It's OK to make mistakes

Hey students, if you're reading this, you're probably rolling your eyes because of how many times I've said it this month. But let me say it again: It's OK to make mistakes.

Harp lessons are a place to learn, develop, train, form bonds, be inspired, show emotion, be creative, and have fun. There are no test in harp lessons (at least not in mine!), there aren't finals or grades. You won't get fired or sent to your room. So relax. I teach you because I like you. I like spending time with you, I like helping you learn. I get excited when you reach a big goal and I'm happy to help you over bumpy times. I'm not going to yell at you every time something goes wrong.

You come to lessons so that I can teach you to play the harp, not to be perfect. I expect you to make mistakes while learning, and I expect you to be nervous at a recital and make a few there. I still make mistakes all the time, whether in practice, in concert, or while showing you something in lesson (and most of you happily point them out to me).

So stop worrying so much about being perfect. That stuff comes later, when you go to college, when you audition for an orchestra. For now, let's all agree to two requirements for your lessons: let's get ready to learn, and let's have some fun!

What's the point of metronomes?

I've met very few musicians in my life who actually enjoy working with a metronome, and if you're one of my students, you've probably complained about having to use one as well. The fact is, it's not much fun practicing with a small electronic device that constantly beeps at you and lets you know you're playing incorrectly.

Why do we need to use one?

For one thing, the ending goal of most professional musicians is in an orchestra. To play with the orchestra, you must have an internal beat and be able to keep a steady tempo. It's easy to play the simple parts fast and the hard parts slow, as well as skip over all the whole notes. Playing with a metronome will make it much less of a shock when you join the orchestra in rehearsal and realize that you have to follow the conductor.

Speaking of  following the conductor, you may have noticed that they don't make noises to keep you on beat. The metronome will get you used to how much time to wait, what tempos to play, and what rhythms to do before you have to rely on your eyes only in rehearsal.

Finally, it's hard to control your tempo all on your own. The metronome is more like a coach than a disciplinarian. It's there to help you out, not to punish you. Let the metronome be your teacher and guide, and take some of the weight off your own shoulders. You have plenty of other things to think about!

Why should you attend other harp concerts?

Music concerts aren't always the most interesting. You have to sit so stiffly and be absolutely silent, sometimes the pieces are ridiculously long, and sometimes you don't really understand why anyone would decide we needed a 3 movement concerto for some obscure instrument. But harp concerts are important for reasons other than just listening to the music. This is where you can learn about the kind of harpist you want to be.

It took me a long time to realize that I shouldn't be listening to harp CDs or recitals so that I could imitate them. I finally realized, that I could pick and choose, like photoshopping my own musical style together from 6 different musicians. I don't like how some harpists play their dynamics, and I do like how other harpists stretch and push their music. One of the best lessons I ever learned was that it's OK to dislike how another harpist plays. Especially when you're either young or new to harp, it's hard to cut off the part of your mind that assumes that all adults always know what they're doing and are always right. And disliking a musician's playing style doesn't mean what they're doing is wrong. It's like if you dislike the color purple, and it's my favorite color.

Try going to harp concerts and listening to CDs. See how it shapes how you would like to sound. And of course, don't limit yourself to only harpists. I think I learned the most about putting emotion in my music from Itzhak Perlman's recording of the famous Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. See what's out there, and you'll be surprised by how much you learn about yourself. Happy listening!

Cut your nails for next lesson. Cut your nails for next lesson. Cut your nails for next lesson.

You've all heard me say it in lesson, and most of you have seen me write it down for you to accomplish at home. Why do we need to cut our nails to play the harp?

First of all, it makes your sound so much cleaner. You aren't constantly hitting other strings accidentally, or buzzing because your fingers are longer than they should be.

Secondly, it helps your speed. We play on our fingertips right? Well if you always have to readjust your hand to reach your fingertips on the strings, you're going to lose the rhythm and tempo you should be maintaining.

Thirdly, glissandos. A good glissando has movement, momentum, and a strong tone. Whispy glissandos sound nice in the studio by yourself, but with an orchestra, on a stage, or in a piece that is triple forte, you need strong glissandos (glissandi?) to make it work, as Tim Gunn would say. To make a strong gliss, you have to hook your finger, right? How can you hook and drag your fingertip without breaking your nails?

Some harpists leave their pinky nails long, and only cut the nails on the fingers they use. I don't do this, because it inevitably drives me crazy to only have one nail. So keep those nails short, and your harping will sound much better. And on the plus side, if someone wants you to open their pop or untie a knot, you can always say, "can't! I have no nails!"

Twitter article: a harpist who plays in grocery stores

I found an article a while back about a harpist who plays in grocery stores! I think it's interesting that the stores were so open to the idea, it seems like a lot of negotiations would be involved. What if someone hits your harp with a cart? Who's responsible, the harpist, the cart pusher, or the store? Does the harpist get paid by the store, or rely on tips? Where do you think the harp loads in, through the automatic doors or the back? What about the temperature, grocery stores are not always room temperature. Are you considered an employee of the store? So many different angles to think about, I wish the article had addressed the uniqueness of this situation a little more, rather than stating facts about the harp that are easy to find elsewhere. Still, when you start out a career in harp, people suggest you play in schools, libraries, conventions, restaurants, but I've never heard grocery store! What would you think if you were looking for carrots and saw a harp instead?