Learning the Harp An Impossible Dream?

[clouds-clouds]

I’ve wanted to play the harp for years but it was impossible because I was still a full-time student. Thinking that I would never be able to afford a harp, I bought myself a cheaper instrument instead. Now I am no longer a student and my financial situation has improved. I figured that I would be able to save up to buy an Ogden so I started calling around for lessons.
To my shock, the local harp teachers charge much more than teachers of other instruments like piano or violin. I live in Asia so there are only a few teachers here so not many choices. Lessons for my current instrument is by no means cheap (and the teacher very qualified) but a bargain compared to harp. I am not a high-income earner and cannot afford outflow of $XXX per month even if I give up my other instrument. Not to mention the ongoing expenses of buying/shipping strings, music and accessories from another part of the world.

Should I just stick to my current instrument? I may never be able to afford a pedal harp (whereas for my current instrument even the cheapest models have the same number of strings). Could I just buy myself a harp and then try to self-teach using books and dvds? I am not planning to play in a symphony orchestra. I just want to be able to play the harp while I am still alive, celtic folk music and simple transcriptions of classical pieces. Or could I save up for six months of lessons and then self-teach after that?

[tony-morosco]

Although a teacher is always the best way to go, it isn’t the only way to go.

What I would suggest is to find a teacher who understands your situation, and is willing to let you take just one lesson a month or some other workable schedule that you can afford.

Supplement that with self teaching material. There are several good books that can be used as self teaching guides. While not the best situation at least with the occasional lesson with a teacher who can correct any mistakes you may be developing due to learning on your own you can make some decent progress.

Plenty of people have taught themselves to play at least reasonably decently. If you are doing this just for your own enjoyment then there is nothing wrong with that approach.

Another option is to see if you can find a teacher not in your area but who does lessons over the internet, such as by using skype, who may charge less.

[natalie-wagner–2]

Tony said it all! I think that sounds like a perfect plan.

Sylvia Woods has Teach yourself to play the folk harp, which is a very nice book. You can also purchase a DVD with it to see the techniques played out.

Monthly lessons would help keep you on track, and I know that Skype lessons are beginning to become more common. I know Josh Layne does, but I have no idea what his rates are. @http://joshlayne.com

If you are doing this because you love music, and you love the harp, then learning on your own will be fun and fulfilling! I wish you all the best, God bless you!

— Natalie

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