ep 56]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/How-fingers-match-the-notes-to-the-harp-strings-Coffee-Break-Harp-56-on-Reading-Music-360x360.jpg)
If you’re learning to read music on the harp, you may be wondering… Does practice and exercises eventually get me to the point where the fingers recognise the notes on their own? You may have tried a lot of different … Read More
![3 reasons why your slow practice may not be working [ep 55]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Why-slow-practice-and-playing-slowly-doesnt-work-on-the-harp-Coffee-Break-Harp-360x360.jpg)
Have you been told to do some slow practice? I’ve been hearing that a lot from my dear teachers (and now I keep reminding my students about this!). The longer you’ve played the harp, the more you’ve probably heard it. … Read More
![Make your harp sheet music friendly and easy to read! [ep 54]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/CBH54-How-to-make-your-harp-sheet-music-friendly-and-easy-to-read-360x360.jpg)
When it comes to harp, often the way your sheet music looks like makes a big difference in how easy it is to play. If you still feel new to reading harp music and working out the notes of a … Read More
![What does harp sheet music look like? [ep 53]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/What-does-harp-sheet-music-look-like-Coffee-Break-Harp-53-360x360.jpg)
If you’re wondering how hard is it to read music on the harp, what does harp sheet music look like and what kind of challenges may come with it, you’ve come to the right place. In this video you will … Read More
![8 tips on how to complete a piece on the harp [ep 52]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/8-tips-on-how-to-complete-a-piece-on-the-harp-Coffee-Break-Harp-52-360x360.jpg)
Feeling that you’ve completed a piece and are able being able to play it fluently from beginning to the end… such a great sense of achievement! (Especially because usually it takes a while to get there). If you’re learning harp … Read More
![How to stop rushing your pieces on the harp? [ep 51]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/How-to-stop-rushing-your-pieces-on-the-harp-Zuzanna-Coffee-Break-Harp-51-360x360.jpg)
If you’re learning a song you heard many times before you took it to the harp, chances are you may end up trying to play it faster than you can, RUSHING, and making mistakes. In this episode you’ll learn how … Read More
![“The Ash Grove” harp arrangement [ep 50]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CBH50-The-Ash-Grove-lever-and-pedal-harp-arrangement-360x360.png)
“The Ash Grove” is a traditional Welsh folk song. The melody has been set to a number of various lyrics, including this popular English version: The ash grove, how graceful, how plainly ’tis speaking The harp through its playing has … Read More
![7 signs you need to slow down [ep 49]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/7-signs-that-you-need-to-slow-down-Coffee-Break-Harp-49-360x360.jpg)
If you want to play without mistakes, finding the right speed is the key. And that’s true both when you’re learning something new, putting sections of a piece together and also when you’re getting ready playing to perform. Time to … Read More
![How to avoid buzzing on the harp? [ep 48]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/How-to-avoid-buzzing-on-the-harp_-Coffee-Break-Harp-48-360x360.jpg)
Even if you only played a harp for a little while, you probably already know how annoying buzzes can be! There are a few different reasons behind buzzing and they each may require a different approach. In today’s video you’ll … Read More
When it comes to bad habits and the harp, I think that this is one of the hardest to eliminate! It can be really hard to notice that you’re doing it, especially if you learn to play the harp on … Read More
![How to get started with RAISING? [ep 46]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/CBH46-how-to-get-started-with-raising-on-the-harp-360x360.jpg)
Raising arms while playing is definitely not something you have to worry about early on with your journey in the harp, and in today’s episode I will explain why. But I know that when you watch a lot of harp … Read More
![5 tips on when to memorise your music [ep 45]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/When-to-memorise-music-on-the-harp-360x360.jpeg)
If you watched my previous video on myths about playing from memory, you already know that you don’t have to memorise your pieces to perform them well… but in some situations being able to play a piece without a score … Read More
![How to get better at memorising music on the harp? [ep 44]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/How-to-memorise-music-better-on-the-harp-360x360.jpg)
