Teachers are in the business of doling out valuable lessons. Some are practical, some are philosophical. Some go in one ear and out the other, while others stay with us for a lifetime. Many lessons extend far beyond the nuts and bolts of nailing a cross-under or shaping a phrase to life beyond the harp. Students often absorb these messages through pesky, persistent reminders that come with regular lessons, and sometimes it is just one simple statement from a teacher that changes a student’s perspective forever.
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Read Heidi Lehwalder’s first hand account of lessons with Carlos Salzedo.[/pullquote]
We asked harpists to tell us what lesson has stuck with them. From generosity to rhythm, we received a wide range of unique answers. What gives these lessons staying power in a student’s eyes, though, is seeing its value played out time and time again in their own lives.
Emilie Whitman
“I learned from my teacher Karen Gottlieb not to be selfish about your career, no matter how hard you’ve worked or how brilliant a musician you are. Teaching and working professionally should be acts of generosity; never withhold an opportunity from another person for your own interest. If you’re a great harpist, help your student be even greater. In an often cut-throat world, treating everyone with kindness will actually give you better returns than being a diva.” —Emilie Whitman, Bellingham, Wash.
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Carl Swanson
“My teacher Pierre Jamet, without saying anything directly, taught me to be curious, to ask questions, and to explore. That’s really how I came to do all of this research on the Debussy Sonate that is being published in the (American Harp Society) Journal, which has led to a whole new edition of the piece by Carl Fischer.” —Carl Swanson, Boston, Mass.
Elizabeth Hainen
“There are so many things that Susann McDonald taught me or inspired me with her testimony as the greatest harp ambassador I know. One practical thing that comes to mind is that she always coached us to never ‘hide’ behind the harp. When you walk onto stage, walk in front of the instrument. Don’t squish between the bench and the harp nor should you walk behind it. Projecting confidence to the audience that you are the soloist and not a mere appendage of the harp is very important! Musically-speaking, I will never forget her ability to teach a musical phrase. The music should never be added later. We don’t work on a piece mechanically and then fill in the necessary musical ideas and dynamics. It is all part of the music, from the first note that emerges from your fingers. —Elizabeth Hainen, Philadelphia, Pa.
Krist Shade
“Susan Jolles would always tell me to ‘trust your pedals.’ It’s really stuck with me over the years and I hear her voice every time I get to a difficult pedal section in an orchestral or chamber piece. I need to trust that I’ve done the work to mark and learn the pedaling, and that, when I get to a tricky passage, I just need to calmly move exactly what I have written.” —Kristi Shade, New York, N.Y.
Anne Sullivan
“My teacher Marilyn Costello taught me how to be a generous teacher. She felt the responsibility of sharing what she had been taught, and building on that foundation to help her students. Through her teaching and performing, she lived the legacy she had earned and passed it on to her students. And through her example, I strive to do the same. It is the most important thing I do.” —Anne Sullivan, State Collage, Pa.
Maeve Gilchrist
“My teacher Isobel Mieras is an incredible woman. She taught me how to draw the emotion out of the notes and find the imagery in music. I remember her writing different words—things like ‘mischievous,’ ‘solemn,’ or ‘sexy’—in my music books. This was very important to her and it’s become very important to me. She taught me to never lose sight of the joy of music.” —Maeve Gilchrist, Boston, Mass.
Brandee Younger
“The most important thing I learned from my harp teacher Karen Strauss was to be myself. She allowed me to learn all styles of music and not stay stuck in one way of thinking.” —Brandee Younger, New York, N.Y.
Grace Browning
“As an ensemble harpist, I’m constantly thinking about rhythm. When I was studying with Joan Holland at the University of Michigan, she shared a quote with me from Leon Fleisher that really stuck with me: ‘In order to play something perfectly on the beat, you must wait as long as possible before playing…without being late.’ In other words, there is wiggle room inside each beat, and feeling those beats as wide, sub-dividable brushstrokes rather than empty check marks will help keep you from rushing.” —Grace Browning, Dallas, Texas
Mia Theodoratus
“Susan Allen made me figure out the Berio Sequenza on my own and then defend my choices. Susie’s teaching style made graduate school about becoming a thinking musician with a unique viewpoint.”—Mia Theodoratus, New York, N.Y.
“Judy Loman taught me that effective practicing is not based on the time put in, but what you’re able to get done. She told me to set a goal for what I needed to achieve in a practice time and accomplish it, whether it takes 30 minutes or three hours!”—Elizabeth White Clark, Philadelphia, Pa.
Sophie Graf
“The best advice my harp teacher Gretchen Van Hoesen has given me is to say my pedals out loud when I do them in practice. It helps me memorize them and to do them at exactly the right moment.” —Sophie Graf, San Diego, Calif.
Meghan Davis
“I learned so much from my harp teacher Gulnara Mashurova, both about the harp and about life. She had an enormous influence on me, from how to curl my fingers when playing, to what clothes were fashionable, to what kind of person I wanted to become. I will be forever grateful to her.” —Meghan Kathleen Davis, Philadelphia, Pa.
Adrienne Knauer
“Ruth Hunter taught me to be proactive in my education.” —Adrienne Knauer, Philadelphia, Pa.
Sarah Javaux
“My teacher, Faye Seeman, taught me not only how to navigate my way through a piece, but how to navigate around new places! I credit my sense of direction and ability to find my way around new cities to her.” —Sarah Javaux, Collingswood, N.J. •
What is the best thing you learned from your teacher? Pass on your own teacher’s words of wisdom in the comments section!
