How To Harp Podcast

How To Harp

Welcome to the How To Harp podcast, the show that celebrates your harp journey. Join harpist, tutor and founder of How To Harp Heather Downie for weekly episodes full of expert tips, inspiring interviews, real harpist stories, and relaxed chats with How To Harp co-tutor Angela. Whether you’re just starting out or growing your skills, this is your space to learn, laugh, and love your harp even more.

  1. Ep 28: Harping Through Health Challenges with Rest, Kindness & Small Steps

    5D AGO

    Ep 28: Harping Through Health Challenges with Rest, Kindness & Small Steps

    Heather and Angela share honest health updates and talk about how to keep learning harp when your body and energy levels are unpredictable. Together they explore practical, compassionate strategies for adapting your practice, staying motivated, and finding support when chronic illness or long term health challenges affect your harping. In this episode: • Heather shares an update on recovering from a DVT and pulmonary embolisms • Angela shares her diagnosis of a rare chronic blood cancer (MPN) and the fatigue that can come with it • Why listening to your body and following medical advice matters more than pushing through • How to practise self compassion and avoid catastrophizing on harder days • The power of tiny steps (even when you cannot play) and finding positives in the struggle • Why your identity is not defined by your productivity, service, or illness • The importance of community and support when health challenges feel isolating This episode will help you feel less alone, and give you flexible ways to keep moving forward as a harp learner, one small step at a time. Host: Heather Downie - Harpist, Principal Lever Harp Tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Founder of How To Harp Guest: Angela Boraston - Harp Tutor at How To Harp Learn with us: https://www.HowToHarp.com (membership, courses, retreats) If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with a harp friend. It really helps the podcast grow. See you next week! #HowToHarpPodcast #HarpLearning #HeatherDownieHarpist #ChronicIllness #HarpMotivation

    39 min
  2. Ep 27: Karen Marshalsay

    FEB 6

    Ep 27: Karen Marshalsay

    The conversation explores an unconventional route into the harp, beginning during postgraduate study and growing into a life immersed in traditional music, teaching, and performance. Heather and Karen reflect on what gives Scottish harp playing its distinctive voice, from ornamentation and clean sound to phrasing, history, and musical identity. In this episode: • An unexpected journey into the harp and the mentors who shaped that early path • How Scottish traditional style influences sound, technique, and musical choices • Why ornamentation matters and how it transforms fingering and flow • Behind the scenes of recording an album across multiple harps and collaborations • A powerful reminder for adult learners to enjoy the learning process and stop apologising for mistakes This episode will help you feel more connected to the tradition behind the music you play, and offer inspiration to listen more deeply, play more intentionally, and enjoy learning for what it is. Host: Heather Downie - Harpist, Principal Lever Harp Tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Founder of How To Harp Guest: Karen Marshalsay - Professional Harpist & How To Harp Guest Tutor Learn with us: https://www.HowToHarp.com (membership, courses, retreats) If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with a harp friend. It really helps the podcast grow. See you next week! #HowToHarpPodcast #HarpLearning #HeatherDownieHarpist #ScottishHarp #HarpOrnamentation

    59 min
  3. Ep 23: Why Motivation Matters More Than Willpower in Harp Learning

    JAN 9

    Ep 23: Why Motivation Matters More Than Willpower in Harp Learning

    In this Harpy Tutor Chat, Heather and Angela explore what really helps learners stay engaged with their harp practice over the long term, and how the language we use with ourselves can either support or sabotage progress. Drawing on ideas shared by Dr. Eric Booth, the conversation reflects on the real challenges adult learners face when staying motivated, especially when goals begin to feel like obligations rather than genuine choices. In this episode: • What intrinsic motivation really means for harp learners • Why willpower alone often is not enough to sustain long term progress • How words like “should” and “have to” can quietly drain motivation • The role of curiosity, autonomy, and mindset in staying engaged • Why success can look different for every harpist This episode will help you reflect on what truly motivates you as a learner, and how small shifts in mindset and language can lead to more joy, consistency, and confidence in your harp practice. Host: Heather Downie - Harpist, Principal Lever Harp Tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Founder of How To Harp Guest: Angela Boraston - Harp Tutor at How To Harp, Creator of Talking Harps Learn with us: https://www.HowToHarp.com (membership, courses, retreats) If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with a harp friend. It really helps the podcast grow. See you next week! #HowToHarpPodcast #HarpLearning #HeatherDownieHarpist #IntrinsicMotivation #HarpPractice

    31 min
  4. Ep 22: Sunita Staneslow

    JAN 2

    Ep 22: Sunita Staneslow

    This week’s episode is all about how a life shaped by travel, curiosity, and community can transform the way you learn, play, and share harp music. Sunita Staneslow joins me to talk about her journey from classical foundations into folk, arranging, therapeutic harp work, and creating music that connects deeply with people and place. In This Episode: • Sunita’s early musical life in Minnesota, and how the harp found its way into her world • Studying music alongside a broader academic path, and how travel shaped her career choices • The shift from classical training into folk music, arranging, and playing more by ear • Moving to Shetland, community music making, and how quiet spaces can fuel creativity • Using the harp in therapeutic settings, and why sharing beauty really matters If you’re an adult learner looking for inspiration to find your own musical voice, this conversation will help you reconnect with what you love, and give you fresh perspective on what progress can look like. Host: Heather Downie - Harpist, Principal Lever Harp Tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Founder of How To Harp Guest: Sunita Staneslow - Harpist, arranger and therapeutic musician Learn With Us: https://www.howtoharp.com (Courses, Membership and Retreats) If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with a harp friend. It really helps the podcast grow. See you next week! #HowToHarp #HarpPractice #HeatherDownieHarpist #ShetlandHarp #HarpArranging

    52 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to the How To Harp podcast, the show that celebrates your harp journey. Join harpist, tutor and founder of How To Harp Heather Downie for weekly episodes full of expert tips, inspiring interviews, real harpist stories, and relaxed chats with How To Harp co-tutor Angela. Whether you’re just starting out or growing your skills, this is your space to learn, laugh, and love your harp even more.