[splitimage]

I had my last harp lesson this morning before the Christmas break, and after my lesson, my teacher and I were just chatting about stuff.

She knows how much I'm struggling right now with finding a job and how my employment insurance runs out in a couple of months, so she offered to teach me for free next semester, until I can find a job!

She said I had been her student a long time, was obviously committed to and passionate about the harp, and that I have the potential to be quite good and she didn't want that derailed by money.

I said thanks, but that I'd already paid the full year's tuition to the conservatory back in Sept. which I'm kind of glad I did, because she really deserves to be paid. So then she said that if I thought it would help with my stress levels to have 2 lessons a week, she'd teach me twice a week, and not charge me for the extra lesson. Talk about amazing.

I'm really struggling with a lot of things right now, but I'm finding people IRL are being so nice and helpful and supportive that it's amazing. I've never really let myself ask for help before so I'm finding it kind of overwhelming but in a good way.

There really are some nice people out there.

splitimage

[pegasus]

Oh that's wonderful! ((((((( splitimage )))))))

[Travelinglady]

I admire you for playing the harp, and I am so glad you have a nice harp teacher. Are you a harper or a harpist?

Yes, you are right, there are some nice people in this world. My hope is that everyone on PC will eventually come to realize that, and have such a positive experience.

I wish I could hear you play!

[splitimage]

Payne1

Are you a harper or a harpist?

Well I suppose technically I'm both since I play both the classical pedal harp and the celtic lever harp. I have one of each. I usually refer to myself as a harpist though.

[Open Eyes]

((((Splitimage))))

That is a wonderful experience to share and I am so glad you experienced the kindness of someone outside PC, IRL. Yes there are nice people around us so I hope you take her up on the offer of working with her twice a week. I think that it would be very theraputic for you. It must be wonderful letting that instrument play into your mind, heart and soul. It is a truely beautiful sounding instrument, I always loved to hear the sound of the harp.

Keep faith in yourself Splitimage, it is ok to allow yourself to receive the help of another.

Open Eyes

[mgran]

I think that's wonderful that your teacher is offering you that extra lesson a week. I have one classical guitar lesson a week, and one violin lesson a week, and singing three times a month. My son has two piano lessons and one guitar lesson (folk and rock) a week. Honestly, I do think that the practice of music is really beneficial to mental health. If I could afford two classical guitar lessons a week I'd go for it... really, take advantage of your extra lesson! it sounds like a godsend.

Funnily enough my guitar teacher, as well as piano, is a harpist (clasical?) and if I hadn't got into the guitar I'd have wanted to get into harp. But I can't afford one, either space wise or financially. My guitar was the best Christmas present ever... my Dad and Step Mum got it for me, paid 300 pound for it from an auction when the flamenco school that made it closed down. It's worth over five hundred pounds, maybe six. It sounds so much nicer than what I'd been playing before... and it's such a pleasure to mess around and practice on.

Do you find like me, SI, that even practicing scales helps?

[splitimage]

Mgran - that's great that you're so into music too, I agree that it's very therapeutic. And yeah, I find even playing scales is good, I can really get lost in their repetitive nature. But playing arpeggios is even better as that's a very harp thing to do.