Do you find memorising music easy when you’re not trying to… and then almost impossible when you’re attempting to do it consciously? If you answered “yes”, this episode is for you! In this episode you will learn… why you’re more … Read More
![Myths about memorising music – are they holding you back? [ep 43]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Do-you-need-to-memorise-music-on-the-harp_-360x360.jpg)
Did you know that if you performed somebody else’s piece 400 years ago… playing from memory would have been considered disrespectful to the composer? Today we agree that this is not true, but we are still surrounded by many other … Read More
![Do you know your emergency exits? [ep 42]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Emergency-exits-and-repair-points-when-memorising-music-on-harp-360x360.jpg)
What happens when you make a mistake? Do you go back a bar, start from the beginning of a line… or do you go all the way back to the beginning of a piece? Everybody makes mistakes Playing the harp … Read More
![My favourite books for reading music and sight reading on the harp [ep 41]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Books-for-reading-music-rhythm-and-sight-reading-on-harp-360x360.jpeg)
If you’ve been following me for a while, you may have heard me talking about the importance of practising reading music AWAY from your pieces. Today I’ll share with you my recommendations for books you can use in your practice! … Read More
![How to get started with the metronome on the harp? [ep 40]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/How-to-get-started-and-use-metronome-on-the-harp-Coffee-Break-Harp-40-by-Zuzanna-Olbrys-360x360.jpeg)
Were you recommended using the metronome in your harp practice, but are not sure how to? Or perhaps you’ve tried playing with the metronome, but it just didn’t work? Practising the harp with the metronome can be challenging (as you’ll … Read More
![How to find the right metronome speed on the harp? [ep 39]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/How-to-find-the-right-metronome-speed-on-the-harp-by-Zuzanna-Olbrys-Coffee-Break-Harp-360x360.jpeg)
Not sure about what’s the right speed and metronome set up for your practice? This episode of Coffee Break Harp will show you what to do (step by step!). Resources mentioned in this episode How to get started with the … Read More
![Should you change your harp fingerings… or practise and persist? [ep 38]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/CBH38-thumbnail-360x360.png)
Is the fingering notation in harp music just a suggestion (that you can change) or is there a reason certain fingering is written? Learn when it’s OK to alter the fingerings in your harp pieces, and when you should persists, … Read More
![How to avoid overwhelm when learning a new harp piece? [ep 37]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/How-to-avoid-overwhelm-when-learning-a-new-piece-on-the-harp-by-Zuzanna-Olbrys-360x360.jpeg)
Feeling overwhelmed by long pieces… or lots of notes? Sometimes we get impatient with ourselves and wish we could learn new music faster. We may end up putting unnecessary pressure on ourselves, trying to do too many things at once… … Read More
![Two stumbling blocks that you’ll find in EVERY harp piece! [ep 36]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Harp-pieces-sounding-choppy-heres-how-to-navigate-the-difficult-places-Coffee-Break-Harp-36-360x360.jpg)
Music sounds choppy when you learn new pieces on the harp? You’ve likely run into one of the two stumbling blocks that can be found in literally every harp piece. Watch this episode of Coffee Break Harp to find out … Read More
![How to read rhythm on the harp – and make your score easier to understand [ep 35]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/CBH35-360x360.jpg)
Do you find working out the rhythm tricky when learning a new piece on the harp? Do you tend to stick to songs that you know well to be sure you got the rhythm right? Or do you sometimes find … Read More
![Memorising so fast you don’t get to practise reading music on the harp? [ep 34]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Memorising-so-fast-you-dont-get-to-practise-reading-music-on-the-harp-Coffee-Break-Harp-34-360x360.jpeg)
Are you worried that because you memorise new pieces quickly you don’t get to practise reading notes on the harp? Or maybe reading music takes so much time that you stop looking at the score and start playing from memory? … Read More
![Are you doing TOO MUCH when reading music? [ep 33]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Reading-music-vs-sight-reading-on-harp-Coffee-Break-Harp-33-360x360.png)
Are you trying to sight read before you’re ready? If you’re frustrated by what you feel is a slow progress when reading music… it may be that you’re actually trying to sight read (before you’re ready). What is sight reading? … Read More
