I'm an ear learner but you're absolutely right, it is very limiiting to not read music well. Playing with other classically trained musicians in church, I have found the motivation to work on it more! I'm still a beginner harper, and am blessed to play at my small church.
Wow that was helpful. I began taking piano lessons a bit over 50 years ago. These lessons were enforced with a belt applied across my backside. An hour of torture per day. The problem was that I was and always have been a pretty good musician. But instead of piano I found success out behind the barn with an old beat up guitar. And no notes. (Horrors, the Devil's instruments.) About four years ago I wanted to get out of my rut, and built a harp. But the strings I inadvertently ordered were for a Paraguayan Harp, with Cs and Fs reversed. I had figured on painting red and blue lines onto my sheet music in order to remove some of the visual confusion I have with sight reading.. but this little lesson may have removed my confusion. Thanks, and lots of love from a stranger. You made my day.
I am 100% ear learner. I inadvertently have the ability to hear pitch perfect. But I'm not entirely fluent in music to be able to get this properly. So I am trying to bring all levels up. This video has MASSIVELY helped. Thank you Tiffany
@@tiffanyharpandsong I'm grateful. I have been on and off at the harp for 3 years (work being so busy but maintaining my same level. A little sloppy with finger positions, thumb up and forgetting some of the more complex songs, but getting there) and this helped with the visual aspect to learning, aka written notes and sight reading. Amazing. I am excited to try this out later today. Blessings and keep up the great work and videos. I am a fan now. Lol
Thanks Tiffany. I'm a vey good sight reader having played piano and other instruments before learning the harp but I still found this very helpful and will recommend to anyone I know that is either beginning or struggling to read music. Such a fantastic shortcut to reading music 💞
I am an ear oriented learner who has alway struggled with sight reading. This is the first time I’ve been able to understand how to recognize intervals quickly and easily and apply them to my harp!
Omg this is literally soooo much easier than I thought! Thank you so much 😊 Whenever I have sheet music, I write the letters above the notes lol! I’ll try to stop doing that now.
I do that too, especially for the bass clef because of the other order of the notes... That's my greatest thing atm to learn that damn bass notes -. - #
Friendly Neighborhood Time Stamps: 0:00 Intro 2:01 The Concept 2:42 Intervals on Your Harp 4:12 Intervals on Sheet Music 7:07 Sight Reading a Melody 8:27 How to Join my Workshop!
👍👏 Hi Tiffany - I read music, but ONLY in the treble clef. 🎼 And as you know, in order to play the harp in the manner it was intended, one needs to play both the treble and bass clefs - and at the same time no less. 😥 It's enough to give me a harp attack. 😲 BTW: I'm both an ear player and sight reader. There are three instruments that I prefer to play strictly by ear: The diatonic harmonica, the diatonic Romanian pan flute, and the chromatic slid whistle. All I need to know in order to play a tune by ear on these three instruments are three requisites: 1) I need to be totally familiar with the tune, 2) the key in which the tune is played, and 3) most important the FIRST note in which the tune begins. Believe it or not, when I have all three in sync, I'll master that tune in a just a couple of minutes as though I was playing it all my life. 👌 😉
Thumbs up! Ear learner, but if I need to remind myself what note something begins on, I look at the music and go from the first note as to what it sounds like.
I'm much more of a 'by ear' learner: I can read music, but it's painstakingly slow. Although I've been learning instruments since I was a small child, even then I learned the tune by reading the music (being taught) but then played it from memory, even during my Grading exams. My brain just seems to struggle to retain recognition of the notes quickly enough to be of use in sight-reading, although I know what it all 'says' - just slowly!
@@helenheath3706 I don't - it's something I still have to work on! I still learn mainly by ear, because I play folk music and that's what works for me.
The naming of intervals throws me off, I think of the number of strings between fingers, or the distance after the route finger…. So for instance for me a second would have two strings in the middle, whereas in music theory that would actually be a fourth. Does anyone else have that problem?
That makes sense! It can be confusing for sure. I think of an interval as the total strings you are encompassing, so the "border" starts at where your fingers are. (I'm sure you know that, but that's how my brain "pictures" it, if that helps!)
@@tiffanyharpandsong thanks, I’ll give it a go, I’m sure it will get better after I’ve visualised for each interval up to an octave properly, thanks again for the tip!
