Looking for Mentors for The Lyre Connection

Most of us were fortunate to be introduced to the lyre by a teacher or friend who deftly guided and supported our relationship with the instrument. The influence of our early mentors played a role in our successful mastering of skills and the passion we feel for the lyre. The nature of the instrument was enlivened by the social context in which we learned and the relationships nurtured as we played.

To create an opportunity for LANA members to keep the cycle of mentoring alive, The Lyre Connection program offers a forum for experienced lyrists to support and encourage a growing community of beginners. As we move the lyre forward in the 21st century, we are enthusiastic about sharing our instrument with a new generation of players.

The Lyre Connection connects volunteer mentors with students who have questions. Often we are contacted by new lyrists who need some help getting oriented to the instrument. They need a few coaching sessions: perhaps some suggestions on best beginner books, tips on how to hold the instrument, and basic tuning guidance. Sometimes there are more advanced players with specific questions particular to the lyre: choices of repertoire, the relevance of 432 tuning, or how to work with the planetary scales (to name just a few possibilities!). Whatever your level of lyre-playing experience, your skills are needed!

If you can volunteer a few hours of your time in support of the lyre community, we encourage you to consider becoming a volunteer mentor through our Lyre Connection program. The relationship between the mentor and the new student will be defined based on your time, interests, and abilities. We encourage mentors to be available as a resource for a month or two if matched with a beginner. Once the student is more confident, the mentor may opt to transition into a traditional (paid) teacher role, or a new teacher may be found for the student.

Please fill out the mentor questionnaire (here), which will help us match you with a student seeking a mentor. We will offer tips and suggestions to mentors, and we will work toward pairing them with students by region.

Please contact Diane Barnes at dianeibarnes1@gmail.com if you would like to learn more about this initiative and become a mentor. Thank you!