We recently connected with Tyler Hartley and have shared our conversation below.

Tyler, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I started studying harp at the age of 6, and my teacher helped me immerse myself in a wide variety of musical experiences, including private lessons, harp ensemble, orchestra, summer music festivals, attending concerts, and teaching others.
I think there’s a common tendency for kids to engage in a diverse collection of extracurricular activities; I would not have become as proficient at harp if I had not narrowed my focus. If you want to become really good at something, you have to spend a lot of time doing it, and you can’t let a million other things pull away from that.

If you have a really deep interest in something, you will likely already be drawn to do the things necessary to become good at it- you’ll seek out different experts and immersive experiences, ask questions, read books, try out new techniques for yourself, talk to your friends and colleagues about it. These are the things that will lead to proficiency and greatness. The most important thing is to never get too comfortable or closed-minded – stay humble and keep challenging yourself!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a classically-trained harpist that works full time as a private instructor and performer. I teach students of all ages and ability levels. My students have been accepted into prestigious programs including the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, Georgia Youth Symphony, and All-State Orchestra.
I also perform with regional orchestras and for weddings and private and corporate events, as both a soloist and as a harp-violin duo. I pride myself on providing high-quality experiences for my clients: I offer an easy booking process, I use top-of-the-line instruments and sound equipment, and I offer a diverse repertoire of songs from a variety of decades and genres.

I pride myself on my professional reputation and my dedication to connecting with my students and audiences.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Patronize live arts- music, theatre, dance, comedy, art galleries- whatever intrigues or excites you, no matter how big or small. Tip the live musician that you stumble upon on the street corner or in the restaurant or your TikTok feed. Expose your kids to the arts- take them to see live shows, play music at home and in the car, give them music lessons. Live performance used to be the only option for entertainment, but it has become something of an endangered species. Please make the effort to keep it alive and pass it on to future generations!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

There’s no wrong way to be an artist. There is a lot of elitism in the classical music world. You are expected to go to the right school, study with the right teachers, attend the right music festivals, and eventually win an audition for an orchestra, period. Certain jobs are viewed as “stepping stone” jobs and are not taken seriously. But so many pieces of that puzzle are not possible or practical or even desirable for everyone, especially in an increasingly competitive field like classical music.
If you don’t do something with integrity and pleasure, then what’s the point? Don’t feel compelled to walk somebody else’s path.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.HarpistTyler.com
• Instagram: www.Instagram.com/Harpist.Tyler

Image Credits
Jerry King Lesleann Brackney