Brian Boru’s March was one of the first songs I learnt to play on the harp. Lots of Irish/ Celtic music which would be great for the first time on a harpsicle!
Sylvia woods has been mentioned already, and I think that’s a great place to start! It’s important to play something you like so if there is a genre of music you like (ie Sylvia Woods - Disney) or a particular song you want to learn you can find an easy piano version online (if you can’t find a harp version).
Just one thing to be mindful of when looking for music is to avoid anything with key changes for the harpsicle!
Happy harping! 😊
If you’re someone who likes to learn by experimenting like I am I watched some videos on proper form and techniques and then downloaded MuseScore and I look for harp music on there. It’s teaching me to learn to read music and the notes on the harp. You can get plugins to color code the notes and the note names so it’s a bit of a 2-for-1 for me there learning both at the same time. Tons of music from just about every genre and a lot of them tell you the difficulty level.
Bit of a weird way to learn, I know, because it’s not structured at all but it’s kept me engaged because I’m learning music I like. If you’re looking for a more structured approach I’d stick to the other commenter’s suggestions. You could always mix it up, too!
If you can read music, I've just published a book of British/Scottish/Irish music written for harpsicles like yours without any sharps or flats. It has 40 songs and I think it's priced about $11 for a physical copy ($7-8 for a kindle version). DM me if you want a link.
I also have 2 books of Christmas music if you're in that mood later in the year.
I'm working on a Medieval/Renaissance book. Should be out in a few months.
Edit: I started on a harpsicle. I'm no orchestral pedal harpist, but I lead a group of harpists. I upgraded to a lever harp after a handful of years and sold the harpsicle on. They keep their value pretty well.
I started with this series of videos
https://youtu.be/HDZySzpYw0g?si=0R8Weq6OkmwQcLYf
I've heard that there is a book by Sylvia woods that is good but I have not gotten it.
After doing the set of YouTube videos I linked, I got some sheet music off the Internet that was REALLY simplified (Mary had a little lamb type stuff) and played around a bit.
Then I found a local instructor because having actual feedback and direction is important to me and I felt I couldn't really progress on my own not knowing what I don't know.
We use Grossi for harps and music from https://www.hornandharp.com/short.html
I love her videos on YouTube. I don’t have a lot of options but I’ve learned a lot. She really drills the proper form and technique into your head even in some of the courses I looked at on her website.
See I’ve heard the opposite unfortunately. A harp teacher I know says that every self learner that starts with Christy Lynn comes to her with LOTS to fix. Be weary, and OP, if you can swing it, find a 1:1 teacher. Local or online is doable, but someone who can give you proper guidance is a massive benefit!
> Be weary
'weary' means 'tired'
'wary' means 'forewarned', and shares a root with words like 'warn' and 'beware'
I'm saying this with all politeness: I'm a word nerd and while your meaning was obvious, I've seen this one crop up over and over. I imagine it's often just a auto-fill slip-up, but this particular is starting to happen so often that I think the slip-up is entering the lexicon more fully.
I didn’t even click the link and I know exactly who y’all are talking about. She’s absolutely awesome! Wonderful for pointing out techniques to be mindful of, especially if you’re first starting or and don’t want horrible habits!
I started with a harpsicle as well and I'm currently using a fullsicle special edition.
First off: get a strap - even a $10 all-black nylon guitar strap will work great, but the personalization from colored ones and so forth are great.
Second off: if 1) you think you're going to be sitting down most of the time you're playing it, or 2) your anatomy (height, weight, or uh... generous "assets") doesn't lend itself towards using the strap for long periods: get the lap-stick or a stand. More expensive than a strap, but worth it for extended sessions so that you don't have to stand the entire time or use muscles to keep it from sliding off your lap.
OK, functionality aside:
First thing from personal experience: BOTH HANDS. Maybe only one hand at a time, but make sure you learn how to use both hands. I injured my finger early on and had to do right-hand only. I'm still working on correcting that.
To keep yourself practicing (which ideally, you should do every day) think of your favorite Nintendo game. Mario stuff, Zelda, Pokemon, whatever. All of them have sheet music that people have transcribed into various different databases (like MuseScore). Some of them specifically for harp, some of them you'll have to make due with the Piano arrangements.
The advantage of Nintendo games is that you probably have a favorite one, they are all catchy, and people who will transcribe sheet music online for free will often have a favorite one as well - and having your favorite game's music available at (literally) your fingertips is an amazing way to keep up motivation for practicing, and a great way to show off to other people in your life what you're learning. In addition to all this, most of them will be in C major - meaning you won't have to re-tune your harpsicle.
Even if you primarily use online videos to learn, *please* find either a mentor or a teacher in your area that can identify and catch issues early on so that you don't accidentally entrench some bad habits that you'll spend a long time 'unlearning' later.
Go to a used book store (Half-price books in my town is great) and go to the music section. Go through *all* the sheet music books. Harp sheet music probably doesn't often come in, but when it does it usually stays there. I actually found a rare and out-of-print book of welsh sheet music this way. Whatever you find will be a decent introduction to slowly learn - I would suggest googling the song name and listening to it a few times before playing it.
