How To Harp Podcast

Heather chats with Nicole about moving beyond external expectations and finding a musical path that feels honest, creative and true to who you are.

They also discuss classical training, orchestral pressure, burnout, songwriting, improvisation, teaching, performing with others, and the courage it takes to follow musical dreams that might feel out of reach.

In this episode:

• How Nicole first started learning the harp as a child

• Growing up with classical training and a love for different musical styles

• The pressure and perfectionism of professional orchestral life

• Burnout, sensitivity and learning to trust her own musical instincts

• Finding freedom through freelancing, songwriting and singing

• Why sharing personal creative work can feel so vulnerable

• Playing in bands and discovering a more liberated musical voice

• Nicole’s approach to teaching harp improvisation

• Why supportive people can help you follow dreams that feel impossible

This is an honest and inspiring conversation about creativity, liberation, self-trust, and finding the courage to make music in a way that feels truly your own.

Host:

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

Guest:

Nicole Müller - Professional Harpist, Composer, and How To Harp Guest Tutor

Learn with us:

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

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with a harp friend. It really helps the podcast grow and helps us connect with more harpists around the world!

#HowToHarpPodcast #HowToHarp #HeatherDownieHarpist #ProfessionalHarpist #HarpImprovisation

*****Nicole had some video issues during this podcast so occasionally her video is frozen and replaced her pic*****

Heather explores how perfectionism can show up for adult harp learners, and why trying to get everything “right” can sometimes hold back your progress, confidence and enjoyment.

She shares five helpful ways to think about perfectionism, from allowing yourself to be a beginner to seeing mistakes as useful information, aiming for progress instead of perfection, and learning to speak to yourself with more kindness.

In this episode:

• Why adult learners often expect themselves to be good quickly

• How perfectionism can lead to avoidance

• Why mistakes are an important part of learning

• How to aim for better instead of perfect

• Why music is about communication, expression and feeling

• The importance of changing the voice in your head

• How to approach your harp practice with more curiosity and kindness

This is a practical and encouraging solo episode about letting go of impossible standards and finding more joy, freedom and progress in your harping.

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)

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with a harp friend. It really helps the podcast grow and helps us connect with more harpists around the world!

#HowToHarpPodcast #HowToHarp #HeatherDownieHarpist #HarpPractice #Perfectionism

Heather chats with learner harpist Kim about how discovering the harp later in life completely transformed her life, leading to new friendships, creative confidence, unforgettable musical experiences, and a deep sense of connection and community through music.

They also discuss learning the harp as an adult, overcoming performance anxiety, attending retreats and workshops, experimenting with electric harp and loop pedals, and learning to stop comparing yourself to other musicians in order to find your own musical voice.

In this episode:

• Discovering the harp later in life after retirement

• Learning the harp as an adult beginner

• Building confidence through online learning and live events

• The importance of harp friendships and community

• Overcoming anxiety and learning to stop walking away from opportunities

• Experimenting with electric harp, loop pedals, and effects pedals

• Finding your own musical identity instead of comparing yourself to others

• Why retreats, workshops, and ensemble playing can be so transformative

• Heather and Kim’s friendship through the harp world, from Scotland to Vermont

This is a warm, honest, and uplifting conversation about creativity, courage, connection, and fully embracing the things that bring joy and meaning into your life.

Host:

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

Guest:

Kimberly Woods - Learner Harpist and How To Harp Member

Learn with us:

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

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with a harp friend. It really helps the podcast grow and helps us connect with more harpists around the world!

#HowToHarpPodcast #HowToHarp #HeatherDownieHarpist #AdultHarpLearner #LeverHarp

Heather and Angela chat about the huge impact that in-person musical experiences can have on our harp journeys, from first discovering the instrument, to finding inspiration, creativity, confidence and community through shared musical experiences.

They reflect on festivals, retreats, workshops and live concerts, and explore why spending time making music together in person can completely refill your creative cup and reconnect you with why you started playing in the first place.

In this episode:

• How in-person events helped Heather first discover and learn the harp

• Why hearing live music in person can feel so emotional and inspiring

• The unique experience of playing music together in ensembles and group settings

• How retreats and festivals can refill your creative cup and reignite motivation

• The friendships and connections that grow through shared musical experiences

• Why immersive harp events can massively boost confidence and enthusiasm for learning

• The importance of finding “your people” as a harp learner

• Why even a short retreat, workshop or concert can leave you feeling creatively refreshed

• The difference between learning music online and experiencing it together in person

• Why stepping away from everyday life and fully immersing yourself in music can be so powerful

This is a warm and uplifting conversation about community, creativity, connection, and the magic that can happen when musicians come together in person.

Host:

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

Guest:

Angela Boraston - Harp Tutor at How To Harp

Learn with us:

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

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with a harp friend. It really helps the podcast grow and helps us connect with more harpists around the world!

#HowToHarpPodcast #HowToHarp #HeatherDownieHarpist #HarpRetreat #LiveMusic

Heather chats with Eleanor about finding her way back to the lever harp and building a creative career rooted in collaboration, groove, and traditional music.

They explore her early start through Irish music, the pressures of formal study, her time at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and how working with other musicians helped shape her voice as a harpist.

In this episode:

• How Eleanor first discovered the harp through a school music programme

• Moving from traditional music into more formal classical training

• Studying pedal harp at university and the pressure that came with it

• Reconnecting with the lever harp during Covid

• Heather’s memories of teaching Eleanor during her Masters at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

• Playing with Ranagri and developing the harp’s role in a band setting

• Collaborating with Gregor Black and exploring groove, rhythm, and harp with percussion

This is an honest and inspiring conversation about creative identity, collaboration, and finding the musical path that feels most authentic.

