OH its a wonderful week for a freebie!!
Warming up and developing our technique is so important in our harp playing! It helps us look after our bodies and minds, helps to develop wonderful sound production and helps us to make sure all those lovely tunes sound as lovely as the possibly can!
So, hurry over to my YouTube and have a little warm up with me as I lead you through my favourite exercise ‘Individual Fingers’.
This is one for beginners all the way to the most advanced of players, because no matter our level we need to be checking in on how we are using our fingers and really taking time to ask – is this how I want it to sound? This exercise gives you the space to do just that.
I use it everyday at the start of my warm up!
I hope you enjoy it harpies!
I am coming to you from a hotel room in Norway!
I have had the most wonderful few days here performing and teaching, and as I reflect I find myself so grateful for the people I have met because of music.
This long weekend I have stayed with good friends. Friends who I have one ever met in person once before now, and yet are now some of the most dearest to me. Friends who organised a concert for me, from afar, and asked nothing in return. Friends who welcomed me into their home and shared with me during my stay. Friends who shared music, food, warmth and stories. Friends who I will be forever grateful for.
Without music, these are people I would never have had the pleasure of meeting. And it is music which gives us this common bond and connects us. In reality we hardly know each other. And yet, we know so much at the same time. We share so much.
It isn’t a long letter to you all today, but just sharing in the joy and honour of music friendships, as it is also how I have gotten to know all of you! And for that I am also so grateful!
So, look around you, what a wonderful music community we have, and how lucky we are to share together.
Thank you all for being here with me.
Firstly, sorry this email is a little late…all I can really say is, I’m reminding myself of last week’s message and I’m kindly pausing every now and again!
I want to share with you some advice which was given to me a few years ago by a very good friend, and fellow harpist.
I was preparing my album ‘Nae Sweets for Shy Bairns’. Truth be told I had been preparing it for around about 9 years. It just never felt quite ‘good enough’. There was development I could be doing in the arrangements. I wasn’t happy with every aspect of my playing. I still needed work. This is what I told myself time and time again over the 9 years.
Here’s the advice.
A album is just like a picture. Once it has been taken you are not the same person anymore. You can look back on it fondly and see who you were then, but you will have changed and you will have grown. Just like that picture, your album is a snap in time of where you are musically in that moment. And it will change, in a year, in a month, even in a day. So just do it already.
Pretty good advice right? 6 months later I recorded that album back in 2018.
I want to add to this advice. When you create music, you can often feel so connected to it that it feels like an extension of you. Maybe to a certain extent it is. But, there is always going to be room for improvement. And you don’t have to define yourself by all the improvements you can see need attending. You can just be you, and that’s ok. That’s enough.
I could go on explaining what I mean here…but that’s enough.
This is a phrase I use – a lot!
It came from an Alexander Technique specialist, she spoke about kindly pausing and considering the movement in our bodies. I find it is appropriate for many situations.
I apply it in movement. As I consider how I use my hands and body at the harp and thinking about the way each part of the feet, back, shoulder, arms, hands and fingers play a role in the simple plucking of a string. As the realisation of just how many factors need to align for the perfect string pluck (does that even exist??) dawns on me, I like to kindly pause and think about each little element on its own. The part it plays. How it leads on to the next in the string of motions needed for a simple strike of a note.
I apply it in friendship. Kindly pause and really listen to a friend. Listen to the excitement in their voice as they express a fantastic moment for them. Listen to the softness as they share a difficult time. Not jumping in, but just kindly pausing and listening intently.
I apply it when walking. Who doesn’t love a brisk walk on a crisp day? But to kindly pause and breathe in the surroundings. To take the time to look at the view, touch the leaves, soak in the colours.
And I apply it in music practice. That phrase with the difficult fingering, so frustrating I must STOP and get it right. No, the word stop is too strong. It jars you. Kindly pause instead. Kindly pause and replace fingers for a new shape. Kindly pause and allow your left-hand to catch up with your right. Kindly pause and listen to the ringing of the strings you have just played.
We have the Christmas Harp Collaboration just round the corner. I am so looking forward to welcoming many of you into this project. But in the past people have gotten themselves a little worked up or worried about taking part.
Everyone.
Kindly pause.
Even one note played will add something amazing to a piece of music.
Enjoy that one note.