![Do you need to read music to play the harp? [ep 32]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Do-you-need-to-read-music-to-play-the-harpCoffee-Break-Harp-32-360x360.jpeg)
Well, do you? And if not, why ask the question in the first place? If you’re wondering what’s best for YOU – this episode of the Coffee Break Harp is a must-watch! With music or by ear? People can get … Read More
![How to tune a harp? My tips and tricks for tuning [ep 31]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/How-to-tune-a-pedal-lever-or-non-lever-harp-Coffee-Break-Harp-31-360x360.jpg)
A harp that is tuned every day tends to stay in tune more reliably. When tuning and giving attention to each and every of your strings every time you’re about to play, you are also more likely to pick up … Read More
![Learning “Silent Night” harp arrangement [ep 30]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Silent-Night-for-intermediate-harp-Coffee-Break-Harp-30-360x360.jpeg)
Who is it for? This is an intermediate harp arrangement. It involves using all four fingers, overlapping brackets, chords and arpeggios. Introduction requires playing left hand harmonics. However you can skip this part and start playing directly from the third … Read More
![“Silent Night” intermediate harp arrangement [ep 29]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Silent-Night-intermediate-harp-arrangement-by-Zuzanna-Olbrys-from-Coffee-Break-Harp-360x360.jpeg)
Sheet music for the new arrangement of Silent Night for intermediate harp is now available! Who is it for? This is an intermediate harp arrangement. It involves using all four fingers, overlapping brackets, chords and arpeggios. Introduction requires playing left … Read More
![How to play rolled chords on the harp? [ep 28]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Coffee-Break-Harp-28-rolled-chords-360x360.png)
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![Learn to play “When the Fair Maid” [ep 27]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/CBH27-Coffee-Break-Harp-Christmas-music-360x360.png)
If you’re looking for new music for this Christmas, this may be the perfect choice! This harp arrangement comes from my Christmas Collection published in 2019, and you can watch me play it here. This harp arrangement requires using all … Read More
![7 mistakes you want to avoid when playing for others for the first time [ep 26]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Coffee-Break-Harp-26-Mistakes-you-want-to-avoid-when-playing-for-others-360x360.jpeg)
Even if you’re just starting out on the harp and think it’s mostly something you’re doing for yourself, it may happen sooner than you think that you’ll start playing for others too! For a lot of us the first few … Read More
![When the Fair Maid… [ep 25]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Christmas-Carols-for-Harp-When-the-Fair-Lady-Coffee-Break-Harp-360x360.jpg)
This is a harp arrangement of a traditional Polish Christmas Carol, Gdy śliczna Panna. It comes from my Christmas Collection published in 2019. The Fair Maid – the Virgin Mary – is introduced while singing a lullaby to her newborn Son, … Read More
![Things you need to know before buying an iPad [ep 24]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/CBH24-iPad-e1604656038403-360x360.jpeg)
Whenever I mention using iPad for reading music, I always get a lot of questions about the apps that I use, the best screen size, memory needed, and any of the accessories that one could get (or not). In today’s … Read More
![How to use ForScore and iPad when reading SHEET MUSIC on the harp? [ep 23]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Using-iPad-and-ForScore-for-reading-harp-sheet-music-Coffee-Break-Harp-23-1-360x360.jpg)
Even though I LOVE all things paper (I could leave a small fortune in a stationery shop), and my creative side also gets a lot more to say when I’m using pen and paper – when marking music it can go into … Read More
![Why reading music is so hard… and will it ever get easier?! 5 tips to avoid overwhelm [ep 22]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Reading-music-for-harp-by-Coffee-Break-Harp-360x360.jpeg)
I’ve been hearing from many harp learners who say that reading music is a big challenge. And when the harp is your first instrument and you’re learning the not-so-very-intuitive playing AND trying to read music at the same time… this … Read More
![How to play harmonics on the harp – and make them reliable! [ep 21]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CBH21-Thumbnail-copy-360x360.jpeg)
Like every new skill, harmonics may take some time and patience to learn. And like with many other things – the more relaxed you are, the better the results! So be kind to yourself when practising. Try working with small … Read More
![How to play “Happy Birthday” on the harp? Free video lesson! [ep 20]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CBH20-thumbnail-360x360.jpg)
