Day 23 - How I Mark My Music - HARPRIL 2026

Day 23 - How I Mark My Music

Most of this post probably needs pictures… but here’s a little behind-the-scenes of what you’re seeing.

The biggest rule I learned from my first harp teacher:
lever changes are marked in red. Always.
That way, when I see red coming up, I know my left hand needs to be ready.
And for me—nothing else gets to be red. That color is reserved. 😊

Beyond that, my music can look a little… creative.

I use sticky notes, stickers, arrows, and little reminders like “smile” or “breathe.”
One of my favorites—someone once looked at my music and said, “I know the harp is a string instrument… why does it say breathe?”

The answer: because I used to hold my breath through harder passages without even realizing it. My teacher caught it and made me write it in.

Now I don’t forget.

I also tend to use:

• yellow for tricky spots
• blue for repeats

It may not look perfectly organized to anyone else—but it makes sense to me, and that’s what matters.

​What about you? Any favorite ways you mark your music?