Hi! I’m Heather Downie, the founder of How To Harp and Principal Scottish Harp Tutor at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. I’ve recorded albums and performed all over the world…..but I discovered early in my career that teaching is my passion. It brings me so much joy and fulfilment. I LOVE it!!
I want to help you become a better harpist, not simply teach you tunes. I want you to learn in new, exciting and successful ways. I want you to develop better technique and sound production so everything you play sounds fantastic. I want you to understand harmony so you feel confident about coming up with chords and arrangements. But most of all I want you to feel confident and happy in yourself and your harping. This is the key. If you feel happy and positive about your harp journey you will play more and more…..and if you play more and more you will become the best harpist you can be!!
I’m so proud of what we have created at How To Harp, and I love our little family.
First Class (Hons) Bachelor of Arts in Scottish Music
Postgraduate Diploma (with distinction) in Scottish Music Performance
Master of Education in Learning & Teaching in the Arts
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Heather x
Pod Leader Co-ordinator
I am Victoria Johnson from Canada. I am a change agent, a giver, a problem-solver, and a collaborator. I have a curious mind and a drive for continuous learning and improvement.
I created the Talking Harps project to highlight the great work professional harpists around the world are doing to engage us with the instrument. Heather talked about her passion for teaching and empowering harp students in her interview, which really resonated with me. Learning the harp can be isolating at times, and I am excited to be a part of the How To Harp membership where we support each other’s journey with the instrument.
Community Pod Leader
My name is Angela Boraston, a South African living in Hertfordshire, England. I have always been passionate about the harp but it is only in the last few years that I began to seriously pursue making it more than a hobby after spending almost two decades as a mathematics teacher. Some of my current harp adventures include co-founding "Talking Harps" which interviews harpists around the world and publishes these conversations on Youtube.
I am delighted to be a Pod Leader for How To Harp which seeks to make high quality tuition accessible within the context of community. This really excites me! I want to inspire and support harp learners to experience the immense joy that I have with this beautiful instrument.
Community Pod Leader
Hello fellow harp enthusiasts! My name is Eithne. I come from the San Francisco Bay Area in California. My mother was from Co. Cork, Ireland, hence the traditional name. It’s pronounced “Ethna.” It means kernel.
My first introduction to the harp was when I was 6 years old. My parents brought my brother Liam and me to Ireland to meet the family. It was a magical place! My parents would give us beautiful coins with harps on them and we were allowed to go to the corner shop and buy sweets! I’ve been fascinated with harps ever since!
I started playing in 2018 and I’m delighted to be here, as I love Heather’s teaching style, and the community she has created for us adult learners. I’m looking forward to our harp journey together!
Community Pod Leader
My name is Karin den Rooijen, and I live in the Netherlands with my husband. We have 2 children who recently flew out of our nest. I started playing the harp in 2020, and had to start learning the harp from zero again, after surviving a stroke in the brain, in 2022. I did a heavy physical rehabilitation programme, using the harp as one of my training tools. I'm approaching my "new normal" with positivity and a mindset of "accept and adapt", also in harping.
Thanks to Heather, and her warm, sparkling, motivating personality and friendship, I'm enjoying/developing harping again! I'm happy if I can connect with people all over the world, and motivate them to make the best of it, aiming for personal growth. My goal in life is helping people developing themselves in a meaningful way, and adding joy to life in general. It is wonderful how we can grow together and celebrate our successes within the How To Harp membership!
Community Pod Leader
I am Mary Misiaszek from beautiful Rhode Island, USA. I once went to an intimate concert to hear a flutist but fell in love with the harp! I was very happy to discover Heather online. Her teaching philosophy and sincere drive to help others along their harp journey struck a chord with me, and her passion for the instrument was apparent. She re-inspired me and helped me immensely in my harp journey.
I love the multifaceted aspect of the global membership which is designed to help every member at any level grow and be motivated, both individually and as a community. I knew this would be a very important part of my life. Happily retired from teaching secondary math for over 3 decades, I still have my teacher’s brain. That means I will always analyze and question. I always try to look at the positive side of things and try to understand not just what others are going through, but how that makes them feel. Together we are so much stronger than we would be alone!
Community Pod Leader
My name is Rosie Wilcock, and I have been playing the harp for about 10 years. I started the harp as an adult, having wanted to play since childhood, and I was lucky enough to find the most wonderful teachers – first Helen Arnold, and then Heather Downie. I am so grateful to Helen and Heather for their kindness and for sharing their knowledge, which has been truly life-changing!
Aside from the harp, I play the trombone, and perform regularly in local Orchestras, Big Bands, and Pit bands. I also work in a university, and have approx. 20 years’ experience in Higher Education administration.
Technology & Operations
I’m Heather’s husband and we met in 2007 when I was a stage manager and Heather was playing a gig on my stage. I started out playing in bands and have now had 20+ years in the music industry, mainly as an Event Production Supervisor. I spent the last 6 years as a Music Technology Lecturer. I have a degree in Audio Technology with multimedia, a masters in Sound for the Moving Image, and a masters in Teaching. At How To Harp I look after the tech side of things and do a lot of project management too.
My favourite thing to do with harp is to put it through effects or chop it up with a sampler. I’ve been obsessed with music since I was about 13, especially experimental music, music history and music technology. My other passions are dogs, travel and cooking.
Administrator
Hi, my name is Lauren Buchanan, originally I am from North Wales but after studying in Aberdeen, I fell in love with Scotland (and a Scot!) and have now settled with my family in Central Scotland, close to the How To Harp Headquarters!
After a career break to have my three lovely children, I am lucky enough to be working with How To Harp, helping with all of the administrative tasks.
I have received an extremely warm welcome and I look forward to supporting all of the members of the How To Harp family.
Facebook Group Moderator
Hi there! Connie Loporto, Ontario Canada. I came to the harp as a mature adult (67) in the Covid year of 2020. Finding learning resources was difficult, not understanding the music language as a beginner. Facebook communities became my social environment and a highly resourceful tool. As online teaching has grown, so has the number of harpists searching for a safe space to share their journey, find encouragement, and tackle challenges. Helping these harpists is what I love doing the most.
Things that please me: connecting to global harpists, traditions, scenery, techniques, taking courses and acquiring knowledge in all fields. Jack of all trades and my Mister loves me repairing things in the house. I gave up crocheting, drawing and anything else that requires steady hands, but the harp will always be my therapy. Thank you Heather for bringing together such a wonderful team and putting resources all in one place where we can all come together.