Every day someone is celebrating a birthday – and today Coffee Break Harp celebrates reaching 20 episodes! Below you will find a free video lesson that will help you master this extremely useful piece. Who is it for? This is … Read More
![How to avoid getting blisters when playing the harp? [ep 19]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Coffee-Break-Harp-19-How-to-avoid-blisters-on-the-harp-360x360.jpg)
Some people think blisters are unavoidable part of a harpist’s life – but it doesn’t have to be like that! There are a few simple (but perhaps surprising!) things that you can do to play and keep your fingers blister-free. … Read More
![How do the pedals on a harp work? [ep 18]](https://www.zuzanna-harpist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/How-do-the-pedals-on-pedal-harp-work-Coffee-Break-Harp-18-360x360.jpeg)
Why there are 7 pedals on a harp (and so many more strings)? How do they work? Is there anything they have in common with levers on lever harps, and is it difficult to coordinate both hands and feet while … Read More
How do I organise my harp practice? What do I start with? Is there anything else I should include in addition to my piece? And if so, what is it? Practice is a very personal process, and it will be … Read More
Are you wondering if you’ve got what it takes to play the harp… and how to tell whether you’re “talented enough”? What special skills one needs to learn to play this instrument? Do you need to be born with these, … Read More
Is harp more difficult than other instruments (and is it possible to compare)? What is easy and what is challenging on the harp? Which harp challenges will require you to move out of your comfort zone? You’ll find the answers … Read More
This song has been with me for some time now before it gained its shape as a harp arrangement. Many of us who miss their loved ones can relate to the lyrics: The water is wide, I cannot get over … Read More
Do you often lose your place in the music? Need to stop playing and go again from the same place? Does it feel as if you always have to read each note on its own? Is learning a new piece … Read More
I have witnessed many harp students who – having experienced their first broken string – were wondering whether they should buy a full set of spare harp strings in case some more break. Having invested what is a considerable amount … Read More
In today’s video I’m talking about planning breaks from your harp practice. If you’ve been with me for a while, you may know that time off is a topic I talk about regularly because I can see most of us (including myself) … Read More
Rhythm exercises can help with many technical aspects of the pieces that you play, starting from your scales and arpeggios, through placing and jumps to bringing them up to tempo. Their power lies in making some of your fingers play … Read More
Health and Harp Over the last few weeks we have been exploring topics around health and harp. Check them out here: How to reduce tension and pain when playing? – introduction to Alexander Technique 5 things you can do to avoid … Read More
You might have heard that high heels shoes can help you to manage pedal changes better… but you are wondering if this means that you won’t be able to play the harp well when wearing flats? Or you find it … Read More
Although some people may consider the level of physical effort while playing a musical instrument as low, it may have a negative impact on our body if we aren’t paying attention. Some of the most common injuries can be the … Read More
We often think that since pain seems to be the direct result of playing an instrument, there must be something we can do “better” while playing – in order to avoid it. Frequently we also assume that the part of … Read More
Why you can play a piece from start to finish perfectly at home, only to stumble in the very first bar once you’re in a lesson with your teacher? What happened with all the hours that you put into practice? … Read More
Do you want to play the harp? Are you looking for an instrument? Are you feeling confused about all the instruments available out there and not sure how they are different? Do you want to know what is it that … Read More
Have you ever found yourself in need of practice, without a harp? Travelling abroad? All practice rooms taken? Needed to memorise a piece quickly, but not time to play? Or perhaps you injured yourself and couldn’t practise? Try mental practice! … Read More
Did you know that writing goals down makes you much more likely to achieve them? Keeping a practice notebook – or a practice diary – has many more benefits: makes you reflect on how you want to play and in … Read More
It is very important that you sit in a healthy, balanced way, so that your whole body is happy when you play. It is not so much about learning the “correct” posture and rigidly keeping it, as constantly finding the … Read More