I hope to be playing with you over the next few weeks as we dive into the Christmas Harp Collaboration 2022!
I’ve talked about this phenomenon before in a few sessions!
It is a common occurrence amongst harpists I find.
You are learning a piece, working away, making little steps of progress. Then suddenly – you hear someone playing…oh, just the most beautiful piece!! You must learn it! You simply have to have the sheet music instantly. As soon as it arrives, you are working on something else. A few weeks later…..
Before you know it there are 5, 8, 10 pieces on your music stand and even more on your ‘one day’ list.
Sound familiar!?
I know I’ve been there!
Now, before I get into the real meat of todays message. I want to make it clear:
There is nothing wrong with playing music you love. Of course you want to play pieces you feel moved by. Pieces which touch you. After all, our music is here for us to enjoy and bask in!
But…
It is important to find balance in our playing. We want to be moving ourselves forward, slowly and methodically. We need to finish something to have that real embedded feeling. We need to go through the process of have struggles and overcoming them to help us in our learning. We need to have the commitment and focus to see something through to the end to really reap the rewards.
So, how do we do this?
This week I am planning. I am planning for the start back of the Conservatoire in 2 weeks. I’m planning for returning to my own studies in Education in 1 week! And I’m planning for the final quarter of the year for all my one-to-one, group, membership and community students. How can I help them (and myself!) really achieve something special to finish 2022 with a bang!
Goal setting is a fantastic tool we can use to help us keep focus, maintain energy and avoid that ‘shiny object syndrome’.
I will be spending the next week considering my own goals for the coming months, but also goals for my students. This will help to guide and align our focus. Improving in anything in life isn’t easy, but it is a lot more difficult if you aren’t sure where you are trying to get to. A lack of direction in our practice can be frustrating and lead to us feeling….I play a lot, but I never seem to really improve.
I would encourage you to have a think. What would you like to achieve by Christmas? Where would you really like to be? How are you going to get there?
If you aren’t sure, or you would like some help or support, drop me a line!
I often talk about things that my students are struggling with. Harp related learning tips. Things I think will help you all in your harp learning journey. When I sit down to write my weekly newsletters I generally think to myself – what’s going on with my students?
Today I am musing on one of my own struggles.
So here’s what’s going on with me.
I started teaching online around 7 or 8 years ago when I created my first online teaching course ‘Technique Tuesday’. It was so lovely to be able to reach and help harpists I had met overseas at different events, or those further afield in the UK who simply aren’t close enough for private lessons.
It was also lovely to help harpists who couldn’t afford 1-2-1 private lessons. These are not cheap. It is excellent for students to be able to work with a qualified harpist in face to face lessons, but it just isn’t possible for everyone, and I firmly believe music is for everyone. My online offerings gave another route for harpists to professional tuition.
Now I am delighted to offer a membership and a number of courses which allow me to reach harpists, enjoy learning with them, create communities and provide excellent tuition for all learners, all ages, all budgets and all walks of life.
Ok, so this all sounds good right?! So what’s the struggle?
In order to try to help as many harpists as I can. In order to grow this online community and create something really special I have to do something which you might be surprised does not come naturally to me.
I have to get visible.
These past few weeks I have been working to try and grow an online presence and you know what? It’s a struggle! Self-promotion is something which always kind of made me feel…icky.
Being in front of people and sharing knowledge, watching them grow and improve – now that’s fun! That’s inspiring! That’s what I get really excited about!!
Being in front of people and trying to explain your value, even just trying to be on social media all the time – it’s a struggle!
But – it is a struggle which is worth it!
I struggled through a new course launch recently. I found it really, really hard. But last night I met with my new students for our first session and suddenly I remembered why I struggled through that launch. Why I forced myself to be visible! Now I get to work with this amazing group of harpists, from all over the world for the next 3 months. I get to share in their journey, laugh with them, celebrate with them, pick them up when they are struggling. We actually had a good few laughs already in just our first session.
Even though it is a struggle, and next time it will be a struggle again. This experience will make the next time just that little bit easier. And the time after that, a little easier again.
So, struggle on everyone – in the end it will be worth it!
Ok ok, I won’t finish that sentence!! In reality – here in Scotland the sun is shining and it couldn’t look any less like…you know what!
