on-line harp lessons

The opportunity to 'have a go' at playing the harp is a great idea as a Christmas or Birthday gift

Buy a voucher from the Cornwall Harp centre as a gift

and then you can book an hour-long introductory lesson to be held

either in north Cornwall near Bude, or in the West Highlands of Scotland near Kyle of Lochalsh.

Why not make a weekend of it, and then we could recommend nearby B&Bs?

The hour-long session will include learning about different types of harp

and which would suit you best, advice on how to obtain them, along with

the basic posture and finger technique and some simple exercises to get going with -

the perfect way to get started, or just for a one-off experience, from a qualified professional!

The 'taster' lesson vouchers are £50 each, and will be sent to you in advance for opening on the day - they can be purchased through our shop page here -

Regular on-line harp lessons with back-up E mail notes and questions and answers, for those more serious students studying for exams.

Technical requirements To start your on-line harp lessons you will need the following:

Your own Harp! - 34 strings with all semi-tone levers or pedal harp. If you are a complete beginner, we can help you to source harps, contact us for details.

Skype(TM) 'voice over internet' system - sign up for a Skype account which is free (www.skype.com) and download the software, choose your skype address and password and you're ready to go. Skype 'calls' are free.

Sign up for a course of lessons - You can sign up in advance for a minimum of 3 half hourly lessons, or two hourly lessons at a time, and pay by Pay Pal or by credit card via our website shop page. Lessons are fortnightly for beginners at pre-arranged times, on thursdays between 11am - 11pm UK time. For grades below 5, half an hour may be enough but as you progress and particularly if studying for an exam, you need to have hourly lessons. Lessons cost £20 per half hour and £40 per hour.

Email - Music books will be recommended which can be ordered on-line, exercises can be emailed to you in advance in a PDF. You are also welcome to ask questions and get support in between lessons via e mail.

You can study to enter the harp exams from Grade 1 - 8 run by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and Trinity college of Music.

Sarah recommends music from the stipulated lists and goes through it in your lessons plus all the required scales, arpeggios, and excercises bringing you up to the required standard. Aural tests required by the exam board can be practised using CDs produced by the board.

In many countries these exams are already organised in stipulated sessions once or twice a year, (contact the exam boards direct for enquiries)- In this case you can enter yourself on-line. The above exams are internationally recognised by all musical institutions, their exam system is a respected qualification, and if you are successful you receive a certificate and notes from the examiner.

Sarah has trained overseas students to a professional standard via on-line lessons, it is an incredible resource for those students who live in remote areas!

In order for your on-line lessons to work well, you need to be in a quiet room on your own with good lighting near your computer. Switch off anything making background noise and remove any distractions. Your pre-arranged lesson time will be strictly limited so any distractions (phonecalls, children etc) will simply waste time in your lesson that you have paid for!

Skype(tm) - in the bottom left of your start up window there is a box which needs to be ticked to be 'on-line' when you dial up for a lesson. Its easy to forget to do, and be left wondering why connection is not being made!

Do not sit with a light source behind you (window, lamp etc) as it bleaches the foreground making it impossible to see your hands. Sit fairly close to your camera, and at right angles to it with the harp's levers facing the camera. Make sure sarah will be able to see all of the harp strings and levers and your hands. Have fairly good foreground lighting illuminating your strings (a desk lamp will do).

Your microphone needs to be fairly close to pick up the harp and voice, clip on mics to your clothing are a good option.

Enlarge Sarah's picture with the full screen option, it makes it easier to see detail.

If you live in a noisy environment headphones are a better alternative to the rather ineffective computer speakers and aid concentration.

Timing will be critical as your lesson maybe between other lessons. You need to come on line strictly on time, with any required music and exercises with you, and your harp with all strings intact and tuned up. So get ready a few minutes beforehand and remember your technical settings from your first 'set up' session so that you will be able to see and hear each other.

You will receive email assistance if required, you will be welcome to ask any questions in between lessons etc. Remember to order any recommended music in plenty of time so that it will be with you when it is needed.

As with any other music lesson, you will need to make time to practise in between lessons- EVERY DAY! The more practise you do, the better and the faster you will progress!

Your on-line lessons need to be paid for in advance by Pay Pal or credit card via our on line shop page. Please keep up to date with payments so they dont interrupt the regularity of lessons. Its terribly important to have regular lessons and anything less than fortnightly is not recommended for beginners although as you advance monthly lessons are possible.

You will arrange lesson times with Sarah by e mail, sometimes there are gaps between lessons due to Sarah's work committments but provision will be made for this.

Lessons are £20 for half an hour and must be purchased in a course of three at a time (£60), or £40 per hour purchased two at a time (£80). Beginners need to have weekly or fortnightly lessons, anything less will not be successful. Lesson times are arranged by e mail but the lessons are on thursdays 11am-11pm UK time.

To sign up please register with us first by e mail. Inform us when you have paid for lessons and we will then give you a set-up, our skype address and a start time.