In late 2007 I developed an interest in unusual musical instruments and was keen to try anything. I discovered an old autoharp at an antiques market and then bought a modern one upon the advice of the UK Autoharps website. I first began to teach myself but then realised I’d need to find other players for advice and help with spares and repairing such an uncommon instrument. I attended my first UKA day in Stroud, Gloucestershire in the Spring of 2008 taking beginners' classes. I learned things that day which would have taken ages to learn by myself. Afterwards I felt confident enough but never realised how much the instrument would take over my music life.
I used to play guitar on my own for several years, harbouring an ambition one day to play in public. That day came and I took a guitar to the Waterman's Arms open mic in Richmond, Surrey, along with a newly learned autoharp. After my second visit I was invited to play with some other musicians and we subsequently formed a pirate band for a one off gig supporting Never the Bride in the village where I grew up at the well known Bull's Head music venue/pub in Barnes, SW London.
In 2012 back in Stroud I led my first class of beginners and have been teaching regularly for UK Autoharps ever since. I also offer one-to-one lessons in my home area of South West London and Surrey and I'm proud to have my autoharp playing currently on five CDs. Having played in some popular music venues in South West London and Surrey and gained experience of band life I've now returned to a solo role, concentrating on songwriting and teaching.
My passion is to teach and play autoharp to others, I've performed at so many varied types of event since 2008, including parties on boats, residential homes, hospitals, Crisis at Christmas, festivals, church services, open mics, fairs, and have been both headline and supporting acts. I have also taught autoharp workshops all over the UK with UK Autoharps for 5 years and am proud to be accepted as their current President. UK Autoharps is the largest community of autoharpers in Great Britain providing events and advice for players of all levels of experience and complete beginners.
I used to play guitar on my own for several years, harbouring an ambition one day to play in public. That day came and I took a guitar to the Waterman's Arms open mic in Richmond, Surrey, along with a newly learned autoharp. After my second visit I was invited to play with some other musicians and we subsequently formed a pirate band for a one off gig supporting Never the Bride in the village where I grew up at the well known Bull's Head music venue/pub in Barnes, SW London.
In 2012 back in Stroud I led my first class of beginners and have been teaching regularly for UK Autoharps ever since. I also offer one-to-one lessons in my home area of South West London and Surrey and I'm proud to have my autoharp playing currently on five CDs. Having played in some popular music venues in South West London and Surrey and gained experience of band life I've now returned to a solo role, concentrating on songwriting and teaching.
My passion is to teach and play autoharp to others, I've performed at so many varied types of event since 2008, including parties on boats, residential homes, hospitals, Crisis at Christmas, festivals, church services, open mics, fairs, and have been both headline and supporting acts. I have also taught autoharp workshops all over the UK with UK Autoharps for 5 years and am proud to be accepted as their current President. UK Autoharps is the largest community of autoharpers in Great Britain providing events and advice for players of all levels of experience and complete beginners.
The Autoharp, You and Me
If you would like to learn to play the autoharp, try one out or just find out more about them, do get in touch. I give personal one to one tuition, run workshops for schools and also lead beginners and moving on workshops for UK Autoharps. I offer hire of an autoharp if you would like to try one but are not sure how you will take to it. Instruments are limited though, alternatively you could join a UK Autoharp Day which are held throughout Britain. For a small booking fee you will have the choice of joining beginners, intermediates or advanced group workshops run by friendly and knowledgeable tutors. You will also get to join in a slow jam and an all abilities class, not to mention learn lots about autoharps and find spares and instruments for sale. UK Autoharps also has a loaner harp scheme. Visit... www.ukautoharps.org.uk
For more details on personal tuition, harp hire and UK Autoharp Days please contact: [email protected]
If you would like something a little different at your event or festival I offer hands-on taster sessions, beginners workshops and performance. Contact me for further details.
[email protected]
If you would like to add some autoharp to your composition or project I can offer you a quality sound and versatility of technique on the instrument. Whether it be lead, rhythm, finger picking, textured sounds etc. I can also advise best on parts for the autoharp within your arrangement and have experience in recording with the instrument. In the past I have collaborated with many musicians, lyricists and poets, bringing their work alive with music from the autoharp.
About the Autoharp FAQ
What is it called? Commonly known today as an Autoharp. Other models and brands of the past have been known as Chordzither, Volkszither, Chordharp, Chromaharp and Akkord Zither.