About today’s topic… There will be times when you will feel super-motivated to focus on harp playing and you will be ready to jump in at any time, for hours at time. This may be at the beginning of a … Read More
About today’s topic… Like with many other behaviours outside harp playing, cutting out the bad habits is not enough. Saying to yourself “don’t buzz” or “don’t slide” or any other “don’ts” often result in the exact opposite happening… wouldn’t you … Read More
In the previous episode I was talking about how to practise keeping your thumbs high when playing the harp (as well as reasons why you would like to do it). This episode is answering a question from a listener, who … Read More
The technique of playing the harp with thumbs pointing up and other fingers pointing down could be traced back to 19th century and the growing demand for bigger sound and arrival of instruments with higher string tension. While nowadays there … Read More
Have you ever wondered… “Is it really possible to pay attention to both hands while they have to do two very different things at the same time?” “How will I ever put hands together if I cannot do that?” I … Read More
Have you ever experienced that feeling… …when you spend a big chunk of a practice session on learning a few bars of music… then as it becomes more familiar, you move on to the next and let go of the … Read More
Chords can sound wonderfully lush on the harp, but not everyone will be always comfortable with stretching their fingers and hands to perfectly match the composer’s vision. However, there are ways to keep your hands healthy and injury-free without compromising … Read More
About today’s topic I have received a request for some advice on fingerings and I thought that we could start this topic from talking about fingerings for various intervals. Intervals are one of the key ingredients in music, and knowing … Read More
Today’s piece “Mountain Stream” by Skaila Kanga can be found on ABRSM grade 2 syllabus. While looking into practice strategies for this piece we will talk a lot about patterns, so make sure you check out my previous lesson on … Read More
If you liked the Prelude in C Major from last week, but you feel that the piece is too advanced for you at this stage – today’s lesson is for you! We will look at the basics of directional placing … Read More
About today’s lesson As I am not able to join you live today, I have prerecorded this short lesson on Prelude in C Major by Johann Sebastian Bach. In the lesson I am playing my new arrangement for lever harp … Read More
First things first – a few announcements there will be no Live Lesson next week – but you will get something nice from me instead! as always, newsletter subscribers can download a free PDF for today’s lesson – sign up … Read More
Would you like to learn the harp with me? Add your name to the waiting list and get notified when a place becomes available. About today’s lesson… I am going to answer your questions about the Harp Course (it’s the … Read More
About the first lesson it’s absolutely normal to feel nervous, especially if you’re a shy person (like me – believe it or not!) this is mainly a chat, to get to know your teacher and for the teacher to learn … Read More
Last lesson of 2019! Thank you so much for watching the lessons and sharing with me your thoughts and feedback this year. I am looking forward to many more in 2020! About today’s topic Getting started with the harp can … Read More
Last episode before Christmas! And one of my favourite topics – harp accessories for your practice, meaning a great excuse for a trip to stationery shops and some DIY ideas! Watch the lesson Essentials – quick overview – harp – … Read More
New terms starts soon! Add your name to the waiting list and get notified when a place becomes available. In today’s lesson Why the topic? Benefits of renting Mini-guide to renting (in the extra materials for the lesson – link … Read More
News and updates 1) Why I try to promote these free Live Harp Lessons as widely as possible 2) Gift cards are now available in the shop – if you’re looking for a gift for your loved ones and would … Read More
One thing that we all learn rather early in our harp lessons is that out of ten fingers we will only need eight to play. But what shall we do with our little fingers then? Watch today’s Live Harp Lesson … Read More
Polish Christmas Carols are now available to buy! CLICK to check them out! Your questions about the Christmas collection asnwered! Will there be a physical printed version of the Polish Christmas Carols available to buy? No (at least – not … Read More
Have you tried arranging any pieces for the harp? If yes, was there anything you found tricky? If not, was there any particular reason that stopped you from doing it? Today I’m breaking down this process into 3 … Read More