But –
It is time to get learning, playing, sharing, and generally having a rare old time in…
THE CHRISTMAS HARP COLLABORATION 2022!!!!
Yes, William and I are back at it this year and I have to say the arrangement might just be my favourite yet!!
For those of you who don’t know, the Christmas Harp Collaboration is a project I have run for the last two years. It is a free and fun event bringing harpists from all ages, backgrounds, and levels together and sharing our music. The Collaboration is all about having fun and community together. It holds a special place in my heart now and I am so looking forward to sharing this years music with you all!
This year I really want us all to feel in it together! And so I will be running 7 live sessions to work on the material with you all! These will take place on ZOOM on Monday evenings at 8.15pm UK time starting from October 3rd.
The music is ready. The schedule is made. All we need is you!!
To sign up, click the link below where you will find all the information!
This project is for ALL levels, ALL harps, the music is in C major and you don’t need any super special equipment! Just you, your harp and 2 devices – one to record you playing and one to hear me in your ears as you play! Please share with all your friends, students – everyone!!
I’ll see you all there!
To watch the last two years, head over to my YouTube channel!
This is a new term for me! It is one floating about in the online community for the Harmony course. I know it is being used with love and grace, and humour! But it has got me thinking…
As you all I’m sure are very well aware, I have just offered a new course. It was exciting and I enjoyed working with new people as I went through the free event which introduced this new course to everyone. After (and often during) everything I offer, I pretty much always ask for feedback. It helps me assess how something worked and how I can improve it for people taking part if I decide to do it again. And the free celebrating harmony weekend was no exception. I asked everyone for feedback.
The biggest take away from this feedback was people describing themselves as ‘too much of a beginner’. Too slow, too little knowledge, not ready. These are just some of the comments people had about themselves.
When considering a learning opportunity – of course we have to think about what our level is and if the course is right for us. And sometimes it won’t be right for us. And that’s ok. But there are definitely too many adult learner harpists giving up great learning opportunities because they think they are ‘too much of a beginner’. Too much of a beginner to learn? At what point are we going to allow ourselves to move forward? How are we going to improve if we are constantly ‘too much of a beginner’ to even try to learn?
I get it, how often have you signed up to a ‘beginner’ course only to find yourself in a sea of advanced players all moving fast and doing things you don’t understand – that’s so scary and it doesn’t feel good. But also, you are worth working on. You are worth investing in. You bring a unique view, feel, soul to your music and your harp playing that no one else will bring. In my learning groups, no one is left behind.
I see you.
I see the fantastic things you have to contribute! I celebrate that!
I am a professional harpist. I am also a perpetual beginner. Why? Because I am ALWAYS learning. I won’t allow my ‘beginner’ status to prevent me from learning.
So, I hope you all embrace your ‘Perpetual Beginner’ titles and take every opportunity to learn.
As most of you I’m sure will know, I am currently completing a Masters in Education, specialising in learning and teaching the arts. From time to time I like to share what is going on in my own learning! So here goes!
At the end of June I completed a teaching evaluation having designed and delivered a learning activity with my harp students at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. This was observed by 2 peers and feedback was gathered from the students. Here are some things I learned…
You Can’t Control Everything
I don’t generally consider myself a control freak…but maybe I’ve been wrong about that. Something that came up a few times in feedback was that I stepped in too quickly to help my learners, and that I controlled tasks. I could have given more space for learner freedom. Sometimes my desire for my students to have a good, positive experience perhaps can hamper their learning. Learning is as much about getting things wrong as it is about getting things right. Allowing students to make mistakes and work out pathways and strategies for themselves is super cool – and it means I can learn from them too! I definitely need to be ok about stepping back and letting people explore freely.
Future Planning is Key
It’s all very well to design a super engaging and exciting learning experience for my students, but if I don’t help them put action plans into place, I’m in danger of all the learning being forgotten and not absorbed. I didn’t work with the students to ensure they mapped out how they might explore our topic further and how they might incorporate the new skills into their playing. Planning is super important!
You’re Doing Okay Girl
It’s easy for me to dwell on critical feedback and focus all my attention on how I can improve and how to forge forward. Whilst it’s great to consider improvements, I’m going to take my own advice, I give all the time to my students. What I planned and delivered for the students was cool. It was well received and there were lots of great comments as well as improvements. Well done me!
I also got top marks! Woooo!