Samantha Ballard Harp Studio
Samantha Ballard Harp Studio
  • Видео 7
  • Просмотров 2 313
How to ACTUALLY Relax Your Hand While Playing Harp
We all know we're not supposed to get tense while playing harp, but it's easier said than done! Here's an easy exercise to ACTUALLY practice playing with more relaxed technique, and a step by step guide for how to play it.
✉ Sign up for my email list and get a free original song download: go.samanthaballardharp.com/email-newsletter
➤Harp Lessons: studio.samanthaballardharp.com
Remember, don't push yourself to the point of pain! If it hurts, don't do it.
If you're dealing with any kind of condition that has resulted in reduced range of motion in your hands and wrists, check out this video of gentle physiotherapy exercises you can try: ruclips.net/video/Hy2oIyt029A/видео.html
➤Arranging for Harp...
Просмотров: 129

Видео

How to Make Your Playing Less STIFF (And Your Body Too!)
Просмотров 45221 день назад
How to be more relaxed and less tense when you play the harp, for a more beautiful flowing sound! ✉ Sign up for my email list and get a free original song download: go.samanthaballardharp.com/email-newsletter ➤Harp Lessons: studio.samanthaballardharp.com Do you ever listen to harp recordings, and even though you might be playing the notes right, it still just doesn't sound as flowing and natura...
5 Common HAND POSITION Mistakes Self-Taught Harpists Make
Просмотров 849Месяц назад
✉ Sign up for my email list and get free harp tips straight to your inbox: go.samanthaballardharp.com/email-newsletter ➤Harp Lessons: studio.samanthaballardharp.com Good hand position is a lifelong pursuit! There are so many subtle changes you can make to your hand position that can make playing the harp easier, or harder. Let's review good hand position, and identify some mistakes that may hav...
Is Your Left Hand Uncomfortable When You Play? Easy Fix!
Просмотров 106Месяц назад
This sneaky little postural problem can sometimes cause tension and discomfort in the left hand and wrist when playing harp, and you may not realize you're doing it! Fortunately, fixing it can be very simple. However, I won't be able to fix every issue in a single video as there could be a variety of different things going on. If you have pain that persists, please consult a harp teacher, docto...
How to STOP Hating Your Playing
Просмотров 121Месяц назад
Mindset when we practice is SO important! Our thoughts can put us down, making us feel bad about ourselves, unmotivated to keep practicing, and actually hold us back from making any progress in our harp practice. Over time though, by paying attention to our thoughts, we can rephrase and retrain our thinking to be less judgmental, more positive, and more constructive so that practice is both mor...
Do THIS to Make Your Practice 10x More Effective (At Any Level!)
Просмотров 4612 месяца назад
This simple yet SUPER effective practice strategy may seem obvious, but it's surprising how often it's overlooked! But once you make that simple shift in attention, you'll be amazed how much more progress you can make. Download a free PDF of ideas of what to notice while practicing here: mcusercontent.com/fbb44efe9240641d1ce926e16/files/475750d7-5340-55bf-12c9-a7c6d3ade387/Practice_Routine_Insp...
Is Your Harp Posture Helping Or Hurting You?
Просмотров 2162 месяца назад
It's so easy to play the harp on autopilot! Let's revisit how to sit at the harp and how to hold it, so that your body can support you playing your favourite music, instead of holding you back or even hurting you. 00:00 Intro 01:30 Lesson begins ✉ Sign up for my email list and get a free original song download: go.samanthaballardharp.com/email-newsletter ➤Harp Lessons: studio.samanthaballardhar...

Комментарии

  • @johnduffy6546
    @johnduffy6546 3 дня назад

    Stretching is always good;

    • @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio
      @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 2 дня назад

      Stretching is great! But what kind and when you do it also matters - I have a video about this coming out soon! :)

  • @annecrosbygaudetmusic
    @annecrosbygaudetmusic 3 дня назад

    So good, Samantha! Well done 🎶❤️

  • @jeanneburns-sloan1471
    @jeanneburns-sloan1471 6 дней назад

    You do such a WONDERFUL job breaking down each technique. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge with us!

    • @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio
      @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 2 дня назад

      Thank you Jeanne, it warms my heart to hear that :) Thanks for watching, I hope the video was helpful!

  • @mr_moss205
    @mr_moss205 11 дней назад

    In short: don't press so hard against the harp and just chill

  • @xtaasiedua7826
    @xtaasiedua7826 11 дней назад

    Hi Samantha Please can you teach me..I’m from Ghana

  • @phillipburnett5579
    @phillipburnett5579 19 дней назад

    Thank you for this excellent video. Positioning is very often ignored in teaching videos but is so important. If your back starts hurting your practice session will be cut short.

    • @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio
      @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 17 дней назад

      Very true! It's amazing how many times an issue that seems unrelated actually goes away when we make sure we're sitting correctly.

  • @Xeweros
    @Xeweros 19 дней назад

    In the past i was sitting on my sofa playing my harp. Obviously my knees were way to high for that. Now i switched to a chair and my harp started to sound a lot better :D From your videos I noticed that I am still sitting to low, because my hands need to reach a bit up, as specially my right arm. It starts to hurt after a few minutes... BTW. I had to play "Down by the Salley Gardens" a bit again, because i heard you playing it :D :D What a nice song. I love it.

    • @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio
      @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 17 дней назад

      Oh that's a great observation! Sitting height can make a huge difference. And I totally agree, Salley Gardens is a lovely tune :)

  • @jeanneburns-sloan1471
    @jeanneburns-sloan1471 29 дней назад

    Thank you so much, Smantha. You definitely have a talent in breaking techniques down. Cheers to you!

