Re: Celtic harp teachers for 6 year old in London, UK?
PM me and I'll be able to pass on an email address. Can't promise anything but I have a friend who teaches harp in north-west London and south Hertfordshire. They might know someone closer to you, or they might be able to recommend somewhere halfway.
Re: Celtic harp teachers for 6 year old in London, UK?
There are some really great DVDs. When I first got a harp and didn't know what to do with it, though simple enough to pick out tunes, it's the technique that's critical for good playing... I got Laurie Riley's Play The Harp Today. I did indeed play the harp that day, an intelligent sounding tune, slow yes, but it was so sensible and easy to understand. Laurie has a nice gentle manner for a six year old too. She goes very slowly through how to sit, how to hold your hands etc.
My granddaughter has played Suzuki piano for a while, since four, she is five now. She just walked over to the harp last year and started playing her songs on it by ear. She just requested a "Pink Harp" for her fifth birthday, and I got her a pink Flatsicle from Reese. Now to keep her from covering it with Princess stickers!
With the right teacher, or lacking that, I'd do the DVD, and learn it yourself first and show her or do it with her (you can do it!!!) she will be picking out tunes in no time. it's very satisfying to the little ones,
Re: Celtic harp teachers for 6 year old in London, UK?
Thanks folks - irisnevins, I checked out that DVD - yep, that looks the biz, and yes, as you say, I would imagine the learning the techniques & tricks are the key to getting the most out of what on first glance is one of the simplest and most approachable of instruments - as usual, 'god is in the detail'...
Re: Celtic harp teachers for 6 year old in London, UK?
Blast. Wrote something long and detailed and my browser ate it.
In summary:
look at http://www.clarsachsoclondon.co.uk/ teachers page.
Probably Mike Parker is your best bet, not ITM but lovely. It's the technique you need not the music anyway (sounds like her folks have got that covered).
Wouldn't recommend exclusive use of DVDs (though Laurie Riley is good news). Hand shape simple but angle makes it very hard to see.
There is a harp project at Colette Keaveney's ITM school in north London, I run that but live much further west so not able to get to E. London on a regular basis.
Clarsach soc - useful for events too. Harp so spread out that contact with other players becomes limited but very important.
Last thing - harp looks simple but is *hard*. So much more fun as a second instrument! Get her learning anything else first / in the mean time. That's what's going on at the Irish music school and it's great fun.
Re: Celtic harp teachers for 6 year old in London, UK?
Did you get the little girl a teacher? I play Irish harp, since I was about 6 and would happily give some pointers if you're still looking - I live north London
Celtic harp teachers for 6 year old in London, UK?
Celtic harp teachers for 6 year old in London, UK?
Hi,
Can anyone recommend a Celtic harp teacher for a 6-year old goddaughter based in East London, UK?
Her parents both play trad (fiddle & gutar) & she's really enthusiastic about getting started on the harp.
Of course, she will be just at the twinkle-twinkle, little-star stage at the start .
Any pointers to an encouraging tutor in that area that might mentor the lil rising star?
Thanks,
Gervais
# Posted on August 5th 2009 by gmc
Re: Celtic harp teachers for 6 year old in London, UK?
PM me and I'll be able to pass on an email address. Can't promise anything but I have a friend who teaches harp in north-west London and south Hertfordshire. They might know someone closer to you, or they might be able to recommend somewhere halfway.
# Posted on August 5th 2009 by Dragut Reis
Re: Celtic harp teachers for 6 year old in London, UK?
There are some really great DVDs. When I first got a harp and didn't know what to do with it, though simple enough to pick out tunes, it's the technique that's critical for good playing... I got Laurie Riley's Play The Harp Today. I did indeed play the harp that day, an intelligent sounding tune, slow yes, but it was so sensible and easy to understand. Laurie has a nice gentle manner for a six year old too. She goes very slowly through how to sit, how to hold your hands etc.
My granddaughter has played Suzuki piano for a while, since four, she is five now. She just walked over to the harp last year and started playing her songs on it by ear. She just requested a "Pink Harp" for her fifth birthday, and I got her a pink Flatsicle from Reese. Now to keep her from covering it with Princess stickers!
With the right teacher, or lacking that, I'd do the DVD, and learn it yourself first and show her or do it with her (you can do it!!!) she will be picking out tunes in no time. it's very satisfying to the little ones,
# Posted on August 5th 2009 by irisnevins
Re: Celtic harp teachers for 6 year old in London, UK?
Thanks folks - irisnevins, I checked out that DVD - yep, that looks the biz, and yes, as you say, I would imagine the learning the techniques & tricks are the key to getting the most out of what on first glance is one of the simplest and most approachable of instruments - as usual, 'god is in the detail'...
# Posted on August 7th 2009 by gmc
Re: Celtic harp teachers for 6 year old in London, UK?
Blast. Wrote something long and detailed and my browser ate it.
In summary:
look at http://www.clarsachsoclondon.co.uk/ teachers page.
Probably Mike Parker is your best bet, not ITM but lovely. It's the technique you need not the music anyway (sounds like her folks have got that covered).
Wouldn't recommend exclusive use of DVDs (though Laurie Riley is good news). Hand shape simple but angle makes it very hard to see.
There is a harp project at Colette Keaveney's ITM school in north London, I run that but live much further west so not able to get to E. London on a regular basis.
Clarsach soc - useful for events too. Harp so spread out that contact with other players becomes limited but very important.
Last thing - harp looks simple but is *hard*. So much more fun as a second instrument! Get her learning anything else first / in the mean time. That's what's going on at the Irish music school and it's great fun.
# Posted on August 11th 2009 by telyn
Re: Celtic harp teachers for 6 year old in London, UK?
Did you get the little girl a teacher? I play Irish harp, since I was about 6 and would happily give some pointers if you're still looking - I live north London
# Posted on December 23rd 2009 by FeeT