West Coast Harps
  • HOME
    • About West Coast Harps
    • About Owner Alison Vardy
    • Harp Notes Archives
    • Blog
  • HARPS
    • Choosing a Harp
    • Lap Harps (24-26 strings)
    • Smal Floor Harps (26 - 32 strings)
    • Large Floor Harps (34 - 38 strings)
    • Custom Order Harps
    • Used Harps & Accessories
    • Price Chart
    • Buy Harp Strings
    • Buy Harp Accessories
  • DULCIMERS
    • Choosing a Hammered Dulcimer
    • 12 / 11 Dulcimers
    • 16 / 15 Dulcimers
    • Chromatic Series
    • Piano Dulcimer
    • Used Hammered Dulcimers
    • Buy Dulcimer Accessories
    • Buy Dulcimer Music
    • Price Chart
    • Bowed Psalteries
  • SALES INFO
    • Pricing and Quotes
    • Payment Methods
    • Shipping
    • Shipping Bases and Terminals
    • Warranties
  • LEARN TO PLAY
    • Harp Lessons and Rental
    • Printable Harp Lessons
    • Community Harp Lessons
    • Canada Teacher List
  • RESOURCES
    • Celtic Harp Sheet Music
    • CD Purchase
    • Care of Your Harp
    • Our Instrument Makers
    • Resource Links
    • Amplification of Harps
  • CONTACT US
    • Harp Notes Archives

Learn to play - Contact a Teacher

Students:  Find a teacher ----HARP TEACHERS ACROSS CANADA
Want to find a teacher close to where you live in Canada? 
West Coast Harps offers this simple listing of harp  teachers across Canada.
Teachers:  Help prospective students find you
Do you teach the harp and are  seeking additional students? 
Fill in the directory submission form and join the teacher list!
All levels and styles welcome.
Harp Teacher Directory Submission Form


FAQ - Learning the Harp

Harp Teachers - What to expect
Be prepared to glean instruction from several harp teachers as you gain ability and confidence as a harpist. As well as individual lessons, it is good to participate in workshops and seminars, plus other music training (eg. theory classes, choirs etc.) Teaching and learning styles vary and a supportive, enjoyable instructor/student relationship is vital for motivation and achieving your best.

Harp Lessons - What to expect
The style of lesson will vary from teacher to teacher - some lessons are defined by a conservatory syllabus, some by a harp instructor's plan and others are more informal with instruction on your current abilities and barriers. As always you receive good value only if you practise - a half hour a day is not unreasonable, an hour is even better!

Lessons may be scheduled weekly, bi-weekly or monthly as agreed between yourself and your teacher. Most teachers ask for a minimum 24 hours notice of a cancellation. Be sure to understand your teacher's policies in this regard from the outset.

Lesson fees will vary but rates in the CAD$40 to $60 range are not unreasonable for a 50 minute lesson.

Harp Rentals - What to expect
It's often prudent to rent first; to test your or your child's commitment and interest before making the leap of purchasing an instrument. Some teachers and some retailers have harp rentals available but they tend to be difficult to find.  See Harp Lessons and Rentals under the Lessons tab.

Travel to Teachers :: Traveling Teachers
You may wish to organise your life around traveling some distance for a few lessons when you first get a harp. Six to eight lessons over 3-4 months will give a great head start. It is really important to get a correct hand position early on in your harping career or you will need to both "unlearn" and relearn better technique after more limiting habits have become ingrained.

Some teachers may travel closer to you as well. Many teachers are affiliated with music schools in outlying communities. It pays to contact several more distant harp teachers in your region to see if they travel closer to you.
 
Skype Teachers
If you cannot find a teacher in the directory within driving distance you may wish to use a teacher over the Internet with Skype. This lesson format requires a better quality computer camera, a reasonably modern computer and a bit of patience setting up a Skype account. Skype-to-Skype video calls are free so you will only be on the hook for your teacher's fee with each lesson.

A few thoughts:
  • Search Google for "Skype Harp Lessons" (omit the " ")
  • Are the teachers web literate with professional presentation online?
  • Email/Skype several possible teachers
  • Payment Methods - Paypal? Cheque?
  • Lessons may be 30-40 minutes live plus additional teacher email time etc.
  • Have a phone conversation with your choice before committing to a lesson

Alarm Bells: If you find yourself committing money to a Skype teacher without having a first lesson you may very well be the victim of a scammer. That is why we recommend establishing a landline phone relationship with your teacher first so that you have a measure of confidence that your teacher is both bonafide and compatible.
Disclaimer
This Directory is posted for informational purposes only as a free service.  West Coast Harps and Alison Vardy are not responsible for the veracity of any harpist contact information, qualification or ability claimed in this directory. 

Alison Vardy
alison@westcoastharps.com

phone: 250.722.2912 
West Coast Harps 
2235 Hummingbird Drive
Nanaimo  BC  V9X 1G6
CANADA