When Yasmine Russell learnt to play the harp as a child, teachers were scarce.
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She was a “weird kid” who fell in love with the multi-stringed instrument after seeing a harpist play at David Jones in Sydney as a five-year-old. Her desire to learn meant at one point she had to commute to Canberra for lessons.
Thirty years later and Russell has played professionally in symphony orchestras and for weddings, but has turned her attention to arranging pop and rock for her electric harp.
“It’s actually getting a bit bigger [in popularity] than when I was young,” she said. “I’m looking to teach next year because I’ve had a lot of people ask me to teach their kids, or adults wanting to learn as well.”
If you’re keen to learn the classical orchestral harp Russell can teach you, but if you’re more inclined for the skills to play Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns’n’Roses she can teach you that too.
“That’s been one of my favourites to play,” the musician said, noting she is also in the process of recording an album of originals.
Russell will be part of an instrumental mix of musicians taking to the stage at the Servo Food Truck Bar in Port Kembla on January 5.
Other performers include electric violinist Jane Aubourg, pianist Gregory Mineeff who also incorporates analog synthesizers into his set, and Percy Rain.
The electronic harpist is also a regular at Kiama Markets and will be part of New Years Eve celebrations by Wollongong City Council.