>IMHO, this experienced musician who already plays piano and guitar can
>progress on her own without lessons.
>IMHO, eventually learning "proper" technique should give no more problem
>than it would learning it in the first place. And you'll still have
>whatever "improper" technique you have taught yourself, for whatever it
>is worth.
>
>In conclusion, I would like to challenge the assertion that learning
>"wrong" technique will ultimately set you back. I'd like to see the
>opinion of a "successful" self-taught harper who subsequently benefitted
>from professional training and now regrets having started without the
>pro. If such a testimony is offered, I will happily eat my hat.
>
I am not going to categorize as a "successful" self-taught harper because I
still consider myself a beginner; however I have to side with those people
who think Barbara should get some lessons, but not for the same reasons.
As an adult beginner playing a WIRE STRUNG HARP, the same kind that Barbara
bought, I recommend lessons with a WIRE STRUNG HARP TEACHER, not with just
anyone because of the damping. When I started playing, I used the Sylvia
Woods book which was very helpful, but there were no damping exercises in
it. And at the time I didn't live near any harpers (who played wire or
nylon) that I could compare notes with (no pun intended). There was no web
then either so I couldn't avail myself of advice from all the wonderful and
helpful people on the list. I felt really isolated; I didn't know if what I
was doing was right, wrong or backwards. Eventually I found a teacher who
played pedal harp, but she didn't know the first thing about damping. When
I finally went to the Scottish Harp Society workshop at Oberlin and got to
work with people who played on a wire strung harp it made a big difference.
It wasn't that I had to really unlearn any bad habits, apparently I hadn't
done too badly on my own, but I learned a lot from those harpers that I
would not have learned otherwise.
I have a wire strung teacher now, and although I can only take lessons
about once a month because of the distance, I think it makes a big
difference. (I've got Anne Heyman's book too and I found it very
confusing.) BTW the first thing my teacher wanted to see was whether or not
I picked up any bad habits (I probably wouldn't know a bad habit if it hit
me over the head).
I don't know that John should start chewing, but I wouldn't discourage lessons.
Kathy
-- kdlabick@cd.columbus.oh.us == Kath