Here's the website for Thormahlen! I have the Ceili model. It's a beautiful harp. thorharp.com/pages/Ceili34.htm Here's a couple of videos on buying harps that you might find helpful: czcams.com/video/LDYB5m4_uPk/video.html czcams.com/video/TkeSVPv3xlg/video.html
soo simple it makes me wonder how i never thought about it, i personally write the names of the notes with a pencil before i start playing , hopefully witht his trick ill wont have to do it any longer thanks tiffany
Yes! Writing in the notes can quickly become a crutch, so I would suggest trying to break that habit. :) Look into the Landmark system as well! That's another great trick we'll be covering in my Zoom class.
It's really all about what comes next in the music, in order to get the best flow, but here are a couple "rule of thumb" videos that might help: 1) czcams.com/video/kRHvFk-2Op0/video.html 2) czcams.com/video/-a35xmeI1Ec/video.html
I can't play purely by ear, but I also can't sight read. If I want to play something, I need to sit down beforehand and write all the names of the notes above the notes on the sheet individually...which takes a lot of time and is super frustrating. To learn well, I ideally need someone who shows their hand movements very very slowly and methodically - that's why I learned the fastest with Anne's or Christy-Lyn's videos so far. Everyone has their own learning and teaching style, so it's very important to find a good match.
Oh yes, it definitely is frustrating to have to write in the notes! I'll bet that's actually hindering you more than helping you in the long run, because you're now dependent on that. Just a thought. I bet you would love my music reading workshop!
I'm more the sheet music type but with your channel I try to learn the audial method by ear. Just a quick question about the workshop : is it just theory (do I need a harp with me) and /or do you offer this workshop as a recording, too because I really would like to join but I am at nightshift this evening (in my time zone) and can't take my harp with me. Greetings from Germany Madeleine /Alantya
It definitely takes practice and training, if it's not something you've been used to! Just like a muscle that needs exercise. :) I'll bet you've already learned to sing plenty of songs by ear - like children's' songs when you were a child. So really you're halfway there! It's a matter of translating that to the harp.
@@tiffanyharpandsong thanks so much for your encouragement! that about singing is true, I find it much easier to produce the melody by myself than finding the right strings/keys on an instrument. Sometimes I can't sing it how I would like because of vocal range, but my ears are aware when it's off lol 😆 I will follow your channel to learn more on this journey to play by ear. My father can play lots of songs by ear and it sounds wonderful, even though he didn't learn piano, but accordeon and guitar, he can play them on piano wonderfully. He has great feeling for music, but it seemed to me I didn't inherit those musical genes. 😆 He tried to explain to me how he figures out the chords, but I often couldn't even figure out a note that played, I've relied on sheet music all my life without thinking too much about it. Both me and my father play just as a hobby and I'm aware I have gaps in musical theory, so I need to start there. Thank you for your amazing channel, I will check out more tips from you, since you are playing a lot by ear 😍
@@einelyrischezahnfee2941 Oh I know, isn't it crazy how some people are just attuned to it! And some people are sooo good at just looking at sheet music and reading it right off. I'll bet you would really like my full Back to Basics course - we go over strategies to learn by ear, music theory and simple arranging/when to switch chords.
Are you more of an ear learner or a reader?
I've always had a good ear, and now relearning the harp after 30 years, reading music again, it is a challenge. thanks for the tip!!
I'm an ear learner but you're absolutely right, it is very limiiting to not read music well. Playing with other classically trained musicians in church, I have found the motivation to work on it more! I'm still a beginner harper, and am blessed to play at my small church.
That's great! Yes, it's really a muscle that needs working like anything else. :) (Easier said that done, lol!) Thanks for watching Kim.
Wow that was helpful. I began taking piano lessons a bit over 50 years ago. These lessons were enforced with a belt applied across my backside. An hour of torture per day. The problem was that I was and always have been a pretty good musician. But instead of piano I found success out behind the barn with an old beat up guitar. And no notes. (Horrors, the Devil's instruments.)
About four years ago I wanted to get out of my rut, and built a harp. But the strings I inadvertently ordered were for a Paraguayan Harp, with Cs and Fs reversed.
I had figured on painting red and blue lines onto my sheet music in order to remove some of the visual confusion I have with sight reading.. but this little lesson may have removed my confusion.
Thanks, and lots of love from a stranger.
You made my day.
I will never understand cruel teachers!
Thank you for your kind words, I'm so glad it was helpful to you!
@@tiffanyharpandsong teacher was a gloriously wonderful lady. Can't say the same about mom.
I am 100% ear learner. I inadvertently have the ability to hear pitch perfect. But I'm not entirely fluent in music to be able to get this properly. So I am trying to bring all levels up. This video has MASSIVELY helped. Thank you Tiffany
great to hear!
