Welcome to this month’s 5 Questions with…! Today’s edition features a very special guest, the harpist & musician who has been the most influential in my life, my mom, Bambi Fischer! You might have virtually “met” her in this
“Chatting Music Ed” video or this splatter paint harp seal video.
She’s a big reason that I get to do what I do with the Fischarper brand. Are you ready for her interview?
Before you head into the interview, why not turn on the Fischarper Blog Guests playlist?
How did you get started playing harp?
To answer this question, I think I must go back to the time when I was about 4 years old. My dad brought home a violin and gave it to me. I immediately cut off the horsehair on the bow and replaced it with a ribbon. I’m sure it sounded better – since it was obviously quieter. To my knowledge, I never got in trouble. But, I think that was the beginning of the realization that music would be interesting.
Instrumental music began in elementary school. I had wanted to play the trumpet, but the band director “suggested” clarinet. So, I squeaked and squawked through the years until junior high. We were given a choice of choosing a second instrument. You guessed it – I picked trumpet and quickly excelled. Now, squeaking and squawking ended and I loved and embraced music. Soon, French horn became an addition to my interests and then (at my band director’s suggestion) trombone was added. (This is what happens when you have a wonderful mentor, like our band director, Mr. Jeffreys.)
Fast forward to high school. When I was a senior in high school and shortly after that, I decided I would like to learn to play the harp. I have no clue where the idea came from. When a friend of mine knew about this, she found out about a concert in the area and we went to see Heidi Lehwalder. I met with Ms. Lehwalder by the pool at the hotel where she was staying. She spent some time with me and was kind enough to give me some beginning advice.
Soon thereafter, I ordered a Lyon & Healy Troubadour harp and began taking lessons.
Would you share a little bit about your background in education?
I have taught at public and private schools over 20 years, teaching Family Literacy, ESL Adult Education, Head Start, Pre-kindergarten, Kindergarten, First Grade, Third Grade, and Middle School Band. I am certified in six areas on my teacher’s certificate and have earned a master’s degree. This experience has given me a vast background in teaching skills which is extremely helpful when working with harp students of any age.
In private practice, I have taught harp, piano, trombone, harmonica (yes, even harmonica).
You wrote Making Harp Lessons Exciting For Young Children. What’s your number one tip for teaching young music students?
It is important to remember that this is a learning experience and not a race to see “who can be the youngest harpist in the symphony” or “who can win the harp competition.” We should compete against ourselves. Competitions are vital, but not to be used as the end all and be all of life.
You also have experience teaching adults. What’s your top piece of advice for teaching adult beginning music students?
Most adult students want to play harp for enjoyment not employment. Music can open up a whole new world for adults. They have the opportunity to learn new skills, meet other harpists, learn and meet harpists from all over the world. Many enjoy volunteering their new skills at Hospice, demonstrating the harp to children, church and church functions, and at Retirement Living Centers. (These places are less stressful to perform for.)
They can share their talent with the world, their family, or as a relaxing experience for themselves. For the adult harp student is seems like “the brain is the game,” that is adult students want to challenge their brains.
Who has made the most positive impact on your musical life?
• My parents who always encouraged me.
• My high school band director, Mr. James Jeffreys, who noticed me when it seemed like no one else did.
• And a plethora of kind and sharing harpists!
I tell people that God lets me go to the best parties, I get paid, and I don’t have to clean up the mess!
And there we have 5 Questions with…[one of my favorite harpists] Bambi Fischer! Join her over on Facebook for harp stuff at Harp Fix & make sure you’re following me on Facebook & Instagram to be notified when we do live streams!
Who are some musicians who have influenced your life?
-Barbara
Bambi Fischer holds an M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision: Elementary Education, and has completed doctoral-level work in Education. She is Florida certified in Educational Leadership, Elementary Education, Early Childhood, Music K-12, and has ESOL Endorsement. She has over 20 years of teaching experience from infants to adult education, working within public and private schools, as well as teaching music privately. She has developed presentations and presented at many workshops, including the Lyon & Healy Teachers Conference, the Somerset Folk Harp Festival, HarpCon 2000, Florida Harpers and Friends (a chapter of the International Society of Folk Harpers and Craftsmen). She authored Making Harp Lessons Exciting for Young Children, currently in its second edition.
Fischarper interviews may be edited for accuracy (spelling, punctuation, etc.), sentence flow, space, etc. Interviewee views are not necessarily endorsed or shared by Barbara Fischer or Fischarper, LLC.
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Barbara Fischer runs Fischarper, LLC and loves her job as a harpist and private music educator. She enjoys blogging about various aspects of the music field on fischarper.com/blog. For more music resources, check out the Fischarper store. Find out where you can find Barbara on the interwebs here. And you can sign up to receive Fischarper updates by joining the email list.
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