Have you been there, done that with boring music lessons?
Me too! But don’t worry; there’s a better way to keep your child engaged and excited about music.
Friendly PSA: Not all music lessons are the same.
There are those that simply take up space on your weekly calendar and there are those that your kids can’t wait to go to. As the founder of the Ottawa Harp Academy, my mission isn’t just to help students excel in their musical abilities and achieve great success. It’s also to create a fun, innovative learning experience for children that cultivates a lifelong love for music. After all, learning how to play music is about so much more than acquiring a technical skill. It’s a pathway to greater confidence, creativity, and success in other areas of life.
Hey there, I’m Natalie – founder of Ottawa Harp Academy.
Let’s rewind to when I was a young music student too.
I studied both piano and harp and experienced two different studios: a studio that was focused on reading notes and community performance, and a studio with private lessons and group classes. While reading music and having private lessons were great, it's the community performances and group classes that remain my fondest memories! It wasn't much - a group class once a month where we performed for each other, learned together, and played games together, or the occasional performance for a local nursing home or cancer facility - but these experiences gave me friends of similar interests, a strong support system, and lots of confidence in my abilities.
Meanwhile, I discovered a heart for helping children…
My love of teaching stems from a high-school mentorship opportunity where I shadowed a first-grade teacher for one year. I loved the creative outlets given to young children and developed a deep caring for their well-being. When deciding what to do with my life, I was encouraged to stick with music as I could always return to school for a teaching degree at a later point.
And that’s exactly what I did.
I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in harp and then pursued an education degree in primary/junior. After finishing my teaching degree, I headed to Ottawa (the beautiful city I now call home), where I began my teaching career as a private harp instructor. Fast-forward to today, and I’m thrilled to blend my two passions – music and teaching – to help children thrive.
A refreshing teaching style to captivate young minds and elevate achievement.
My vision has always been to reinvent the wheel by offering more than just teaching notes on a page.
I provide my students with well-rounded music education in a collaborative and supportive environment. Knowing that every child learns differently, I also create custom lesson plans to meet the unique needs of my students. As a result, they continually excel in their musical abilities and have won top honours in Royal Conservatory of Music exams and competitions. Meanwhile, I remember that they’re kids! By incorporating things like fun practice challenges and PJ parties, I create a community-oriented experience that children always look forward to.
Just when you thought I couldn’t get enough …
Over the next few years, I’ll be learning and video recording every piece in the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) harp curriculum. This project will take years to complete as it entails recording nearly 450 pieces (yes… 450!).
My goal is to create a resource for harp students and teachers to use when selecting repertoire, as many of these pieces haven’t been recorded. I post these videos to my social media pages every Friday, and you can also access them on my YouTube channel.
Interested in my educational & professional accolades?
Coming right up!
Educational:
Performance diploma and Bachelor of Music degree in Harp Performance at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music, under the tutelage of world-renowned harpist Judy Loman.
Master’s degree in Harp Performance under the guidance of the legendary Susann McDonald at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.
Bachelor’s degree in Education, with a focus on at-risk youth, from Queen’s University.
Professional:
Professional harpist and harp teacher.
Founder of Ottawa Harp Academy.
Professor of Harp at the University of Ottawa.
Harp Ensemble Coach for the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy.
Board Member for the Ontario Harp Society Chapter of the American Harp Society.
Now, back to what matters most – my students.
The most rewarding part of my job is not only seeing kids excel in their musical talents, but seeing an improvement in their self-worth. Learning and succeeding at something new – like harp lessons – is always a great confidence booster.
With that said, I’m beyond proud of my students’ competitive achievements this year:
First place in the Ontario Harp Society’s scholarship adjudication – Grade 4 and ARCT category.
Marion Dempsey Memorial Trophy Winner for “best musicianship in harp”.
First-place winners in the Kiwanis Music Festival – Grade 4 lever and ARCT Pedal.
First-place winners in the OMFA Provincial Finals – Grade 4 lever and ARCT Pedal.
First Class Honours with Distinction in the Royal Conservatory of Music examinations – Grade 4 and Grade 10.
Acceptance with Harp Scholarship to University of Ottawa’s School of Music.
Finalist in the American Harp Society National Competition.
Acceptances into the Tanglewood Summer Institute, Bowdoin Music Festival, and Young Artist Harp Seminar summer programs.
Winner of the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy’s concerto competition.
There’s a world of fun and musical talent just waiting for your child.
It starts with a simple contact form submission to request your free 30-minute trial lesson