A well-rounded warm-up helps you play with better sound, more ease, and clearer focus, even when your practice time is limited. Heather shares the simple structure she uses to prepare both body and mind before moving into repertoire and explains how to choose exercises that directly support the skills you need in your pieces.

In this episode:

• Why skipping warm-ups can actually make your practice less effective

• The two key purposes of warming up: physical preparation and mental focus

• “Settle and centre” and how a short reset can transform your session

• Close work, stretch work, and creative work explained simply

• How to match warm-up exercises to the techniques in your repertoire

• Why creative time belongs in your warm-up

• An introduction to Heather’s new warm-up book and her upcoming Edinburgh International Harp Festival course

This episode is a practical reminder that warm-ups can be short, structured, and powerful when chosen intentionally.

Host:

Heather Downie - Harpist, Principal Lever Harp Tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Founder of How To Harp

Learn with us:

https://www.HowToHarp.com (membership, courses, retreats)

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