Aedan studied harp in Ireland with some of the most renowned harpers in Ireland, as well as other well-known harpers from Wales, Scotland and the U.S. She has a background in classical piano and music theory, and incorporates that knowledge in her teaching style. She specializes in the Celtic harp and the Celtic music genre, and teaches both learning to read music as well as learning by ear (the traditional Irish way to learn). Music theory, improvisation, rhythm, dynamics, and feeling the music are are integrated into lessons. Aedan can also help those that wish to learn to play in traditional music sessions, while they sing, or at the bedside. We can even break down and study different styles of Celtic music - Irish, Scottish, Shetland, Cape Breton, Welsh - if one chooses.


Private Lessons
Aedan tailors your lessons to fit you, whether you want to learn for your own enjoyment, or if you want to become a performing harp player.

Group Lessons
Group lessons are a fun and economical way to meet people and learn a beautiful instrument. Group lesson pricing varies depending on the number of people attending and the number of classes scheduled.

Skype or FaceTime Lessons
Aedan teaches in the Los Angeles area. If you cannot find a teacher close to you, Aedan also teaching through Skype.

Video Lessons
Aedan teaches a Celtic tune a month. You can find them for free on YouTube, or you can become a Patreon subscriber.
www.Patreon.com/AedanMacDonnell
$1 a month helps to keep the videos coming. $5 a month gets you the sheet music arranged by Aedan, and a practice MP3 recording. You can also purchase the sheet music and MP3s separately directly from this website.

If you plan on taking lessons, please click here for lesson guidelines and discount rates.

From Linda W
Hi. I bought a 22string Celtic harp a couple of weeks ago and have absolutely no knowledge about it. I've searched and watched lots of You Tube videos in that time and am slowly learning. I've just come across your video lessons and am loving the simple, clear and exact instructions. I also love how you say and show why something should be done in a certain way and show what the consequences are if not done so. I'm absolutely loving sitting and "playing" my harp. Thank you for helping me right from the very basic first steps.

From Another Linda Dec 12, 2018
Aedan, thank you so much. Your teaching videos on YouTube are the best. I love how you very clearly show where you're fingers are on the strings and you name the strings as you go. I love how this video is cleverly teaching us how to place and move our fingers around on the Harp in different ways whilst at the same time giving us a pretty tune to play. Thank you for making me feel that I WILL be able to master the Harp. Without people like you I would never have the chance to learn anything at all about the Harp, let alone learn to play it. Forever grateful to you.

Harp FAQ's
These are the most commonly asked questions. If you have others, or wish to discuss any of these in detail, please send Aedan an email, or give her a call.  818.939.4313

Is the harp difficult to learn?
Like any instrument it takes time and practice. However the sound of the harp is immediately pleasing, making a beginner sound good from the start.

Do I need a harp at home?
Without a harp at home to practice on, it will be very difficult to progress with only lessons. Harps can be expensive, so we do rent them at a very reasonable monthly rate.

Am I too old to start harp lessons?
You are never too old! You may not be playing at Carnegie Hall, but it's never too late to begin something new. A lot of adults feel they are too old to learn to read music or that it would take too long. Aedan has created a method that has her adult students, who have never played an instrument, comfortably reading music within 3-6 months.

I'm in So Cal. Will Aedan come to me?
Aedan will travel to her students within a certain radius. She does charge extra for the travel time.

How often should I take a lesson?
The first 2-3 months are crucial to nail down proper technique, so a 1 hour, or 1/2 hour lesson every week is ideal. If your schedule or budget doesn't allow for every week, every other week is the next best thing. However, if you can only take a lesson once a month, that's better than nothing!

Why do I even need a teacher? Can't I just teach myself? I already play the piano.
Absolutely you can teach yourself!  However, there are certain techniques that are not intuitive and without them you will be limited to what you can do and play, you may not get the best tone or smoothness because you won't have these techniques. Good technique and position as you are sitting at the harp are also crucial to prevent injury such as back and neck strain or injury from repetitive movement.

What age should I start my child?
That all depends on the child. Aedan generally works with teenagers and older. If you have a very young child (under 7 or 8), Aedan can refer you to a teacher who does teach young children.

How often should I take lessons?
For the first couple months or so, a half hour lesson each week tends to get the best results. In that time you will be working mainly on technique.
Here's some guidelines when taking lessons with Aedan: Lesson Guidelines