In the pursuit of learning a musical instrument, such as the harp, it is natural to feel inclined to measure our progress against others. There are numerous online harp groups where learners can share their experiences and give tips and encouragement to one another, and for the most part this is a really wonderful thing. However, it can be tempting to compare your progress with others who are also learning to play, and this can prove counterproductive, stifling growth and dampening your musical journey with feelings of self-doubt or distraction which can hinder your progress. In this blog, I w ..read more

As we get older, we often begin to focus more on our health and wellbeing. We may try to eat healthier, exercise more often, and take steps to reduce stress. But there's one activity that is often overlooked as a way to improve overall wellbeing in old age – learning to play an instrument. If you’ve been wondering if your harp lessons are worth the money, you can take reassurance in knowing that learning to play the harp is not only fun, but it also has many benefits, both for mental and physical health. In fact, research has shown that learning to play an instrument can help improve cognitive ..read more

There are just 99 days left now in 2022! This year is absolutely flying by and before long it’ll be time to break out the Christmas music! With that in mind, it’s a perfect time to think about your goals for these final 99 days - what do you want to have achieved by the end of 2022? This is a good time to break out your SMART goals from the start of the year and update them to reflect where you are now and where you want to get to! As a reminder, SMART goals stand for: Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timebound (As a reminder, here’s my blog from the start of 2022 about setting SMART g ..read more

Hi everyone For today’s blog, I thought I’d take advantage of a string that snapped last night and make a review video about the new ‘Harp String Buttons’ from Dusty Strings! As you can see, I highly recommend them, so if you fancy picking some up you can find them here: US: https://manufacturing.dustystrings.com/products/string-buttons UK: https://www.morleyharps.co.uk/dusty-strings-string-buttons-c2x35711166 Remember to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more tips, video lessons and music! https://www.youtube.com/c/LearnCelticHarp ..read more

This week, upon being gifted a big bag of wool, I decided with glee that I was going to finally learn how to crochet! I chose my yarn, picked a crochet hook and dove into the first ‘beginner crochet’ YouTube tutorial I could find! It started off well, so I decided, hey, why not jump right in and make a cardigan(!) Before long I had my first ‘chain’ but 45 minutes later I was in a total mess. I couldn’t remember my ‘single’ crochet from my ‘half double’, I kept dropping stitches somewhere, and my technique for feeding wool was definitely not correct. What I had ‘made’ was certainly wooly, but i ..read more

Have you ever watched a performance where everything is ‘right’, but still it somehow leaves you cold? Sometimes, we can focus so much of playing a piece of music in a way where everything is “correct” in terms of the notes, rhythms, dynamics etc, that we forget about the emotion that the piece is meant to convey. We focus more on getting things ‘right’ than on the spirit of the music. For me, the reason I love playing music is because it’s a way to communicate. In a performance I’m trying to communicating meaning to the listener about the emotions, character, imagery, narrative etc of the pie ..read more

Hello everyone! I hope you're really well! With Easter coming up I thought I'd share with you this FREE video lesson for my tune ‘Swerving for Bunnies’. It's a lively little slip jig, and the repetitive phrases make it easier than it might first seem so give it a go! You can find the sheet music here: https://www.ailierobertson.com/harp-music-shop/swerving-for-bunnies Have fun ..read more

A very common issue I see with adult learners is a type of procrastination that’s known as “shiny object syndrome”. Business Insider defines someone with Shiny Object Syndrome like this: “They're constantly coming up with new projects to take on — and then getting bored with them a week later. They're intrigued by the latest trend and will be quick to implement but not follow through.” (https://www.businessinsider.com/main-types-of-procrastinators-how-to-avoid-accountability-coaches?r=US&IR=T) Does this sound like you?Are you constantly getting distracted by the next new piece to practic ..read more

In light of this weeks horrific news from Ukraine, I am offering a free download of my lever harp arrangement of the Ukrainian tune Carol of the Bells. In return, please use the button below to donate - all donations will be sent to Save the Children’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund. Every donation, large and small, will make a difference. Ukraine’s children are in grave danger of physical harm, severe emotional distress and mass displacement. Your donation to Save the Children’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund can help provide children and families with immediate aid, such as food, water, hygiene kit ..read more

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