JUST FOR YOU beginner harp lesson with Anne Crosby Gaudet 

Oh I'm so glad you liked the video Lisabeth! I really enjoy activating all parts of the brain when learning/teaching a new piece. I've got some more pieces at this level up my sleeve!

Best comment ever 🥰 Enjoy learning to play your beautiful new harp! Soon you’ll make it to “a cup of coffee”.

LOL! I've had a number of students come to me singing "ba-na-na" and "a cup of coffee" when they play this one. I have a new beginner level video in the works.

Aw, that's nice! Thank you!

Thanks for watching Karen!

I learn by far the best by a combination of the two.

The combination of copying, listening as well as being able to see the written notes works well and leads to a feeling of having accomplished something with just an hour's practice. Thank you.

Susan Turner You’re welcome! Combining learning styles like this has been my preferred teaching style for many years. It’s so much fun bringing onto video! Glad you found it useful 💕

Hi Anne 😊 thank you for this piece, I love it and I downloaded it to start with you on it. 🤍I’ve only been playing for 2 weeks since I got my harp, so this was probably too advanced for me, but I was able to keep up with section A. I’m good with using my ear for notes and can read the treble clef, but the base not so much - and then putting them together, eek! 😬😬😬 I have a hard time reading both lines at the same time and then finding the fingering in time, I lose my place a lot - it’s frustrating. I very much enjoyed your lesson, thank you so much for sharing your gifts 😊🤍

I am a visual learner & also by how it sounds by ear. You are a very good teacher & easy to follow. I just got a new Salvi Mia harp and I am really enjoying how it sounds! Before I just had a small harp so I am really enjoying the sound of the new harp.

Robin Phillips Congratulations on your new harp! I’ll definitely do some more rote lessons!

@@annecrosbygaudetmusic Wonderful!!! That is great news for a beginner beginner who does not read music yet! Thank you!

Hi Meg, thank you so much for the thoughtful comment, I appreciate your visiting my channel!

Sounds like this is a perfect summer project for you! Enjoy!

Glad you enjoyed it!

Great! So glad this was helpful for you Suzanne. Have fun learning the B section.

Thank you! There are so many wonderful resources for learning the harp now! I'm excited for you to get a harp!

That’s a wonderful goal! I hope you have fun learning “Just For You“ ❤️

Thank-you so much Elizabeth!

Thank-you!! I'd love to do some more soon!

You're welcome, Jenny! Thanks for giving me some nudges to do some teaching videos...it's actually fun!

You're so welcome!

Glad you enjoyed it!

You're welcome! So glad you were excited to get to it!

My pleasure, glad it was helpful!

Glad you enjoyed the mini lesson!

I like written notes too, but it's great to take the opportunity to learn some tunes by rote as well. Glad you enjoyed it!

Thanks so much! Good luck choosing a harp!

Thanks so much, Kathy! Hope you enjoy learning "Just For You".

Thank you so much!!

Thank you, Bonnie! Glad it was helpful!

Thank you so much!

Glad to hear that!

Thanks for watching!

Glad you enjoyed the harp lesson!

Thank you Irene! I’m glad you enjoyed the lesson 😊

You're very welcome!

Thank you kindly!

Glad you are enjoying the harp videos! Very similar in many ways to the piano, it's quite a natural transition.

Glad you enjoyed it!

Sounds like you are going to enjoy the new elementary tutorials that I'm working on right now!

Ah yes, I learned piano at Middle C as well. Luckily our old piano had a crack on the middle C key so I could always find it 😂 Glad you enjoyed your first harp lesson! 💕

So glad you enjoyed following along!

Thank you so much, Irina!

@@annecrosbygaudetmusic ❤

Wonderful! So glad you enjoyed the tutorial!

