Are you interested in learning to play the ancient or historic lyre, but can’t find good resources? I know how frustrating it feels! After some research, I’ve found some amazing online resources that use historically accurate instruments. They will help you get started on your lyre journey.
In this article, I will be listing out some of the best online resources for learning the ancient or historic lyre. These resources range from instructional videos to online courses, and will provide you with the knowledge you need to start playing! If you want to teach yourself the ancient or historic lyre, please check them out!
Just a quick note: this article is focused on the ancient or historic lyre. If you’re looking for resources on the modern lyre, be sure to check out my other post!
1. Lyre Academy
Also known as “SEIKILO Ancient World Music”, this is the most comprehensive resource for learning the ancient Greek lyre online. They offer both free beginner lessons and structured paid courses for anyone who wants more in-depth content.
I suggest you check out their free YouTube tutorials first. There you’ll see the face of Lina Palera, a renowned lyrist and educator. Her expertise and passion make it super easy to follow along!
If you like their style, the courses on their website are worth checking out. The courses do require a fee, but they are broken up into small chunks so you can just pay for the part you want. The structured lessons cover music theory, techniques, and playing styles.
2. Michael Levy
Michael Levy is a UK-based composer and performer with a profound understanding of ancient lyre music and its properties. His mission is to “carry on where the ancients left off”, and he is fulfilling this mission with flying colors!
Michael re-enacts ancient lyre music from a variety of cultures, including the Greeks, Romans, Hebrews, Egyptians, and Mesopotamians. Check out his incredible performances on his YouTube channel.
For those who want to learn to play the lyre, Michael has a variety of useful resources on his YouTube channel. Simply search for “lesson” or “how to play” to find all the instructional videos he has to offer. He gives excellent instructions! Oh, and check out his playlists too.
3. Moro Music
Spike and Ilja Bakker are a beautiful couple from the Netherlands with a deep interest in Anglo-Saxon life and music of the early 7th century. They re-enact the music of that era using a variety of historically accurate instruments, including the lyre.
Their re-enactments are simply mesmerizing, and their passion and love for the music make their performances even more touching. (I teared up while watching them play!) If you’re a fan of Anglo-Saxon music, definitely check them out!
They offer a series of free lessons on their YouTube channel. Simply search for “lyre” on their channel to find lyre-related videos. Topics cover tuning, chords, drones, and finger techniques such as plucking and the block and strum.
4. Longhouse Lyres
Based in the US, Longhouse Lyres is a maker of ancient and early medieval Anglo-Saxon lyres. But they don’t just make lyres, they also teach others how to play this instrument.
Their YouTube channel has a “How to play for beginners” series that is pretty comprehensive. The videos cover the basics to more advanced techniques and styles. They are the ONLY free resource on the feather technique! Check out the incredibly helpful tutorials on their playlist.
Or simply search for “how to” on their channel to find specific videos. Instructions are clear and concise!
That’s all the online resources I know about. If you know any more, let me know so I can put them here!
