The harp that once . . .

My musical career started when I was six. I'm the youngest of five and, while my brothers and sisters were all busy studying music, I felt I was missing out. I lobbied hard and because of my age the only thing my parents could find for me was singing lessons.

I was seven when I started piano lessons at the College of Music. Piano is an excellent first instrument and plays a huge role in the development of your mental co-ordination and musical skills. Unlike other instruments, with the piano you have to use both your hands, you read two lines of music simultaneously and you deal in both tunes and chords.

My parents, though, were keen for me to have a second instrument. It was clear that I enjoyed singing, but I had less empathy with the piano. I'm not sure how it came about, but when I was nine I hit upon the Irish harp and began having lessons.

When we were children my mother went to tremendous lengths to ferry us all around to lessons, festivals and concerts. We competed in all the major musical competitions including the Sligo, Arklow and Dublin feiseanna ceoil. She used to play tapes for us in the car so that we could practise.

Throughout national school, Loreto on the Green and UCD I kept up my singing, piano and harp lessons. I loved the fact that after school I had a million things to do. I loved the buzz of competing. For two years I was taught by the Welsh harpist, Helen Davies, who made a huge difference to my sound and technique.

In my day Loreto was reknowned for its music and boasted three orchestras. Sister Marion Fox, who composed for one of the orchestras, was wonderfully creative and encouraged my interest in composition. She would say "bring it in and play it for the class."

It was always my ambition to become a musician. Attending festivals and competitions meant that I was talking to people about musical education from an early age. As a result, from the age of 12 I knew exactly which music course I wanted to study at university.

At UCD I studied music, under Professor Anthony Hughes, and German. Halfway through the course I won a scholarship to Bonn University and took a year out to go there.

Third-level music courses have changed immensely in the past decade or so. When I studied music, students had fewer course options than they do now. However, I found it a great opportunity to progress. Learning to write music in the style of other composers was a great discipline. Seoirse Bodley lectured on 20th century arrangements of Irish music. I particularly enjoyed that course. It has been extremely useful to me in my career as a harpist - I've used it to develop my repetoire.

Anne-Marie O'Farrell is one of Ireland's leading harpists. Her new album, The Jig's Up, (CD £12.99, cassette £7.99) is available at Tower Records and record stores nationwide. She was in conversation with Yvonne Healy.