How To Harp Podcast

Recording can feel surprisingly intense, even when no one else will ever hear the result.

Heather shares five practical ways to make recording part of everyday practice so it feels more useful, less stressful, and more supportive of your progress as a harpist.

In this episode:

• Why recording often feels different from normal practice, even in private

• Why you should start by recording small sections rather than everything at once

• How to use recordings as information rather than judgment

• Why listening back for just one thing at a time can stop the process feeling overwhelming

• How regular recording can help it feel more normal and less intimidating

• Why recordings can become a valuable record of your progress over time

• How speaking to yourself like a friend can make recording a far more helpful practice tool

This is a practical and encouraging episode for harpists who want to use recording more confidently in both practice and performance preparation.

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!

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Heather chats with Mary about discovering the harp later in life and how a personal music hobby grew into something much bigger through patience, community, and creative curiosity.

They explore self-teaching, double strung harps, memorising music, online learning, and the joy of helping other learners inside How To Harp.

In this episode:

• How Mary first fell in love with the harp after going to hear a flautist and leaving wanting a harp instead

• Why she taught herself for years before finding the kind of technique-based learning she really needed

• What she has learned about patience, polishing pieces, memorising music, and giving herself time to grow

• Why she loves double strung harps and the musical freedom they give her

• How becoming a Sweet Pea and helping with projects inside the membership has deepened her own learning

• Why community, encouragement, and keeping joy at the centre matter so much in an adult music journey

This is a warm and encouraging conversation about adult learning, musical growth, and finding meaningful ways to share your love of the harp.

Host:

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

Guest:

Mary Misiaszek - Harp Learner, How To Harp Community Leader (Sweet Pea), 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 #DoubleStrungHarp #AdultHarpLearner

Heather and Angela chat about their experiences using Peterson harp tuners after several months of real practice, teaching, and performing with them.

They explore how harp sweeteners work, how the built-in metronome can support rhythm practice, and what they have learned about choosing reliable tuning tools for different harps.

In this episode:

• Why Angela switched from the smaller clip-on tuner to the larger Peterson model

• How harp sweeteners affect tuning and why they can make the instrument feel more accurately in tune

• The difference between using a phone app and using a dedicated physical tuner

• Why the stand, screen, and microphone make the larger tuner more practical in daily use

• How Angela has been using custom metronome presets, time signatures, accents, and colour coding

• The possibility of plugging the tuner into a computer for more advanced customisation

• Why planning tempo changes, pauses, and rhythmic structure can itself be valuable practice

This episode is a practical follow-up for harpists who want to think more carefully about tuning, metronome use, and how the right tools can support thoughtful practice.

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 #HarpTuning #MetronomePractice

Heather chats with Karen about carving out a meaningful harp life as an adult, from rediscovering the instrument after college to building a career centred on service, teaching, and creativity.

They explore therapeutic music in hospitals, hearing and using modes by colour, and what makes the double strung harp such a freeing instrument to play.

In this episode:

• How Karen went from violin and pedal harp at school to finding lever harp as an affordable way back into playing

• How an in-person harp event became the turning point for choosing an instrument and a direction

• Therapeutic music in hospitals: what the training involves, what the work is like, and how to avoid burnout

• A thoughtful discussion on volunteering vs getting paid, and how to donate your fee without taking paid work away from others

• Modes as colour and mood: comparing modes by keeping the same tonal centre for clearer “light and shadow” hearing

• Karen’s Dorian work and arranging approach, plus where to find her resources

• Why she chose the double strung harp, how she adapted to it, and the musical benefits of having two string courses

• Highs and lows of learning therapeutic music, including the reality of making mistakes with a vulnerable population

• Karen’s advice to adult learners: stop stopping, practise recovering, and build confidence through continuity

This is a warm, practical conversation about making music that serves, learning with curiosity, and giving yourself permission to play with more freedom.

Host:

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

Guest:

Karen Peterson - Harpist, Teacher, Certified Music Practitioner

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 #TherapeuticHarp #DoubleStrungHarp

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)

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

#HowToHarpPodcast #HarpLearning #HeatherDownieHarpist #AdultLearner #HarpPractice

Heather sits down with Melanie, a German harp learner and active member of How To Harp, to talk about building confidence, creativity, and consistency as an adult harpist. They explore how the harp “chose” her, how harmony study unlocked improvisation and composition, and how goals and community helped her move from simply playing notes to truly making music.