@@tiffanyharpandsong I'm grateful. I have been on and off at the harp for 3 years (work being so busy but maintaining my same level. A little sloppy with finger positions, thumb up and forgetting some of the more complex songs, but getting there) and this helped with the visual aspect to learning, aka written notes and sight reading. Amazing. I am excited to try this out later today. Blessings and keep up the great work and videos. I am a fan now. Lol
I started reading music as a child and started playing by ear recently. I love how well you explained intervals.
Thank you, this was very helpful to me!
Thanks Tiffany. I'm a vey good sight reader having played piano and other instruments before learning the harp but I still found this very helpful and will recommend to anyone I know that is either beginning or struggling to read music. Such a fantastic shortcut to reading music 💞
That's good to know Sharon, thanks!
I am an ear oriented learner who has alway struggled with sight reading. This is the first time I’ve been able to understand how to recognize intervals quickly and easily and apply them to my harp!
Yay! Oh you're going to love Back to Basics. :)
@@tiffanyharpandsong I can’t wait!
Im little bit of both ! I have to hear and see what you are doing to learn
Wow, this video was so very helpful! Thank you so much 😊
Glad you liked it!
SO HELPFUL! Your trick on reading intervals on sheet music was incredible *chefs kiss* Thanks!
so glad it was helpful!
Omg this is literally soooo much easier than I thought! Thank you so much 😊 Whenever I have sheet music, I write the letters above the notes lol! I’ll try to stop doing that now.
Yes, you can do it! I suggest looking up the landmark system, too. That's one of the things we'll be going over in my Music Reading workshop.
I do that too, especially for the bass clef because of the other order of the notes... That's my greatest thing atm to learn that damn bass notes -. - #
Very helpful Tiffany thank you!
Friendly Neighborhood Time Stamps:
0:00 Intro
2:01 The Concept
2:42 Intervals on Your Harp
4:12 Intervals on Sheet Music
7:07 Sight Reading a Melody
8:27 How to Join my Workshop!
👍👏 Hi Tiffany - I read music, but ONLY in the treble clef. 🎼 And as you know, in order to play the harp in the manner it was intended, one needs to play both the treble and bass clefs - and at the same time no less. 😥 It's enough to give me a harp attack. 😲
BTW: I'm both an ear player and sight reader. There are three instruments that I prefer to play strictly by ear: The diatonic harmonica, the diatonic Romanian pan flute, and the chromatic slid whistle. All I need to know in order to play a tune by ear on these three instruments are three requisites: 1) I need to be totally familiar with the tune, 2) the key in which the tune is played, and 3) most important the FIRST note in which the tune begins. Believe it or not, when I have all three in sync, I'll master that tune in a just a couple of minutes as though I was playing it all my life. 👌 😉
Thumbs up! Ear learner, but if I need to remind myself what note something begins on, I look at the music and go from the first note as to what it sounds like.
holy moly this is saving my life lol its so hard for me to read thanks so much
Im a ear learner but i have experience with written music. So wiyh Gods help ile grow
I am better at sight reading but I am trying to learn the intervals. Thanks for the tips
Glad it was helpful!
These sound like fantastic workshops, do you have similar workshops going on still?
Not at the moment, but the best way to stay informed is to sign up to my email list at www.tiffanyharpandsong.com!
I'm much more of a 'by ear' learner: I can read music, but it's painstakingly slow. Although I've been learning instruments since I was a small child, even then I learned the tune by reading the music (being taught) but then played it from memory, even during my Grading exams. My brain just seems to struggle to retain recognition of the notes quickly enough to be of use in sight-reading, although I know what it all 'says' - just slowly!
This is a good description of how I am too, actually!
@@tiffanyharpandsong Really?! So how did you manage to 'force' your brain into being able to sight-read fluently??
@@helenheath3706 I don't - it's something I still have to work on! I still learn mainly by ear, because I play folk music and that's what works for me.
The naming of intervals throws me off, I think of the number of strings between fingers, or the distance after the route finger…. So for instance for me a second would have two strings in the middle, whereas in music theory that would actually be a fourth. Does anyone else have that problem?
That makes sense! It can be confusing for sure. I think of an interval as the total strings you are encompassing, so the "border" starts at where your fingers are. (I'm sure you know that, but that's how my brain "pictures" it, if that helps!)
@@tiffanyharpandsong thanks, I’ll give it a go, I’m sure it will get better after I’ve visualised for each interval up to an octave properly, thanks again for the tip!