Host:

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

Guest:

Eleanor Dunsdon - Professional Harpist, Composer, and How To Harp Guest Tutor

Learn with us:

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

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with a harp friend. It really helps the podcast grow!

#HowToHarpPodcast #HowToHarp #HeatherDownieHarpist #ProfessionalHarpist #LeverHarp

Heather shares a simple structure for making short harp practice sessions feel calm, focused, and genuinely useful.

She explains how to use 15 minutes well, including warm-up, creative work, focused repertoire practice, and the mindset shift that consistency matters more than duration.

In this episode:

• Why 15 minutes can still be enough time for meaningful practice

• How to use a short settle and centre moment before playing

• Why close work and stretch work still matter in a short practice session

• How to include a small amount of creative work without losing focus

• How to use nine minutes of repertoire practice in a targeted way

• Why practice journaling helps you know exactly what to work on

• Why regular, thoughtful practice matters more than long unfocused sessions

This is a practical episode for harpists who want to make steady progress, even when time is limited.

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)

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with a harp friend. It really helps the podcast grow!

#HowToHarpPodcast #HowToHarp #HeatherDownieHarpist #HarpPractice #HarpRoutine

Heather chats with learner harpist Zee about discovering the harp later in life and how music became part of a deeply personal healing journey.

They explore Zee’s musical background, performance anxiety, the role of music theory in learning, and how the harp has supported growth, creativity, and wellbeing.

In this episode:

• Zee’s first encounter with the harp through medieval reenactment and why the sound stayed with her for years

• How previous experience in singing, guitar, and music theory helped her approach learning the harp

• Reflections on performance anxiety following conservatory training and how this influenced her learning journey

• How the How To Harp mind pathway helped rebuild confidence and support performance in a safe environment

• Writing original music as part of processing grief and emotional experiences

• Research into historical ideas about music and healing, and how music can support wellbeing

• Zee’s hopes to use harp in therapeutic and hospice settings in the future

This is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about identity, healing, creativity, and becoming a harpist later in life.

Host:

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

Guest:

Zee Bishop - learner harpist and How To Harp member

Learn with us:

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

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with a harp friend. It really helps the podcast grow!

#HowToHarpPodcast #HowToHarp #HeatherDownieHarpist #AdultHarpLearner #MusicAndHealing

Heather chats with learner harpist Zee about discovering the harp later in life and how music became part of a deeply personal healing journey.

They explore Zee’s musical background, performance anxiety, the role of music theory in learning, and how the harp has supported growth, creativity, and wellbeing.

In this episode:

• Zee’s first encounter with the harp through medieval reenactment and why the sound stayed with her for years

• How previous experience in singing, guitar, and music theory helped her approach learning the harp

• Reflections on performance anxiety following conservatory training and how this influenced her learning journey

• How the How To Harp mind pathway helped rebuild confidence and support performance in a safe environment

• Writing original music as part of processing grief and emotional experiences

• Research into historical ideas about music and healing, and how music can support wellbeing

• Zee’s hopes to use harp in therapeutic and hospice settings in the future

This is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about identity, healing, creativity, and becoming a harpist later in life.

Host:

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

Guest:

Zee Bishop - learner harpist and How To Harp member

Learn with us:

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

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with a harp friend. It really helps the podcast grow!

#HowToHarpPodcast #HowToHarp #HeatherDownieHarpist #AdultHarpLearner #MusicAndHealing

Heather and Angela chat about why music theory matters for harpists and how it can support real, practical progress at the instrument.

They discuss how theory helps with communication, sight reading, memorisation, independence, and understanding music more deeply, as well as why learning it at the harp can feel far more engaging than traditional approaches.

In this episode:

• Why every harpist is already learning some theory, whether they realise it or not

• How theory helps you communicate more clearly with teachers and other musicians

• Why theory can make memorising music easier by helping you recognise patterns and meaning

• How theory supports sight reading and helps you understand the root of common reading difficulties

• Why theory can help learners become more independent and self-sufficient

• How learning theory away from the harp can still strengthen your playing

• Why theory can be enjoyable, practical, and directly connected to real music-making

This is a lively and encouraging conversation for harpists who want to feel more confident, capable, and well rounded in their learning.

Host:

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

Guest:

Angela Boraston - Harp Tutor at How To Harp

Learn with us:

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

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with a harp friend. It really helps the podcast grow!

#HowToHarpPodcast #HowToHarp #HeatherDownieHarpist #MusicTheory #SightReading

Heather chats with Gwenllian about building a professional harp career while navigating doubt, burnout, performance anxiety, and the pressure to prove yourself through difficult repertoire.

They explore teaching, composition, chamber music, Welsh musical roots, and the importance of choosing music you genuinely love.

In this episode:

• How Gwenllian came to the harp after starting first on violin and piano

• Learning with her mother, then moving on to other teachers who shaped her path

• Doubts about becoming a professional musician and why languages nearly won out over music

• Burnout after study and competition, and how stepping away helped her reconnect with the harp

• Performance anxiety, mindset shifts, and finding ways to make performing work for her

• Why teaching is such a central and meaningful part of her career

• Writing and publishing music for students, including her upcoming collection The Curved Path

• Chamber music, commissions, and performing with flautist Sirius Chau

• Her advice to learners: play something you love

This is a thoughtful and honest conversation about making a musical life on your own terms and staying connected to the music that matters most to you.

Host:

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

Guest:

Gwenllian Llyr - Harpist, Teacher, Composer, and Guest Tutor in the How To Harp Membership

Learn with us:

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

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with a harp friend. It really helps the podcast grow!

#HowToHarpPodcast #HowToHarp #HeatherDownieHarpist #ProfessionalHarpist #HarpTeaching