How does it work? When you push a chord button and strum across the strings you get a chord. Each button is labelled with a chord name and attached to a thin bar of wood or metal. Under the chord bar is a strip of felt glued on with small notches cut out at various intervals. When a chord bar is pushed down with a finger the felt mutes certain strings when strummed with the other hand. The notches in the felt allow certain strings representing notes in the chord you want to play to be open and ring out. Each chord bar is supported at each end by a spring which lifts it back up off the string bed once played. The chord bars are contained in a chord bar holder. In some models the chord bars can be moved around within the holder so players can choose their preferred chord layout on their instrument, thus ease of playing.
How long have you been playing? Nine years, pretty much every day.
How long does it take to learn? Most people can be strumming along to a tune very quickly, especially if they have background in other instruments. Guitar players find it fairly easy as it makes the chords for you. Honing your skills and coming to terms with the quirks of an autoharp takes time and the desire to play on. This will be different for different people. I practice for half an hour a day more or less. More if I am rehearsing for a performance. It took me a good year to find my way around the chord bar layout and set the basis for my style of finger picking. Then I was beginning to memorise where the chords were so I could play without looking and sing into a microphone.
How many strings does it have? The most common 21 bar models will have 36 strings.
How long does it take to tune? Not long if it's tuned regularly and you are used to tuning. It takes me around five minutes to check through all the strings. If kept in a nonfluctuating temperature a good autoharp will stay in tune good enough to practice with for up to a month. If you are playing with other musicians you will want to tune beforehand. If you are new to autoharp it will take a while to get used to how much pressure to put on the tuning wrench on each tuning pin to tighten or loosen the strings and how to read a digital tuner. Once you master this, tuning does not take long for the beautiful sound you get when you strum across all the strings afterwards.
If you would like to learn to play the autoharp, try one out or just find out more about them, do get in touch. I give personal one to one tuition, run workshops for schools and also lead beginners and moving on workshops for UK Autoharps. I offer hire of an autoharp if you would like to try one but are not sure how you will take to it. Instruments are limited though, alternatively you could join a UK Autoharp Day which are held throughout Britain. For a small booking fee you will have the choice of joining beginners, intermediates or advanced group workshops run by friendly and knowledgeable tutors. You will also get to join in a slow jam and an all abilities class, not to mention learn lots about autoharps and find spares and instruments for sale. UK Autoharps also has a loaner harp scheme. Visit... www.ukautoharps.org.uk
For more details on personal tuition, harp hire and UK Autoharp Days please contact: [email protected]
If you would like something a little different at your event or festival I offer hands-on taster sessions, beginners workshops and performance. Contact me for further details.
[email protected]
If you would like to add some autoharp to your composition or project I can offer you a quality sound and versatility of technique on the instrument. Whether it be lead, rhythm, finger picking, textured sounds etc. I can also advise best on parts for the autoharp within your arrangement and have experience in recording with the instrument. In the past I have collaborated with many musicians, lyricists and poets, bringing their work alive with music from the autoharp.
About the Autoharp FAQ
What is it called? Commonly known today as an Autoharp. Other models and brands of the past have been known as Chordzither, Volkszither, Chordharp, Chromaharp and Akkord Zither.
How does it work? When you push a chord button and strum across the strings you get a chord. Each button is labelled with a chord name and attached to a thin bar of wood or metal. Under the chord bar is a strip of felt glued on with small notches cut out at various intervals. When a chord bar is pushed down with a finger the felt mutes certain strings when strummed with the other hand. The notches in the felt allow certain strings representing notes in the chord you want to play to be open and ring out. Each chord bar is supported at each end by a spring which lifts it back up off the string bed once played. The chord bars are contained in a chord bar holder. In some models the chord bars can be moved around within the holder so players can choose their preferred chord layout on their instrument, thus ease of playing.
How long have you been playing? Nine years, pretty much every day.
How long does it take to learn? Most people can be strumming along to a tune very quickly, especially if they have background in other instruments. Guitar players find it fairly easy as it makes the chords for you. Honing your skills and coming to terms with the quirks of an autoharp takes time and the desire to play on. This will be different for different people. I practice for half an hour a day more or less. More if I am rehearsing for a performance. It took me a good year to find my way around the chord bar layout and set the basis for my style of finger picking. Then I was beginning to memorise where the chords were so I could play without looking and sing into a microphone.
How many strings does it have? The most common 21 bar models will have 36 strings.
How long does it take to tune? Not long if it's tuned regularly and you are used to tuning. It takes me around five minutes to check through all the strings. If kept in a nonfluctuating temperature a good autoharp will stay in tune good enough to practice with for up to a month. If you are playing with other musicians you will want to tune beforehand. If you are new to autoharp it will take a while to get used to how much pressure to put on the tuning wrench on each tuning pin to tighten or loosen the strings and how to read a digital tuner. Once you master this, tuning does not take long for the beautiful sound you get when you strum across all the strings afterwards.