Playing for students

[jessica-wolff]

This was a guitar teacher, but it applies as easily to harp. I asked my teacher to give me a metronome reading or something (such as playing it herself) to help me with a vihuela piece I didn’t know. She said to listen to a lot of music of the same period or type and I would develop a sense for how it ought to sound.

I do think that harp hand positions are less cut-&-dried or simple than guitar hand positions and that the student benefits from watching the teacher play.

[kreig-kitts]

It might also be good for students to have practice staying in time with another musician and being sensitive to somebody else’s expression while playing. A key to good chamber music is whether the players are listening to each other or just each playing their part, coincidentally at the same time as a few others.

I remember once where my first teacher, as homework, had me write out a brief musical phrase of my own invention. As part of the next lesson, I played some variations on it, using minor keys, lever trills, glisses, etc., as some

[unknown-user]

Last summer I did a masterclass with Sarah Bullen. We were focusing on phrase endings in Grandjany’s Fantaisie, and we played the 1st variation together. Not only did that sound incredibly impressive, but it helped a lot. Its a lot easier to repeat something when you are “forced” to do it. So I suppose she WAS playing for me, but by playing together I was able to get instant feedback about which parts of the music she wanted me to work on, down to the note. It was quite the experience.

~Sam

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