In my experience, the musicians who succeed in reaching their goals are those who are the most consistent in their approach. They create strong habits around their practice, study and performing,...
One of the most important aspects of our harp technique is placing. Proper placing lets us play securely, accurately and quickly. It’s obvious if you give it a little thought. When your...
It’s September and the school year has started.
A new school year is always a little exciting: new classes, new activities, new friends, new opportunities. Along with all the fun,...
By Anne Sullivan
Let’s play “what if.”
- What if Mozart had written “Three Blind Mice?”
- What if Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony were played on a music box?...
By Anne Sullivan
Your right hand knows its notes. Your left hand knows its notes. So why can’t you put the hands together?
Hands together playing is a challenge for all of us harpists....
By Anne Sullivan
Most of us think of the metronome as a tool to help us keep a steady beat or to get a piece up to tempo. It pushes us to play faster or correct us when our rhythm is uneven....
When you have a long piece to practice, do you know where to start? Do you usually start at the beginning and play until you have to stop and fix something? Or do you start from the hardest part,...
When we consider the many obstacles that we face as we try to turn the pieces we practice into music, none is more powerful than the thin black line. Which line do we mean? We mean the bar line.
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Beautiful harp playing sounds fluid, flowing and even. It sings with lovely melodies and resonates with lush chords. It sounds rich and warm and sparkly, all at the same time. What it doesn’t...
Picture your ideal harpist. Is this harpist slumping like a rag doll at the harp? Or are they graceful and strong and straight?
When people tell you to sit up straight, the list of directions...
By Anne Sullivan
I bet no one has ever told you NOT to practice. We harpists need to practice every day, right?
Yes, that’s true, but it’s important that you are practicing for...
You’ve invested a lot of time, money and effort into your passion for playing the harp. While other kids were playing hockey or soccer, you were practicing and playing concerts. (Or...
