Heather chats with June about her harp learning journey, from picking up music again after retiring to falling in love with the harp and diving in wholeheartedly as a learner. June shares what helped her most in the early stages, including moving to a full size floor harp, finding teachers and online resources, and building confidence through community and performance.

In this episode:

• How June found her way to the harp after exploring other instruments

• The realities of learning on a very small harp, and why upgrading to a full size harp made a difference

• How online learning, retreats, and coaching supported her progress

• Joining an in person ensemble and adapting string music for harp

• Why memorisation and taking opportunities to play can be so empowering

This episode will help you feel encouraged in your own harp journey, and remind you that progress comes from staying curious, getting support, and finding ways to play that keep the joy alive.

Host:

Heather Downie - Harpist, Principal Lever Harp Tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Founder of How To Harp

Guest:

June Epp - Learner Harpist

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 #EnsemblePlaying #HarpCommunity

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

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