Welsh harpist Gwenllian Llyr released her debut CD Dusk to Dawn in 2017. She has won prizes at both national and international levels and enjoys a busy freelance career that allows her to indulge her love of meeting new people and embracing new cultures across the world.

Advice to the pre-college harp student from the post-college professional

—by Gwenllian Llyr

Editor’s Note—In anticipation of our college issue, we asked Harp Column readers to submit letters to their younger, pre-college selves. We were curious what harpists would say to themselves, given the chance to travel back in time to the days before practice rooms, dormitories, and juries. We received lots of great letters full of sage advice and observations from the privileged position of hindsight. We thought this letter from Welsh harpist Gwenllian Llyr was one every pre-college harpist should read. Though each college harp experience is different, everyone can benefit from the perspective that time brings.

Dear Apprehensive-Young-Self;

You’re off to college—what an amazing time you’re about to have. You’re about to be treated to so many experiences—both good and bad—all of which will help you in your journey to become a worthwhile musician and empathetic teacher. So drink it all in (along with all those cocktails from Pica Pica and Harry’s—they will both disappear from your life before you hit 30). Here are a few tips to help you along the way:

Practice

Bask in your ability to practice six hours a day—you are going to be an amazing practice machine, truly capable of effective practicing for extended periods, but you will only be able to do this during your undergraduate degree, so savor it. Advanced degrees and the real world will demand more of your time and leave less for practicing. You are capable of learning pieces quickly and efficiently, so believe in your process and don’t let anything hold you back.

Keep in touch

On the flip side, don’t isolate yourself. You need to nurture all your relationships—your career is important, but so are your family and friends. You are going to connect with so many people from all over the world during your college years, some of whom you’ll reconnect with at various points in your life, either personally or through work. Social media will make it easier to keep in touch, but not necessarily easier to make better relationships, so don’t be lazy. You have always been comfortable being by yourself (which is probably why you are happy being a soloist), but you also gain so much from spending time and performing with others. You’ll regret losing touch with some but it’s not too late to reach out.

Performance anxiety

You might have guessed it—this will be one of your struggles. Prepare yourself, as the roller coaster that you’re already on of loving performing and despising an approaching concert date will take you on some serious hairpin turns. You’ll find the solution to your struggles relatively early on after your intense summer at Aspen in 2009, yet you won’t fully jump on board until you’ve tried a huge array of techniques. To be fair, almost all of them will work, from hypnosis to visualization, but only when you truly accept that preparation is key will you enjoy your performance fully. Incorporate this mindset into every part of your life—you will be grateful you did.

Ask questions

Stop trying to do everything by yourself. There are plenty of people who are willing to help and have expertise that you should draw on while you can. It doesn’t make you a failure or dependent to ask questions, and it will probably make your life richer and easier in the process.

Tailleferre

You will manage to compete in three big international competitions in less than a year, so you’re about to learn a lot of music. But out of all of these pieces there is one that will cause you unhappiness: the Tailleferre Sonata. If you’re really honest with yourself, you just don’t like it and you’ll never get along, apart from the hilarious “it’s the Flintstones” motif in the third movement. So let others play this one and enjoy the other fantastic sonatas at your disposal.

Be thankful

Many people will contribute to your life in various ways, and you can’t overstate your gratitude. Take the time to write the card, pick up the phone, take them out for a drink—it really is the least you can do.

I’m incredibly jealous of what you’re about to experience: studying at three incredible institutions, countless lessons, inspiring teachers, performances at palaces and concert halls galore, premiering pieces, shopping for concert wear, losing your harp shoes, vodka on the rocks (yuck) and bramble cocktails (yum), falling in and out of love, discovering Brie, snow in October, hard decisions, easy friendships, painful blisters, Scriabin’s music—the list is endless. Enjoy every minute.

All my love,

Your Ever-So-Slightly-Wrinkled-Self •