Harp Lessons in Discovery Bay. Amazing Teachers.

A graduate from Rice University's Shepherd School of Music, Cindy is a passionate harp teacher and performer who loves to interact with students. She has taught students in all levels in both English and Mandarin Chinese. Cindy first started harp with her grandmother, a well-known harpist in China, at their home in Beijing. Since she was young, she was greatly influenced by watching her grandmother teach at home. Cindy believes in giving young harpists a well-rounded music education, and she focuses on technique and musicality through her teaching.

Music has the power to transport us to another time and place. Ever since a young age, Ashlyn Riley has found great joy and satisfaction in making music and sharing it with people. Ashlyn Riley is an accomplished harpist who has performed solo and with various orchestras and ensembles in North Alabama since 2007. She was the principal harpist for the Shoals Symphony Orchestra at UNA for four years and graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor's Degree in Music. Ashlyn continues to perform with her 1900s Wurlitzer harp for various events while she is pursuing a certification in Music Therapy at UA.
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Ashlyn is also a accomplished pianist who as played over 19 years and performed in various recitals and concerts.

I have been teaching harp for over 10 years. I teach with a strong emphasis in technique, employing mostly Salzedo styles with a few French styles in hand and arm position.

I have a series of books from which I teach for all ages, all abilities. At any point I encourage the student to learn songs they like, creating an enriched atmosphere of learning.

I teach music theory, exercises, and sight-reading alongside our weekly studies of pieces and songs. I will help you find the right materials so you can enjoy your lessons!

It is my goal to have students perform pieces with comfort, strength and for memory.

My teaching philosophy is to cultivate a love for music while learning the best way to approach the instrument and learning how to play well. Like any good goal, hard work and patience are needed, but ultimately love and the pursuit of making music.

As a harp teacher, all of my
students play scales, arpeggios, and technical exercises in
their lessons. I believe having a strong technical base is the foundation for
every part of playing and you can't learn without it. I will set the repertoire
for students according to their technical progress and although I may
take into consideration a student's desires to learn a certain piece, there has
to be time and they have to be ready for it. I have both short term and long
term goals for each student that involve theory, technical ability, and
repertoire both orchestral and solo. Adult students still have to learn
technique, it makes things much more fun and easy six months later, I promise! Beginning students will learn how to read notes, understand basic theory, and technique in a short amount of time, so don't be scared if you have never had a music lesson before.

I require all students make
at least an hour a day commitment to practice. I teach mostly the ...

With 30+ years teaching experience, I have the tools and expertise you need to help you succeed with your harp goals. My background includes studying with world renowned harp teachers Alice Chalifoux and Susann McDonald, and I share with my harp students the unsurpassed harp skills passed down to me, with additional certification in Suzuki Harp Method and Therapeutic Music. In addition to harp performance, I have taught courses in music theory, composition and arranging for harp, harp pedagogy (teaching methods), harp maintenance and orchestra/ensemble. From beginners to veterans seeking additional skills, I'm here to help, and am happy to give instruction, advice and guidance on any harp topic.

Teaching all levels, from beginning through advanced. I recommend adults to take one-hour lessons every other week. Children do better with half hour lessons every week. Ask about renting a harp!