Salts Mill
Once a month I teach at the Early Music Shop in the beautiful historic setting of the Salts Mill in Saltaire near Bradford. I love going there and the golden stones of the buildings that have earned it the status of World Heritage Site feel warm and sunny even on chillier days.
My students are all adults and they are totally passionate about the harp and music which make it a joy to go there. They always arrive eager and well prepared (I know immediately if they haven't had time to practice - they usually tell me) and they have a host of questions. I love how engaged they are in the learning process which in turn inspires and informs my practice. Each student is very different and I enjoy coming up with ideas for explaining techniques and approaches which will hopefully provoke that lightbulb moment! Adult teaching is very pleasurable and rewarding - my students play purely for enjoyment, so there's no pressure around exams and performances. When I teach I hear things I take for granted with fresh ears and I'm often inspired by their choice of repertoire. I rarely have to come up with ideas for new pieces as they have the curiosity to seek out and research what they would like to learn. Teaching brings its frustrations of course, and something that seems so obvious to me makes no sense at all to a student! My challenge is to clarify and make that information digestible so that they can practice it at home so it becomes second nature. That's the most important part - the homework - if I'm not careful they can easily practice incorrectly, and as there are long gaps between lessons, my explanation is really important as is the correct practical execution by the student. An hour passes very quickly! One of the difficulties adults face is they have almost too much understanding and awareness. That means they question and analyse which can over complicate matters, whereas a child would simply replicate or follow orders. My current students have been coming for at least two years and I like to think I know more or less how they tick by now. Another high point for me is the conversation and I look forward to hearing what they've been up to away from the harp.
The harp lessons in Saltaire were instigated in 2011 by Louise Thomson whose role I gradually took up when she went on maternity leave. My colleague Alice Kirwan and I aim to develop and streamline our teaching there and we hope to incorporate a group session at least twice a year. Not only is this important on a social level, but it's also very helpful to watch and listen to other harpists, which remains one of the best ways to learn.
Alice and I
Playing the harp is serious business
Under the imaginative and sensitive leadership of experienced Artistic Director Eira Lynn Jones, I have enjoyed being a member of the artistic team responsible for organising the annual Saltaire Camac Harp Weekend for the past few years within the context of the Saltaire Festival. We have welcomed exciting guest artists such as Tristan Le Govic and Nikolaz Cadoret from France who have inspired and encouraged our students and given them a different and fresh approach to their harp playing.
If you would like to book a trial lesson, please contact the Early Music Shop on 01274 288100 and if you are on Facebook, please like and follow our teacher page, Harp Tuition at Early Music Shop, Saltaire https://www.facebook.com/Harp.EMS/
Tower
Saltaire
Tower
Saltaire
