What to Play?

Learning to play the harp will be a challenge.  You are at an advantage if you can read sheet music, both treble and bass clefs as for piano music.  However, I also find my hands going into piano positions, which don’t work at all for harp ;)  The brain is a miracle, though.  I just keep concentrating and my fingers eventually comply with my wishes, even though I am 56 years old.  If you have played an instrument before, you will probably go through your first lessons pretty quickly.  But then there seems to be a slow-down, as you get more into the specifics of harp.

I am using the lessons from “Harp for Newbies” by Verlene Schermer:  http://verlene.com/books.html .  There are a few reasons for this.  Her series of “Newbie” books were recommended by Harp for Healing, which is the program I’ve tentatively selected for harp therapy.  Also, Verlene is helpful via email, which is  important for support.  Finally, her books have many online videos and recordings to watch and listen to.  The first two levels (haven’t bought the third yet) each have over 20 videos for instruction.  You will likely need all three books for each level, as they work together to teach the entire program.

While the author has tried to add compositions that are nice to listen to, I wanted to add more.  Already, people have asked to hear me play, and the songs in the early part of Verlene’s books are not really what you’d want to “perform.”  They also don’t have a quality of flowing that I know I’ll need to develop for harp therapy.  But the good news is that I have found arrangements that seem perfect for this purpose!  I suggest that you listen to the music and instructional videos of Christy-Lyn Marais.  Here is an excellent video:  

Christy-Lyn is composing an easy harp arrangement every month with the fluid quality that I love to hear.  What is great about her pieces is that you are also practicing chords and other techniques while you learn in an enjoyable way.  Some of the exercises in my lesson books really feel just like that – exercises.  They aren’t fun, although I know they are necessary.  I am finding that using both of these sources is effective.  I work through the lessons and reward myself with Christy-Lyn’s arrangements afterwards.  You can subscribe to her sheet music via Patreon or purchase individual titles on her website.  She also has free sheet music for “Sailing on a Lake,” which is at a beginner’s level:  https://www.christylynmusic.com/shop.