-
Is it alright to skip some of the courses?
I just got my harp and started After the Rain on December 15th and by December 17th I could play the full song at the final tempo without prompts or looking at the sheet music. I like the sound of Mahogany Moon, so I am going to do that next. I bought the sheet music for it to get started since I have nearly a full month to go before I get another credit. But past that, is it alright to skip ahead a bit or do people generally do every course in the order of difficulty as written out by Christy-Lyn? I was a sign language interpreter at a university for over 30 years, so my fingers pretty much do what I want them to do. Who knew that doing so much sign language would facilitate learning an instrument? Especially the harp given the manner in which you use your fingers. Thanks in advance for any feedback or advice any of you are able to give!
-
14 Replies
-
I am not an expert, but in my opinion, there isn’t a strict order as such. There are levels from which you can choose anyone you like. At the end of each level, I believe they also give three suggestions: one of the same level, one for a gentle challenge, and one to ease up, if the current choice was overload. If you know music, you can move faster. But there is a risk in that. Learning the technique is very important at the first. Much harder to leave to unlearn bad habits. LTH has many free videos available while you wait for your next credit. She has a couple of free pieces as well, like Sailing on a Lake, which includes a video.
Congratulations on your progress.
-
Thank you for your insight, Annette! That’s what I was worried about. I don’t want to miss all of the lessons and tips within the courses even though I could learn from just the sheet music or skip ahead after Mahogany Moon. I will probably skip a few because I don’t care for a particular song, but you’re right that I shouldn’t skip TOO much! I bought the sheet music for Mahogany Moon already, but I still intend to use my next credit for the course. It’s much too soon to skip anything. I was just wondering if it was alright to skip some here and there. For example, Danny Boy makes me sad when I hear it, so I don’t want to do that one.
-
Oh right! I forgot about Sailing on a Lake and I’ve already downloaded the music for it and printed it. I did that before my harp even arrived so thank you for reminding me of that one!
-
I do only the courses with the songs I like. So I skipped a few songs. But it is good to stay in the level and don’t try to learn an intermediate song at first. After I did quite a few Beginner courses I moved on to Early Intermediate.
-
I do the courses that I’m interested in. I also use other online resources to learn.
-
I definitely would not skip ahead to intermediate yet. It’s much too soon. But I’m glad to know there isn’t a strict order as such!
-
Yes, there is no strict order. While an order is given, I find that slower, shorter songs are easier to learn than faster, longer ones. It is a great time to be joining LTH, there are so many more songs to choose from now than what there used to be!
-
Thank you Rebecca. I have downloaded several pieces of sheet music while waiting for my next credit and have found that to be the case, too!
-
-
-
I have absolutely skipped course. I tend to do the songs I like. But out of the ones I like I will do the easiest first. But there is no set order to do them.
-
That was my plan. To go in order of difficulty, but just pick the songs I want to learn without skipping TOO far ahead. During my trial month I finished the first course so fast that I went ahead and taught myself Mahogany Moon, Greensleeves, and Behind the Flames.. I started the sheet music for Sound of Silence today, but I still have a week before my next credit so I was thinking of trying Scarborough Fair or Morning Has Broken as my next actual course. I love how Christy-Lyn teaches and I have no intention of solely teaching myself from sheet music. I just needed more to do in this first month. I’ve got the hang of Sound of Silence, but it needs a great deal of polishing. I JUST started it and only played it all the way through about 4 times, but I’m sure it will be acceptable with a week’s time – not perfect, but not needing to be taught how to play it either. I play all of the songs I’ve learned so far everyday, starting with the easiest so I don’t forget them and it keeps things interesting. I usually practice 3 or 4 times a day, broken up in 15-20 minute sessions each time. It is my understanding that we humans learn better that way 🙂 Thank you for the great advice!!
-
THat’s been pretty much what I’ve done, as well. I absolutely love Mahogany Moon but that is the only early beginner course I bought. Limited budget, so want to get the most out of the courses. I noticed there are more advanced versions of Danny Boy and Morning has Broken, so I will get those when I hit that level. In the meantime, I’ve worked through Amazing Grace, Loch Lomond, and Greensleeves. All went well and I like playing them. Then I made the mistake of jumping all the way to Fields of Gold, which I LOVE but which I got bogged down in (Section F). So, back to Silent Night and Scarborough Fair, which are teaching me the left-hand techniques I need for the more advanced courses.
-
That makes sense, Lou Rae. I didn’t want to run into that problem for that very reason – missing building important skills needed to be able to get through a course with “relative” ease. I don’t mean easy – just being ready for a song and it not being too far out of reach. And also it can be discouraging if you skip too far ahead and find you can’t do it yet. I definitely don’t want to end up feeling discouraged. I love Fields of Gold, too! I’m very much looking forward to being ready to learn that one. Thank you so much for the advice!
-
…and I’m totally with you on waiting for the later version of a song if there is a beginner version and then a more advanced version. It’s why I just downloaded the sheet music for the beginner version of Sound of Silence and figure I’ll take the course for the intermediate version once I’m ready for it.
-
-
-
-
Last December you asked about skipping courses but still learning the necessary skills. I think you had just finished Mahogany Moon. I’ve often wondered — how are you doing now? I finally got Fields of Gold down!
Log in to reply.