In this episode:

• Melanie’s journey from discovering the harp in Ireland to starting lessons in 2020

• Using the harp as a “duet partner” for singing rather than just an accompaniment instrument

• How the harmony courses helped her understand chords, lead sheets, and musical freedom

• Writing her first composition and overcoming the fear of the blank page

• Why recording feels so difficult and how she gradually built confidence

• Studying for ABRSM Grade 3 and earning a distinction

• The importance of goals, routines, and community support in adult learning

This episode is an encouraging reminder that progress comes through curiosity, small goals, and staying connected to the joy of music.

Host:

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

Guest:

Melanie Kalb - Harp Learner & 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 #HarpLearning #HeatherDownieHarpist #AdultLearner #HarpPractice

Heather and Angela share honest health updates and talk about how to keep learning harp when your body and energy levels are unpredictable. Together they explore practical, compassionate strategies for adapting your practice, staying motivated, and finding support when chronic illness or long term health challenges affect your harping.

In this episode:

• Heather shares an update on recovering from a DVT and pulmonary embolisms

• Angela shares her diagnosis of a rare chronic blood cancer (MPN) and the fatigue that can come with it

• Why listening to your body and following medical advice matters more than pushing through

• How to practise self compassion and avoid catastrophizing on harder days

• The power of tiny steps (even when you cannot play) and finding positives in the struggle

• Why your identity is not defined by your productivity, service, or illness

• The importance of community and support when health challenges feel isolating

This episode will help you feel less alone, and give you flexible ways to keep moving forward as a harp learner, one small step at a time.

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. See you next week!

#HowToHarpPodcast #HarpLearning #HeatherDownieHarpist #ChronicIllness #HarpMotivation

The conversation explores an unconventional route into the harp, beginning during postgraduate study and growing into a life immersed in traditional music, teaching, and performance. Heather and Karen reflect on what gives Scottish harp playing its distinctive voice, from ornamentation and clean sound to phrasing, history, and musical identity.

In this episode:

• An unexpected journey into the harp and the mentors who shaped that early path

• How Scottish traditional style influences sound, technique, and musical choices

• Why ornamentation matters and how it transforms fingering and flow

• Behind the scenes of recording an album across multiple harps and collaborations

• A powerful reminder for adult learners to enjoy the learning process and stop apologising for mistakes

This episode will help you feel more connected to the tradition behind the music you play, and offer inspiration to listen more deeply, play more intentionally, and enjoy learning for what it is.

Host:

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

Guest:

Karen Marshalsay - Professional Harpist & 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. See you next week!

#HowToHarpPodcast #HarpLearning #HeatherDownieHarpist #ScottishHarp #HarpOrnamentation

Heather gives a quick update on her health and answers a wide range of listener questions about upcoming events, learning opportunities, and what is next inside How To Harp. Alongside the update, this episode offers clarity on retreats, festivals, and new ways harp learners can set goals and measure progress.

In this episode:

• A short health update and how things are progressing

• Details about the upcoming How To Harp retreat and how to take part

• What Heather is teaching at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival

• An overview of the new How To Harp certification and how it works

• How level-based pathways support long-term harp learning

This episode is ideal for learners who enjoy behind-the-scenes updates, practical information, and clear guidance on how to stay engaged and motivated in their harp journey.

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. See you next week!

#HowToHarpPodcast #HarpLearning #HeatherDownieHarpist #HarpQandA #HarpCommunity

Heather shares a personal health update after a serious medical event that forced her to hit pause, and reflects on the emotional impact of suddenly not being able to harp. She also shares one simple mindset shift to help you keep moving forward when your plans get interrupted, by focusing on the smallest next step you can take today.

In this episode:

• A personal update on what has been happening behind the scenes

• Why guilt can show up when you cannot practice, and how to handle it with more kindness

• A simple way to stay connected to your goals when your energy is low

• How to measure progress in tiny, realistic steps

• The one small action Heather is using to move closer to harping again

This episode will help you stay motivated and compassionate with yourself when life knocks you off track, and remind you that small steps still count as progress.

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. See you next week!

#HowToHarpPodcast #HarpLearning #HeatherDownieHarpist #HarpMotivation #HarpPractice