  • @moniquemanspeaker7803
    @moniquemanspeaker7803 29 дней назад

    Thank you for all amazing teaching❤❤❤

  • @paullyle3461
    @paullyle3461 Месяц назад

    Very interesting thanks for sharing your views on the subject it's a subject I've problems with.🎶🌈😎

  • @annecrosbygaudetmusic
    @annecrosbygaudetmusic Месяц назад

    Such a helpful video! Thanks Samantha 👍🏻

  • @SharonCullenArt
    @SharonCullenArt Месяц назад

    This is a great video. I have a problem with tension in my back. It is so frustrating. And I can’t figure out what is causing it. I try every day to figure it out.

    • @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio
      @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio Месяц назад

      Sorry to hear about the tension in your back, Sharon! Without knowing much else about your situation, normally I would suggest starting with the chair or bench you sit on and making sure it's the right height for you, and that it's not too soft or leaning back. Then I'd make sure that when you sit on the chair without the harp, there's no tension yet. If so, then when you bring the harp back trying to maintain the posture you set up before bringing the harp to you. If it's been going on a long time and/or it's causing pain, it might also be worth consulting a doctor or physiotherapist!

  • @2dbuy
    @2dbuy Месяц назад

    Thanks Samantha, its always good to revisit hand and finger positions every so often. Its so easy slip into bad habits.

  • @samanthaabreu782
    @samanthaabreu782 Месяц назад

    As a begginer I feel this so hard, I'm always thinking "when I will learn?" "will I learn?" "why I started so late?", sometimes I feel a little bit discouraged by my own thoughts :(

    • @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio
      @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio Месяц назад

      I definitely feel you there, it can really be rough sometimes inside our own minds. <3 Regardless of where you are in your journey, I think it's incredible that you've been brave enough to try learning a new instrument, and that you're making music in your life where maybe there wasn't any before.

  • @2dbuy
    @2dbuy Месяц назад

    Thanks for the great advice. I had pain and improving my left hand technique definitely helped, also worth thinking about tension from elsewhere we might be bringing in. In my own case I ended up realising most of the pain was caused by poor posture and wrist position at the computer while working and oddly enough washing dishes was actually the cause of the majority of the tension. In my case getting a dish washer and a wrist support while working got rid of the pain over time. For me it was carpal tunnel and would recommend casting your summon medical professional powers to anyone if its gets as far a pain.

    • @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio
      @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio Месяц назад

      that's so true - something else that can be useful to pay attention to is whether the pain primarily occurs while playing, right after playing, during a different activity, or just kind of generally all the time as that can sometimes help point to what the root cause is. I definitely feel my best when I'm using good posture at my desk, too. And yes if it gets as far as a pain that's happening a lot, talking to a medical professional is always a good idea!

  • @2dbuy
    @2dbuy Месяц назад

    Sometimes our mind is our greatest enemy.

  • @2dbuy
    @2dbuy Месяц назад

    I love this it frames mistakes and things we don't like positively as opportunities to work. Also I am guilty of noticing my fingers and arms but not being mindful about how the rest of my body or even mind factors into things. Thanks Samantha.

    • @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio
      @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio Месяц назад

      It's important to remember that mistakes aren't something that happens when we fail to learn - they ARE learning. :)

    • @2dbuy
      @2dbuy Месяц назад

      @@SamanthaBallardHarpStudioThat's brilliant I love that. Need a motivational Samantha app that plays out encouraging statements every time I sit at the harp.

  • @jeanneburns-sloan1471
    @jeanneburns-sloan1471 Месяц назад

    Simple changes that make such a big difference. Thank you!

    • @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio
      @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio Месяц назад

      Sometimes it's the smallest things that make the biggest changes! Thanks so much for watching :)

  • @jeanneburns-sloan1471
    @jeanneburns-sloan1471 Месяц назад

    So true! So true! How do you KNOW me so well? Thank you for your insight.

  • @jeanneburns-sloan1471
    @jeanneburns-sloan1471 Месяц назад

    Such a well-spoken woman! You do such a giid job at breaking things down. Thank you!

  • @colleenb8986
    @colleenb8986 2 месяца назад

    Is the PDF handout for more tips in your studio link, by chance?

  • @2dbuy
    @2dbuy 2 месяца назад

    Thank you so much for making this. I've notice for a little while just recently my position has been less comfortable and I have been Ignoring it. Thanks to you I took the time to look at it and noticed the adjustment knob and feet of my stool had worn out and I was now lower than I used to be.

    • @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio
      @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio Месяц назад

      Oh man, those kinds of things can creep up on you without noticing but make a huge difference, so I'm glad you were able to adjust that!

    • @2dbuy
      @2dbuy Месяц назад

      @@SamanthaBallardHarpStudio I adjusted it and then it changed again without me touching it I now think its worn out through excessive sitting and needs to be replaced.

    • @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio
      @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio Месяц назад

      @@2dbuy That's important information to know too!

  • @colleenb8986
    @colleenb8986 2 месяца назад

    Thank you for putting this out there! I feel like these points can all get so easily forgotten or overlooked, and as someone who has ouchy posture problems already it really helps to go back to the core of good positioning for playing to make sure my body has the least friction possible. It really helps when i try to make sure old problems don’t cause more problems 😅 P.S. i’m really excited for this channel!

    • @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio
      @SamanthaBallardHarpStudio 2 месяца назад

      It's so true, it's so easy to stop thinking about this kind of thing so it's always good to pause and check in with the body! And I'm excited too, I have so many video ideas 😄