I’m more of an ear learner! How much was your harp I want one!
Here's the website for Thormahlen! I have the Ceili model. It's a beautiful harp. thorharp.com/pages/Ceili34.htm
Here's a couple of videos on buying harps that you might find helpful:
czcams.com/video/LDYB5m4_uPk/video.html
czcams.com/video/TkeSVPv3xlg/video.html
Definitely a site reader! Playing by ear is a mystery to me😳
You know, I have an old video here about how to learn by ear, but it's on my fuzzy old camera! haha. I should probably re-do it.
@@tiffanyharpandsong aww, that would be helpful 😊 Can you post a link, please?
@@einelyrischezahnfee2941 here you go! czcams.com/video/coFbnK_j3n8/video.html
@@tiffanyharpandsong thanks so much ❤️
@@einelyrischezahnfee2941 You might like this one too! czcams.com/video/_JIbbaehlXE/video.html
soo simple it makes me wonder how i never thought about it,
i personally write the names of the notes with a pencil before i start playing , hopefully witht his trick ill wont have to do it any longer
thanks tiffany
Yes! Writing in the notes can quickly become a crutch, so I would suggest trying to break that habit. :) Look into the Landmark system as well! That's another great trick we'll be covering in my Zoom class.
Thank you, how do learn/approach how to choose fingerings on sheet music?
It's really all about what comes next in the music, in order to get the best flow, but here are a couple "rule of thumb" videos that might help:
1) czcams.com/video/kRHvFk-2Op0/video.html
2) czcams.com/video/-a35xmeI1Ec/video.html
@@tiffanyharpandsong Thank you very much.
Hi, I'm wondering if I can use this video for my lyre. Thank you!
Hi! I'm not really sure how a lyre is strung - but the sheet music principle should be the same!
@@tiffanyharpandsong Thank you!
I can't play purely by ear, but I also can't sight read. If I want to play something, I need to sit down beforehand and write all the names of the notes above the notes on the sheet individually...which takes a lot of time and is super frustrating. To learn well, I ideally need someone who shows their hand movements very very slowly and methodically - that's why I learned the fastest with Anne's or Christy-Lyn's videos so far. Everyone has their own learning and teaching style, so it's very important to find a good match.
Oh yes, it definitely is frustrating to have to write in the notes! I'll bet that's actually hindering you more than helping you in the long run, because you're now dependent on that. Just a thought. I bet you would love my music reading workshop!
@@tiffanyharpandsong Ah I think the workshop would be very helpful for me, if you host another music reading workshop I want to join,
I'm more the sheet music type but with your channel I try to learn the audial method by ear. Just a quick question about the workshop : is it just theory (do I need a harp with me) and /or do you offer this workshop as a recording, too because I really would like to join but I am at nightshift this evening (in my time zone) and can't take my harp with me. Greetings from Germany
Madeleine /Alantya
For the music reading workshop, you should be fine without a harp. And yes it is recorded! I send it to participants to download afterwards.
I'm a sight learner. I can't play by ear :(
It definitely takes practice and training, if it's not something you've been used to! Just like a muscle that needs exercise. :) I'll bet you've already learned to sing plenty of songs by ear - like children's' songs when you were a child. So really you're halfway there! It's a matter of translating that to the harp.
@@tiffanyharpandsong thanks so much for your encouragement! that about singing is true, I find it much easier to produce the melody by myself than finding the right strings/keys on an instrument. Sometimes I can't sing it how I would like because of vocal range, but my ears are aware when it's off lol 😆
I will follow your channel to learn more on this journey to play by ear. My father can play lots of songs by ear and it sounds wonderful, even though he didn't learn piano, but accordeon and guitar, he can play them on piano wonderfully. He has great feeling for music, but it seemed to me I didn't inherit those musical genes. 😆 He tried to explain to me how he figures out the chords, but I often couldn't even figure out a note that played, I've relied on sheet music all my life without thinking too much about it.
Both me and my father play just as a hobby and I'm aware I have gaps in musical theory, so I need to start there.
Thank you for your amazing channel, I will check out more tips from you, since you are playing a lot by ear 😍
@@einelyrischezahnfee2941 Oh I know, isn't it crazy how some people are just attuned to it! And some people are sooo good at just looking at sheet music and reading it right off.
I'll bet you would really like my full Back to Basics course - we go over strategies to learn by ear, music theory and simple arranging/when to switch chords.
@@tiffanyharpandsong what is this full Back to Basics course? I l think I will like it too, how to sign in?
Sight reading only. No ear capability at all.