Competition results! Thank you to everyone who took part and congratulations to Ela Dąbrowska and Marianne Ji-Bing who just won a free copy of Polish Christmas Carols! About today’s topic Sight reading can be scary (at least it was for … Read More
Christmas Carols from Poland My newest collection of Christmas music will be available soon! for beginners (anyone in their first or second year of learning to play, or around grade 1 and 2) all carols are suitable for both lever … Read More
About today’s topic There are two main types of buzzes: – a fingertip buzz which happens when you replace a finger on a string which vibrates already – a fingernail buzz Dealing with a fingertip buzz It may sound cliché, … Read More
Spread, rolled or arpeggiated? A quick explanation on the terms I will be using as the terminology for spread/roll/arpeggiated chords may be slightly confusing! You can see the discussion under the social media posts. Exercises for spread chords These are … Read More
Why today’s topic? It’s a habit that can affect both beginners and advanced harpists, and it can be quite hard to spot if you have been doing it for many years and are used to seeing your fingers doing it. … Read More
News and announcements! Upcoming concert: this Wednesday (25th September) at 7:30 pm in Crieff. Why placing is so important? If you’re new to PLACING, check out first: Live no 8 on placing 2 fingers Live no 9 on placing … Read More
Why today’s topic? It is one of the most frequently asked questions by anyone thinking about taking harp lessons. There’s no quick answer, and certainly no such thing as difficulty scale where we could place harp easily. Learning to play … Read More
Today’s topic is LOOKING BEYOND THE BAR LINES Important info #1! “Suo Gân” is available only until 8:00 pm this Sunday (23rd August 2019). CLICK HERE to leave your email and download it along with all extra materials. After that … Read More
Today’s topic is SEMIQUAVERS AND DOTTED RHYTHMS Why today’s topic? – the visual aspect – why it’s important to get the feeling of the rhythms connected to the musical notation About the rhythmic exercises that you will find in … Read More
Today’s topic is PATTERNS IN MUSIC! 📣 Important information! Becuase I was broadcasting from the front camera of a tablet, my right hand may look like left and vice versa… so just to explain that I haven’t decided for a … Read More
Today’s topic is PRACTISING WITH A METRONOME! About different kinds of metronomes – traditional (mechanical) – the one you can see in the lesson is Shiver – electronic (powered with batteries) – in the video you can see electronic metronome … Read More
Today’s topic is DYNAMICS! Why today’s topic? – two approaches to dynamics – dynamics vs playing hands together – boxes to “tick off” before you start working on the dynamics – when you can (or even should!) add them straight … Read More
Today’s topic is BLISTER CARE! Why this topic? – link to the original short blog post which turned out to be one of the most frequently visited on my blog – do blisters have anything to do with the technique? … Read More
Today’s topic is WARM UP! I’m talking about… – the change of the Facebook page name – place of the warm up in harp lessons – all the reasons why it’s helpful to have your own warm up that you … Read More
Today we’re going to talk about PEDAL ETIQUETTE. I’m answering questions from the viewers: Q: when should I set the pedals up when performing solo? Q: when should I do this when there are more performers and we all … Read More
Today we’re going to talk about playing with – and placing – three fingers, and… answering questions from viewers: Q: Lifting the arms off after coming off the strings: how to best enhance the sound of the harp? Q: How … Read More
Today we’re going to talk about PLACING, and about… why this will be especially helpful for any self-taught harpist how many fingers you should start with when starting to learn All materials used today come from “First Harp Book” by … Read More
Today we’re going to tackle SCALES, and we are going to discuss… The new format of the Live, which comes with a free 7-day practice plan in a downloadable PDF How playing scales on the harp differs from other instruments … Read More
About the piece the range the difficulty level about the book, which you can buy here Music (from 7’20”) how the music is organised on the page and how it can help you – left hand pattern(s) – right hand … Read More
In this episode you will hear about… the harp I am using today the owner of the harp, Olivia Jageurs and her cool projects: 15 Second Harp Bachn’Eggs concert series, and the special offer for the next performance … Read More
