5 Tips on Arranging and Improvising the Left Hand for Harp 

Your smile and music gave me happiness.

Very timely tips, Steph! You “put a little flesh” on what I just learned in my online harp lessons & these 5 rules of engagement make so much sense now. Thank you! (still wanna be you when I grow up - harpwise) 🤭🥰

Thank you Stephanie. I still wish to eventually take classes from you again but sadly had half my income cut after getting stuck in a nursinghome for a long time. I almost died twice since I last spoke to you. I am finally back home and much healthier. Now I am working on bouncing back financially. I am still playing my harp but not as well as I want to play.

Thanks, Stephanie! These are great tips, especially as one progresses toward using more lead sheets. I ESPECIALLY like the tip to change patterns "just before you become bored with it". I also like it that you are NOT suggesting that harp students play the maximum number of notes at all times (less is more). You have great style at the harp and you are an excellent teacher. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge to help others along their own harp journeys.

Excellent video Stephanie. I was trying to build chords just while listening to music which was advised in another video I watched on another channel. I had no fake book. I had to play it through a bit just to figure out what key I was in. Then I listened for patterns or repetition. But omg! It was too fast. I can't slow it down because then that changes the key! I finally gave up. But I am really beginning to love lead sheets! It's great for the beginner. I do tend to get into a habit of playing the same thing and made some rules for myself. Arpeggios for whole or half notes filling a measure, like you were saying, "fill in the space." Then slower chords for the fast pace rhythm s. But I have to work more on this especially if I want to pick up and play and have no music in front of me. It amazes me how good ppl get at that. So when I have a song that I cannot find for harp or its way over my head I now look for lead sheets. They're not too hard to find.

Merci Stéphanie you inspire me

This is lovely, thank you so much.

Very good information! I just started harp and have been playing by ear so this is great.

Thank you for these tips. I'm always hesitant to try and arrange because I'm fearful that I'm doing it incorrectly. This is a big help!

Thanks Steph! Though not a harpist I find your info very helpful. To your self description adding -Teacher! Thanks again and keep smiling!

These are nice reminders of how it doesn’t take much to create a beautiful arrangement on the harp.

So helpful...thank you!!!

Thank you, Stephanie, for explaining it so well and making the process of creating a little easier!

These are wonderful tips - thank you, Stephanie!!

This has been SO helpful. I have been trying to learn how to improvise with lead sheets, but so much of the "how-to" books out there get into the left-hand patterns, but not that much into what to when and why's of what to play. You accomplished so much in just 7 1/2 minutes 😃!

Your video is so helpful and timely for me, thank you!

This video is great! Thank you for not doing a piece for complete beginners, explaining what a triad is, and rather taking it to the next level. Your tips are full of insights. Any chance you could do a similar video, this time describing a range of left-hand patterns? For example, how they could fit with beats etc? I struggle finding variety in my patterns and keep on hearing "just choose a pattern that is suitable", but apart from triad (1-3-5) and 1-5-8, I've not been able to find many that work. The one you showed at 5:45 was very interesting. How would you add left-hand variety when a chord stays the same for a while? Thank you!

Thanks, I'll so glad youtube introduced me to you. I've been asked to accompany someone and I'm struggling to know what to do with my right hand. I don't want to double the melody but writing counter melodies isn't my strength. This video helps with the left hand a lot. That's a beautiful harp, may I ask what make it is?