Tuition

I currently have daytime slots for adults who would like to begin learning harp. No musical experience or note reading is necessary.

Many of my adult pupils opt for 60 min lessons on a fortnightly basis. Lessons take place in my little garden room that enjoys a stunning sea view. Many of my pupils who travel to me for lessons take the opportunity to enjoy a coastal walk on Runkerry beach and a coffee in the wonderful Bayview Hotel.

I have a limited number of 16 and 20 string harps available to rent.

My pupils are also invited to attend Causeway Harp Ensemble (Junior or Senior) which meets monthly on a Friday evening in the beautiful Portballintrae Village Hall. These are relaxed and social classes where players of all abilities have an opportunity to learn new tunes, practise repertoire and enjoy playing together as a group.

Group Workshops

Katy’s popular ‘Introduction to the Harp’ workshops take place in Portballintrae Village Hall and in the stunning creative hub, Stone Row Artisans, Coleraine, at various points throughout the year. Get in touch if you would like to book a bespoke workshop for your group or community setting.

Participants will learn basic harp technique and will learn to play a couple of traditional Irish tunes together on the harp. We also learn about the tradition and heritage of Irish harping, which has recently been designated UNESCO cultural heritage status. 

Harps are of course provided and tea, coffee and cake will be served. 

You can stay up to date with what’s going on via instagram or Facebook.

Video Tutorial Bundles

Video Tutorial bundles are available to purchase on my Etsy shop or via the shop page. These are suitable for beginning and intermediate players who do not read music, or who prefer not to, and who enjoy learning at their own pace at home. There is a series for small harps and lyres and two series for 34 string harps. Each bundle contains 6-10 weeks of learning and aims to help you add new tunes to your harp repertoire.

The first bundle is ‘Traditional Irish Music for Small Harp and Lyre: Music for 16 strings’. It includes 10 tunes, 10 sound files, 10 pdfs with ABC notation and 30 videos. It is designed to be used over approximately 10 weeks by the late beginner player on a small harp.

It is assumed that you already know correct technique. Each tune is broken down into videos of each hand separately, then together, plus ABC notation. You do not need to read sheet music. This is the very effective method we use here at Causeway Harp School. Take your time, pause the videos and learn phrase by phrase, beginning with the right hand melody. Use the sound file to familiarise yourself with the tune and perhaps to play along with once you have mastered the tune. The ABC notation is to be used as an aide mémoire to help when learning hands together.

The second bundle, ‘Celtic Connections’ is for 34 strings and is suitable for the early intermediate player. It includes 6 tunes, 6 sound files, 6 pdfs and 24 videos. It includes some of our most loved tunes at Causeway Harp School. It includes beautiful airs of both Scottish and Irish heritage, paying tribute to our heritage of the harp in Ireland plus the connections we have with Scotland, particular in the north coast of Ireland where Scotland looks so close on a clear day.

Also for the early intermediate player is The Carolan Collection’. It is broken down in a similar way to the other bundles and includes 6 of our favourite O’Carolan tunes to play at Causeway Harp School. The music of seventeenth century harper and composer, Turlough O’Carolan, is intrinsic to Ireland’s 1000 year old harp tradition. The music blends elements of ancient Gaelic song with a classical style that was fashionable with patrons of the period. 

These video tutorial bundles are available on the shop page.