In this episode I’m talking about… Where am I today and why Who “sponsored” today’s episode and how Interesting ideas on how to fit 4 harps into the orchestra About the piece part of the book “Haiku for the … Read More
In episode no 3 you will hear me talking about… my new baby-harp (Derwent Adventurer 20) and why I bought it the composer of today’s piece – Janina Garścia her book – “On the harp’s strings” (“Na strunach harfy”). Link to … Read More
In the 2nd episode (live on 3rd May 2019) you will hear me talking about… last week’s episode and where to find previous episodes how can you learn to read music faster Discover the Harp free ebook with exercises … Read More
In this first episode (live on 26th April 2019) you will hear me talking about… The idea behind the series – Discover the Harp Ebook [currently unavailable] – Few recordings of pieces available for intermediate players – FB Live – … Read More
“A Master Mind may be created through the bringing together […] two or more minds. Out of this harmonious blending the chemistry of the mind creates a third mind which may be appropriated and used by one or all of … Read More
What do you think – how much does a harp weigh? Do harpists have to be heavy lifters? Or do you need to know some special technique to hold it properly? It is true that playing the harp does require … Read More
There is one question that I hear all the time – “how do you move it?!”. Well, here goes a detailed explanation (9 minutes)! As you probably know, it is my very first blog entry. If you are an avid … Read More
While practice is something that musicians engage with every day, there may be times when you feel the need to supercharge your practice, perhaps ahead of an important concert, audition or exam. Today I’ll share with you two tips which … Read More
Reaching the skill level that enables you to provide music for others and get paid for it is a very exciting moment for every music student. I still remember the very first function that I played at and all the … Read More
The freedom of working as a freelance musician can be amazing. Being able to take time off and, say, have a lie-in on a Monday morning or take an early afternoon Wednesday hairdresser appointment when everyone else is at work … Read More
[:en]I have been wanting to look into retirement savings and pensions for a long time. Initially I was only planning to do some very basic reading to familiarise myself with this topic, hopefully to take better decisions and make arrangements for my own future. However, after a quick survey among my colleagues that revealed many are not sure where to start I decided to gather my research in this blog post.[:]
As everyone playing the pedal harp knows, things can get really busy down there! The accuracy of the piece depends a lot on the accuracy of our feet when executing pedal changes. How do we make sure they know where … Read More
Playing the harp means a lot of hard work for our bodies. It is often the fingertips which constantly come into direct contact with the instrument that take the toll. However, there are two simple things you can do to … Read More
Have you ever thought about your preferred way for memorising music? What comes easiest to you – remembering the melody of the piece? The finger movements? Or perhaps at the end of your practice you realise that the image of … Read More
I have been teaching many students who started playing the harp as adults. Very soon I noticed that there is one thing they all had in common. While they love music and are very keen to play, they often find … Read More
Sight reading requires a certain shift in our mindset. At the very beginning of our musical education we spend a lot of time learning how to read the notes. Then we do the same when we are learning a new piece … Read More
Tuning is for the harp what brushing is for your teeth – an easy way to make your instrument sound heavenly! By taking care of tuning the harp every time you practise you will soon become a lucky owner of an … Read More
Most children love playing. However, not many enjoy practising, which requires a lot of attention, focus and active learning. Here are some ideas how to make it easier and more fun for them! 1) Instrument at hand Getting going is often hardest … Read More
Finding a harp teacher whom you can see regularly will make a huge difference to your progress. Today the internet makes your search easier than ever. Below you will find websites where you can look for harp teachers. Some of … Read More
Starting your adventure with the harp may be easier and more affordable than you think. The only two things you will need at the beginning will be: 1) a bit of time 2) a harp Perhaps you would like your … Read More
Hello and welcome to my new website. With the new season in sight already I have decided to re-design my on-line space. You may witness some changes as I progress with the work. Feel free to explore and comment if … Read More