I‘m not a harp teacher but a passionate harp player so I’m glad that more people are getting interested in playing the harp. If you want to buy a harp there are countless opportunities and resources but if you end up with your dream harp it was worth the effort. When starting something new, doing thorough research is crucial. Harps are quite expensive so you don’t want to waste money on a harp that you you’re not gonna play because you don’t like it. There are many RU-vid videos that explain the differences between harps and recommended reputable manufacturers. I would recommend watching some of them. Most videos are made by harpists or harp teachers who have a fair bit of experience. If you live close to a city that has a music or even dedicated harp store you can also go there and try a few different models. You can try to get in touch with harpists in your area, most harp players are really passionate about sharing their love for this amazing instrument and some might allow you to visit and test their harp. It’s also good to know what kind of music you want to play in the future. Do you want to play classical music or even buy a grand concert harp? Do you want to play jazz, folk music, Irish music or a mix? This will also influence your harp choice even though it’s possible to switch to a different harp later that suits your music style. For classical music you might look at a harp with high string tension and gut strings while for folk and Irish music the preferred string tension is usually lower because the music is played fast. There are many reputable brands that distribute their harps across the globe. Camac, Salvi, Aoyama, Lyon and Healy, Triplet and Dusty Strings are only some of these well-known brands. Each brand has their own pros and cons in my opinion and each harpist has their own favourite brand, so there is no „best“ harp on the market. There are also lots of smaller independent harp makers, some of them offer „build your own harp“ workshops. It’s worth considering their harps as well. Please stay away from so-called „Pakistan harps“! They are often offered on ebay and other online market places for a very cheap price but what you get is what you paid for. These harps are often poorly made and rather a toy than an instrument you will enjoy playing for a long time. Also the wood is offen not responsibility sourced. It’s definitely worth saving money to buy a good quality instrument from as trustworthy manufacturer rather than wasting money on a bad harp. My favourite brand, and this is only my opinion, is Camac because they make beautiful Celtic harps that suit my needs and style of music. They have showrooms in many countries, so it’s easy to go there and pick the harp you like. The pricing is very reasonable for a good quality instrument. I started my harp journey on a Camac Celtic Isolde but I found the string tension too low for a beginner and I wasn’t paying proper attention to developing good techniques. Now I’m playing a Camac Excalibur which has a good string tension and is extremely versatile. Unfortunately this harp is a bit expensive, I think the most popular Camac harps for beginners are Hermine and Telen. Salvi also offers a broad range of beginner harps that are designed with students in mind. I love that you can customise your harp and choose between a great variety of colours but I feel that Salvi beginner harps are made as „starter“ instruments only and their concert harps are much better than their lever harps. Dusty Strings also make beautiful harps (as you can see in this lovely video) with a rich sound. I have never played a Dusty Strings harp myself but I’m only hearing positive comments. Regarding the price, it really depends on where you live in the world. As I said, Camac is reasonably priced for delivering outstanding quality and when I lived in Europe they were really affordable… but here in Australia they’re super expensive because I have to add shipping and import fees to the actual price. If you’re in the US, Dusty Strings or Triplet or a harp from a harp makers might be the best option… If you’re serious about playing the harp do some research, talk to harpists and, if possible, visit a harp store or a harpist nearby who can provide some guidance. Good luck on your journey!!!!

You’re most welcome 🙂🎶

Thanks Amelia! I've been wanting to do a "When It Snows" tutorial...maybe this weekend while we still have snow!

@@annecrosbygaudetmusic YES!

Wonderful! Hope you enjoy your new music!

@@annecrosbygaudetmusic Yes, I really do enjoy playing my harp and I appreciate your excellent instructions. Thank you. I will be in touch for more lessons and music. Thank you.

Good job, isn't it nice to be able to come back to it again and again. I'm looking forward to making more tutorials!

Thank-you, Donna! I would encourage you to check out the Harp Column Academy, they have lots of short videos on specific techniques like you mentioned. I think you can get a one-month membership and then you can binge-watch harp videos!

Thank-you for your thoughtful comment, Dena! Creating expressive music that makes people feel successful at the harp is my true focus. It makes me so happy to hear that these pieces support your current level and help you feel encouraged on your musical journey! Keep playing!

this lesson was awesome!! please let's have more of this.. Just purchased the music to study further.. Looking forward to the next lesson!

I'm also a violin teacher! And a brand new harpist...I read music at very high levels, but I struggle to play "Lavenders Blue" on my harp without stumbling!🤣

Glad you enjoyed working with this lesson! Sounds like you might like the beginner bundle course too: musicdiscoveries.podia.com/3-beginner-harp-solos

"Feeling like you can play the harp" sounds like success! I love it!

On level 3 now...its great to incorporate this into my regular practice!

Anne Carpen I love that you are making your way through all three levels! Great job!

Wonderful, I’m glad this video gives you confidence that learning the harp will be fun for you. Once you get your harp, be sure to check out my beginner courses on my podia website. musicdiscoveries.podia.com/

RU-vid subscriptions are fun aren't they? Thanks for watching!

Kat Harris Terrific! Good luck on the B section 💕🎶

@@annecrosbygaudetmusic I couldn't wait to get home and play the arrangement. I played for 2 hours last night; I loved it! I hope that you make more arrangements like this that is easy to play for adult harpists like me. I am now a big fan of yours!

Wow, that's fantastic Kat! Actually, I do have a project underway with more arrangements like this. I love supporting adult learners at the harp because there's nothing better than feeling successful and motivated as you learn a new instrument.

