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)
    • Used Harps & Accessories
    • Buy Harp Strings
    • Buy Harp Accessories
    • Custom Order Harps
    • Price Chart
  • 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
  • SALES INFO
    • Pricing and Quotes
    • Payment Methods
    • Shipping
    • Shipping Bases and Terminals
    • Warranties
  • LEARN TO PLAY
    • Harp Lessons and Rental
    • Printable 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

Printable Harp Lessons - Level 2 - alternate hands

Level 2 consists of 4 sheets of exercises, 5 studies and 6 simple tunes for advanced beginner harpists.  (Total of 17 pages). Every page provides placing brackets and fingering along with brief suggestions for playing.

Everything is written for hands alternating within the same piece of music and is aimed at the advanced beginner or early intermediate harpist wishing to build muscle memory and coordination.  All in keys of C or G (indicated below) and all can be played on  24 - 26-string lap harps such as the Harpsicle family harps, County Kerry 24 and Christina Therapy harp.

Enjoy!
Tune 01: Exercise #1
Level: Two - alternate hands
Composer: Alison Vardy 
Description: 3 exercises in 1; right and left hands share simple melody lines. Excellent for building skills in placing, hand coordination and timing. 

image of sheet music

Download: .pdf


Tune 02: Exercise #2
Level: Two - alternate hands
 Composer: Alison Vardy 
Description: Scales in two hands support a melodic theme.
image of sheet music

 Download: .pdf


Tune 03: Exercise #3
Level: Two - alternate hands
 Composer: Alison Vardy 
Description: Bouncy, cheerful exercise, with the two hands taking turns in leading with the melody.
image of sheet music

Download: .pdf

Tune 04: Exercise #4
Level: Two - alternate hands
 Composer: Trad. English
Arrangement: Alison Vardy 
Description: Alternate hands playing two different hand-shapes up and down the harp make a composition as well as a useful exercise.
image of sheet music

Download: .pdf

Tune 05: Study #1 (key of C)
Level: Two - alternate hands
 Composer:  Alison Vardy 
Description: This is a popular first study for alternate hands. Accent the right hand notes and soften the left hand accompaniment for the best effect.
image of sheet music

Download: .pdf

Tune 06: Study #2 (key of C)
Level: Two - alternate hands
 Composer:  Alison Vardy
Description: This is the favourite study of many of my students. It serves as an excellent performance piece as well as trains the hands and brain!
image of sheet music

Download: .pdf

Tune 07: Study #3 (key of C)
Level: Two - alternate hands
 Composer:  Alison Vardy 
Description: A more complex study that exercises the 4th (ring) finger in a repeating pattern which is progressive, intuitive and ear-friendly.
image of sheet music

Download: .pdf

Tune 08: Study #4 (key of C)
Level: Two - alternate hands
 Composer:  Alison Vardy
Description: A rhythmic study where left hand leads and right hand mirrors with pleasing effect for player and listener.
image of sheet music

Download: .pdf

Tune 09: Study #5 (key of G)
Level: Two - alternate hands
 Composer: Alison Vardy 
Description: The thumb gets a workout on this one as the fingers walk up and down the strings. Intuitive and pleasing to the ear.
image of sheet music

Download: .pdf

Tune 10: Southwind (key of C)
Level: Two - alternate hands
 Composer: Trad. Irish
Arrangement: Alison Vardy 
Description: Beloved Irish melody arranged simply and effectively for playing by right and left hands alternately.
image of sheet music

Download: .pdf

Tune 11: Y Dydd (key of G)
Level: Two - alternate hands
 Composer: Trad. Wales
Arrangement: Alison Vardy 
Description: A traditional Welsh tune that lends itself well to alternate hand playing. Both hands play in the same treble range of the harp.
image of sheet music

Download: .pdf

Tune 12: 
Derry Hornpipe (key of G)
Level: Two - alternate hands
 Composer: Trad. Irish
 Arrangement: Alison Vardy
Description: Looks more difficult but isn't! Short placements with alternate hands means you'll get the hang of this one quickly.
image of sheet music

Download: .pdf


Tune 13:  
The Tenth Degree (key of C)
Level: Two - alternate hands
 Composer: Alison Vardy
Description: Big intervals and the heart leaps in response. Left hand leads and right hand answers to lovely effect. A little more difficult to master than the previous three tune downloads but harp-friendly none-the-less.
image of sheet music


Download: .pdf


Tune 14: 
Cross-strides (key of C)
Level: Two - alternate hands
 Composer: Alison Vardy
Description: A call and answer composition to the heartbeat rhythm of a march. Left hand leads but be careful... right hand doesn't always follow!
image of sheet music


Download: .pdf


Tune 15: Cajun Flat (key of C)
Level: Two - alternate hands
 Composer: Alison Vardy
Description: A distinct Cajun feel to both the melody and meter of this composition. Harp-friendly fingering and placings provided to facilitate playing.
image of sheet music


Download: .pdf

Alison Vardy
[email protected]

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