[unknown-user]

I agree that motivation really should come from within and your average teacher is doing a perfectly adequate job giving him the lesson

[unknown-user]

Interesting insights Catherine, into not just my student but I think me….

Yes, I

[unknown-user]

That is such a good point Emily, about the fact that some people just can’t afford another instrument, so one has to tread carefully.

[unknown-user]

And I think that Diane has been eating those blue M&M’s again…all the preservatives and nasty colour additives make one hyer active!

[unknown-user]

I suppose this means that John Doe and I are linked together forever somehow in dodgey harp purgatory….

[unknown-user]

It’s hard to criticize someone’s instrument because they themselves often feel rejected. I have students playing on terrible pianos–we go through the whole, “this piano sounds different than mine at home” rigmarole.

I’ve found never to offer an opinion unless it’s something positive, and then to try to couch the negative words in terms that allow a second opinion or possibility for the future. Many people can’t afford another instrument for some time so it’s good to let them know exactly what their current one is good for.

Good for Chopsticks.

[unknown-user]

This is interesting, as this student definitely lacks any sort of competitiveness at all..in fact he loathes it and avoids any situation where he may be compared to anyone else,

[unknown-user]

Hi Becky,

You are not crazy, nor are you alone.

I showed up to my first harp
lesson without having ever placed a finger on one. In fact, I had
never played any instrument before! Out of a late-night random Google search I
started listening to harp music, nearly obsessively, until I just had to learn
how to play. I had dreams about it!

However, armed with a good teacher and a
will to learn, I’m pleased with my progress. So follow your gut!

As for buying a harp – I’d suggest you
might consider waiting before you commit to a purchase just yet. Your teacher
(unless you plan to try to self-teach) might have suggestions for you, or, if
you rent before you buy, you might find a model or preference that better suits
you. If so, then you’ll be happy that you rented first! (I know I am!)

Have a great journey to the harp!

[unknown-user]

Hi Kay,

I’ve had this problem numerous times, as people in this part of the world tend to go out and buy a harp before looking for a teacher and turn up with all sorts of things that are not entirely desirable…I recently had a lady with very pretty harp, that would not hold any tuning and with worrisone levers, so I know what you are going through.

Rod is right, its best to let them realise for themselves, that the harp is not good. And I also agree, find something good to say about the instrument – like carving or inlay, or general appearance – first. Then say something general about how you are concerned that it may not stand up to a lot of use, as it seems a delicate harp – and/or that that they will have to bring it each week as you are concerned that it is not holding pitch, until the instrument settles. So, I like to indicate that something is amiss so they do not get a complete shock when they realise and wonder why you didn’t say anything when they asked you!

The sight of you having to take so much time to tune it each week, and having to tune it so often themselves will make it dawn on them that things are amiss. I give them a sheet with tuning info on that I take them through in lessons, and with really dodgey harps I recommend a tuning meter straight off so they can see for themselves how out the harp gets…

If they play your harp in lessons each week too, it will not be long before they notice a difference. I have a student who started with me recently, and came with a

[unknown-user]

How could anybody find you boring?

[unknown-user]

He leido en varias oportunidades tu p��gina, te escribo desde Paraguay porsupuesto tambien arpista, estuve el a��o pasado dando clases de arpa en Durango en un proyecto de rescate del instrumento en el norte de M��xico, ahora estoy de retorno al Paraguay trabajando en un proyecto gigantesco de rescate y promoci��n del arpa “Sonidos de mi Tierra” un proyecto que en paraguay ha reunido a la orquesta de arpas paraguayas mas grande 150 actualmente de ni��os y jovenes, tambien estoy abriendo la primera Escuela de Arpa en Paraguy y quiero extender la invitacion para quienes deseen participar en ella en cualquier ��ndole, como invitarlos a Primer Festival Mundial de Arpas en Asunci��n del Paraguay del 2 a 5 de Noviembre en Paraguay 2007. Para seguir en contacto si gustan carmenacosta35@yahoo.com.ar. Tambi��n si algun arpista desea visitar la tierra sudamericana del arpa el Paraguay manejamos una productora de eventos. Saludos. Encontrar��n semblanzas mias en la p��gina http://www.arpadurango.org. Encuentros 2005 Durango, como referencias de los amigos mexicanos que conoc�� en el 2004 en el V Encuentro Latinoamericano de Arpistas en Cuernavaca. Gracias.

[unknown-user]

Hey Marcia,

Good to hear from you again. Columbia’s about an hour and a half, maybe less, from where I am, so it really isn’t too bad. I’m going to try to make it over there sometime soon.

I hope you can work out a schedule with the harp in your new home!

Thanks again to everyone for their suggestions and stories.

[unknown-user]

Just to let you know columbia is a bit frther than an hour from Charlotte….more like 2 hours…

I palyed my harp in an apratment and I dont even know if my neighbors heard me…. kept it

[unknown-user]

My naughty “I don’t practise coz you are so boring” student has… done some practise! Shock/ horror!! I bit the bullet and rang him on the weekend, and said maybe we needed to make a new time more suitable to him for lessons, due to all the lateness and cancellations, and maybe we needed to take a new direction as he was so bored….And this time, he was only 10 minutes late (much better

[unknown-user]

Just listened the a Cleveland Symphony recording of the Debussy Prelude in the Afternoon of a

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