There can be little to replace the one-to-one relationship between teacher and pupil, but in the past few years there has been an increasing demand for a self-tutor for the small harp from students who live in areas, where, for one reason or another, a teacher is not regularly accessible. Also musicians who can already play the instrument have expressed interest in the traditional style techniques used in Scottish and irish. This book includes advice on buying and maintaining a clarsach, a basic guide to musical notation, lessons and exercises for two, three and four fingers, advice on arranging music etc. It also contains 40 tunes varying from elementary to advanced, with historical notes and information on the tunes.
This book is accompanied by a 60 minute tuition CD.
Alison Kinnaird MBE is one of Scotland's leading clarsach (small harp) players. She has a degree in Celitc Studies and Archaeology, and studied the harp with the late Jean Campbell from the age of 14. She has made several records and has published collections of music, all of which draw on her historical research into the Scottish harp, her deep knowledge of traditional music, and her insight into the expressive nature of the instrument. Her recordings were the first to re-explore the clarsach as a solo instrument within the Scottish tradition. Received with much critical acclaim, they have done much to encourage the growing appreciation of Scottish harp music.