I often talk about things that my students are struggling with.  Harp related learning tips. Things I think will help you all in your harp learning journey.  When I sit down to write my weekly newsletters I generally think to myself – what’s going on with my students?  

Today I am musing on one of my own struggles.

So here’s what’s going on with me.

I started teaching online around 7 or 8 years ago when I created my first online teaching course ‘Technique Tuesday’.  It was so lovely to be able to reach and help harpists I had met overseas at different events, or those further afield in the UK who simply aren’t close enough for private lessons.

It was also lovely to help harpists who couldn’t afford 1-2-1 private lessons.  These are not cheap.  It is excellent for students to be able to work with a qualified harpist in face to face lessons, but it just isn’t possible for everyone, and I firmly believe music is for everyone.  My online offerings gave another route for harpists to professional tuition.

Now I am delighted to offer a membership and a number of courses which allow me to reach harpists, enjoy learning with them, create communities and provide excellent tuition for all learners, all ages, all budgets and all walks of life.

Ok, so this all sounds good right?!  So what’s the struggle?

In order to try to help as many harpists as I can.  In order to grow this online community and create something really special I have to do something which you might be surprised does not come naturally to me.

I have to get visible.

These past few weeks I have been working to try and grow an online presence and you know what?  It’s a struggle!  Self-promotion is something which always kind of made me feel…icky. 

Being in front of people and sharing knowledge, watching them grow and improve – now that’s fun!  That’s inspiring!  That’s what I get really excited about!!

Being in front of people and trying to explain your value, even just trying to be on social media all the time – it’s a struggle!

But – it is a struggle which is worth it!

I struggled through a new course launch recently.  I found it really, really hard.  But last night I met with my new students for our first session and suddenly I remembered why I struggled through that launch.  Why I forced myself to be visible!  Now I get to work with this amazing group of harpists, from all over the world for the next 3 months.  I get to share in their journey, laugh with them, celebrate with them, pick them up when they are struggling.  We actually had a good few laughs already in just our first session.

Even though it is a struggle, and next time it will be a struggle again.  This experience will make the next time just that little bit easier.  And the time after that, a little easier again.

So, struggle on everyone – in the end it will be worth it!