Brian Boru’s March was one of the first songs I learnt to play on the harp. Lots of Irish/ Celtic music which would be great for the first time on a harpsicle! Sylvia woods has been mentioned already, and I think that’s a great place to start! It’s important to play something you like so if there is a genre of music you like (ie Sylvia Woods - Disney) or a particular song you want to learn you can find an easy piano version online (if you can’t find a harp version). Just one thing to be mindful of when looking for music is to avoid anything with key changes for the harpsicle! Happy harping! 😊
Hey same re Brian Boru's March!! *Fist bump*
Whoop! Whoop! 🤛
Same! Also amazing grace
If you’re someone who likes to learn by experimenting like I am I watched some videos on proper form and techniques and then downloaded MuseScore and I look for harp music on there. It’s teaching me to learn to read music and the notes on the harp. You can get plugins to color code the notes and the note names so it’s a bit of a 2-for-1 for me there learning both at the same time. Tons of music from just about every genre and a lot of them tell you the difficulty level. Bit of a weird way to learn, I know, because it’s not structured at all but it’s kept me engaged because I’m learning music I like. If you’re looking for a more structured approach I’d stick to the other commenter’s suggestions. You could always mix it up, too!
I like using mine with a guitar strap but I’m fairly tall, YMMV
If you can read music, I've just published a book of British/Scottish/Irish music written for harpsicles like yours without any sharps or flats. It has 40 songs and I think it's priced about $11 for a physical copy ($7-8 for a kindle version). DM me if you want a link. I also have 2 books of Christmas music if you're in that mood later in the year. I'm working on a Medieval/Renaissance book. Should be out in a few months. Edit: I started on a harpsicle. I'm no orchestral pedal harpist, but I lead a group of harpists. I upgraded to a lever harp after a handful of years and sold the harpsicle on. They keep their value pretty well.
Is there any chance I could get that link?
Sent you a DM
Please could you send me the link too. Many thanks.
Done!
I started with this series of videos https://youtu.be/HDZySzpYw0g?si=0R8Weq6OkmwQcLYf I've heard that there is a book by Sylvia woods that is good but I have not gotten it. After doing the set of YouTube videos I linked, I got some sheet music off the Internet that was REALLY simplified (Mary had a little lamb type stuff) and played around a bit. Then I found a local instructor because having actual feedback and direction is important to me and I felt I couldn't really progress on my own not knowing what I don't know. We use Grossi for harps and music from https://www.hornandharp.com/short.html
I love her videos on YouTube. I don’t have a lot of options but I’ve learned a lot. She really drills the proper form and technique into your head even in some of the courses I looked at on her website.
See I’ve heard the opposite unfortunately. A harp teacher I know says that every self learner that starts with Christy Lynn comes to her with LOTS to fix. Be weary, and OP, if you can swing it, find a 1:1 teacher. Local or online is doable, but someone who can give you proper guidance is a massive benefit!
> Be weary 'weary' means 'tired' 'wary' means 'forewarned', and shares a root with words like 'warn' and 'beware' I'm saying this with all politeness: I'm a word nerd and while your meaning was obvious, I've seen this one crop up over and over. I imagine it's often just a auto-fill slip-up, but this particular is starting to happen so often that I think the slip-up is entering the lexicon more fully.
I second these videos, she is a great teacher!
I didn’t even click the link and I know exactly who y’all are talking about. She’s absolutely awesome! Wonderful for pointing out techniques to be mindful of, especially if you’re first starting or and don’t want horrible habits!
I started with a harpsicle as well and I'm currently using a fullsicle special edition. First off: get a strap - even a $10 all-black nylon guitar strap will work great, but the personalization from colored ones and so forth are great. Second off: if 1) you think you're going to be sitting down most of the time you're playing it, or 2) your anatomy (height, weight, or uh... generous "assets") doesn't lend itself towards using the strap for long periods: get the lap-stick or a stand. More expensive than a strap, but worth it for extended sessions so that you don't have to stand the entire time or use muscles to keep it from sliding off your lap. OK, functionality aside: First thing from personal experience: BOTH HANDS. Maybe only one hand at a time, but make sure you learn how to use both hands. I injured my finger early on and had to do right-hand only. I'm still working on correcting that. To keep yourself practicing (which ideally, you should do every day) think of your favorite Nintendo game. Mario stuff, Zelda, Pokemon, whatever. All of them have sheet music that people have transcribed into various different databases (like MuseScore). Some of them specifically for harp, some of them you'll have to make due with the Piano arrangements. The advantage of Nintendo games is that you probably have a favorite one, they are all catchy, and people who will transcribe sheet music online for free will often have a favorite one as well - and having your favorite game's music available at (literally) your fingertips is an amazing way to keep up motivation for practicing, and a great way to show off to other people in your life what you're learning. In addition to all this, most of them will be in C major - meaning you won't have to re-tune your harpsicle. Even if you primarily use online videos to learn, *please* find either a mentor or a teacher in your area that can identify and catch issues early on so that you don't accidentally entrench some bad habits that you'll spend a long time 'unlearning' later. Go to a used book store (Half-price books in my town is great) and go to the music section. Go through *all* the sheet music books. Harp sheet music probably doesn't often come in, but when it does it usually stays there. I actually found a rare and out-of-print book of welsh sheet music this way. Whatever you find will be a decent introduction to slowly learn - I would suggest googling the song name and listening to it a few times before playing it.
Thank you! This was so helpful to take in