Hi Anne, you are so welcome! When I started my shop I was committed to providing as much support as possible; I'm glad to hear that you find the videos and sample pages helpful. Enjoy!

I'm impressed that you watched the video even though you don't play the harp! Thanks! There are lots of wonderful resources on RU-vid when you are ready to learn!

I'm so glad you are enjoying my videos. I'm getting ready to release a set of finger warm-ups to help with placing and linking groups. Sounds like that's what you are finding challenging right now (and it is), but you'll get it!

Anne Crosby Gaudet amazing! Looking forward to your new video!

Hi Linda, thank you so much for taking the time to write a lovely note. I'm so glad this video was a good fit for you. Keep playing! Anne

Hi I love the way you teach , now , I want to know which course to take first on your website. I’m a complete beginner. So, which course should I take first.

I'm sure there's a harp out there waiting for you!

You're welcome! Congratulations for making it to level 3! Glad you are enjoying it!

@@annecrosbygaudetmusicI've enjoyed working on this the last few days. We shall see what the Maestra thinks of my efforts during tomorrow's lesson! Which other pieces of yours would you recommend at or around the level 3 difficulty? Thanks again. ☺

@@eightfingeredhand6112 Good for you! Good luck at your lesson tomorrow :) I'd suggest having a look at "A Simple Wish" or "Sweet Blessings" next.

Congratulations on your new harp! I hope you have a lots of fun learning how to play!

@@annecrosbygaudetmusic Thank you Anne. I'm sure I will. I purchased the piece earlier on tonight. My adult son said he liked the Level 1 with the easy to understand alpha notes. He started learning violin a few years ago but after an operation found he can't play it now. He is a kidney transplantee and when he was on dialysis they put a tube in which runs from inside his elbow, up over his collarbone and stops just before the heart (known as a Herograph). Of course, it is exactly where his violin sat so caused him considerable discomfort. He might try this on the 22 string harp - if I can tune it as the soundboard is cracked. It does tend to hold the tune well though, unlike my new harp which keeps going sharp 🙄 I've only had the new harp for just over 2 weeks so I'm hoping it settles down.

Actually I just recorded a new tutorial today. What for it this weekend. 🙂🎶

That's great, I was just working on some ideas today!

@@annecrosbygaudetmusic Wow!! That's great news, I don't have a printer to download music so I use my phone for chats and messenger etc but we have a smart TV, so I watch you on Ytube. I am 66yrs and just revisiting playing an instrument, I played the piano many many years ago, so am.hsving to relearn how to read music. I love watching you play ...you are so calm and serene. I have been trying to learn First Snow, which is absolutely beautiful but sadly my fingers and brain don't work at the same speed. I love the way you broke the piece into small manageable chunks...I really felt I'd achieved something today...even though I needed an aspirin afterwards ( just joking!!) It's the most beautiful instrument, I keep telling everyone...you cannot make a horrible noise on a harp, even if you play wrong notes😂. I've named my harp Gilly after my late Mamma.. I look forward to seeing you on screen again soon..You are a lovely teacher and so gifted...what a blessing.x

Hi Linda, sorry I missed replying to your comment! I actually have a workbook in my Shop that goes into choosing patterns and chords for creating your own harp arrangements from lead sheets. It's called Chord Town, here's the link: musicdiscoveries.shop/products/chord-town

Wonderful! Actually all three versions come in the same download. Enjoy!

I’ve got a selection of pieces for 19+ strings: musicdiscoveries.shop/collections/small-harp-19-bass-g

Hey that's great! I'll give you a link to my website for a bundle of elementary pieces with free lessons. musicdiscoveries.shop/products/3-beginner-harp-solos

@@annecrosbygaudetmusic Thank you!

Thank you! It's a Dusty Strings FH36S in walnut.

Excellent! Thanks for the feedback!

Here’s the link to my shop: musicdiscoveries.shop/products/just-for-you

Hi Lori, when I call a piece elementary I am generally sticking to basic finger placing with minimal if any linking or crossing. The hand coordination is simplified by using easier left hand patterns or single notes and the notation reading is very straightforward. Hope that helps!

Thank you!

LOL... both!

Definitely an optical illusion! All of the Cs are red.

Thanks for the constructive suggestion. Of course the beauty of using a video resource is that you can pause and practice at any time or even slow down the speed of the video. Maybe do the video over a space of several days so you have time to consolidate what you have learned.

@@annecrosbygaudetmusic Thank you for the kind reply. I simply didn’t think about slowing down the video. GREAT TIP!