I found lots of YouTube videos but one of the very best things I can recommend is to check out the www.WestmanInstruments.com website. Greg & Tish Westman are woodworkers who make wonderful bowed psalteries (including mine). They invented a trademarked "Noted Notes" system of sheet music specifically to make sight reading possible for us newbies. Their website offers free music for beginners and more-than-beginners. They also sponsor a free 4-day Bowed Psaltery Symphony workshop every spring in which you get total immersion with other BP geeks at all levels from truly rank beginners to much more accomplished players, all together for a few days of workshops, training and rehearsal/practice, at the end of which they manage to have us all whipped into shape to do a Sunday afternoon performance for the public. Prepare to be amazed at the amount of help and encouragement you'll receive. The atmosphere is one of joy as well as sincerely working to improve on your own level of accomplishment, whatever it is. If you can possibly get away for a few days...

The workshop is free. You'll just need to cover your own meals and a place to stay. Honestly, the warmth and affection the players develop for each other is amazing, and it turns into many new friendships. It is a wonderful experience and free except for food and a place to stay. It is held at Tamarack, the craft gallery in Beckley, WV, where their studio is, and the food court there is quite affordable with intern chefs on loan from The Greenbrier, a W.V. vintage mineral spa that has been turned into a world class hotel and resort. We couldn't afford to eat at the Greenbrier, much less stay overnight, but we get the same food at the Tamarack food court because it's prepared on site by the Greenbrier chefs (they get to do stints at Tamarack and some other restaurants as part of trying to work their way up to the next level of culinary certification). You can tell I like the food...

Anyway, do check out Westman Instruments website and follow their suggestions for music and videos. They themselves are great teachers and the songs on the free sheet music that they share  are selected for bowed psaltery players who need to take it easy starting out. The Westmans sell music books, too, but there's a lot of free music that they post. Tish is an authentic virtuoso player and any tips from her (especially about bow work which for a lot of us is the challenge) will take you to a next level. So that, combined with what else you find on the internet, would be a great starting place. Have a look at their website and follow any links that they recommend.

This is wordy, I know, but I hope it helps. Wishing you all the best, Bonnie Blue

Welcome to Psaltery Strings Andre.

Welcome!