Teaching harp in an Irish music school

I started teaching harp within an established Irish music school in 2008 and have really enjoyed it. It's great to work alongside another trad music teacher and to see the kids take to this instrument and try and play their music on it. It's put the harp in a context - so important. The harp was a second instrument for each child so they already had a mental stock of tunes from which we could draw. This is definitely a bonus - there's so much going on if the harp is your first instrument - perhaps too much.

I also found it so lovely to be amongst such a nice group of folk - there's a real sense of a community and a relaxedness that is going along with it. It's also been great to hear the tunes on other instruments that kids have been learning and I've really enjoyed hearing the way Colette plays and teaches, firm but with a real sense of fun. You're often stuck inside your own little box as a music teacher, especially as a harpist, opportunities to share and learn are few and far between.

This project has continued, and thanks to the hard work of the folk at that school we have funding for weekly lessons this year and are able to take in a new year of pupils. Hurray! With our new intake we've been doing a diet of tiny pieces and small songs to start, nice and slow. The second years have all been learning a song with a left hand to go with it, some are going onto dances tunes - lots of fun. From my point of view a tried and tested syllabus is gradually coming into focus, so now I have to keep adding to it.

This is one adventure I really want to continue.