The Impressive Skill Mayim Bialik Learned For Her Big Bang Theory Role

May 2024 · 2 minute read

When the writers of "The Big Bang Theory" included that Mayim Bialik's character plays the harp in an episode, the actor had to actually learn how to play the giant, stringed instrument. The show wanted Bialik to truly strum the instrument and sing to the tune of "The Girl from Ipanema" for filming, so Warner Brothers hired harpist and instructor Aedan MacDonnell to teach Bialik the ropes.

"I was impressed with Mayim's down-to-earth friendliness," MacDonnell wrote for the Sylvia Woods Harp Center. "She made my job as teacher very easy — understanding everything the first time." Because of Bialik's experience playing the bass, MacDonnell said it took Bialik a mere 10 seconds to learn which notes corresponded to which strings. The actor had to be ready to strum the harp in front of the live studio audience within only three lessons, so Bialik also rented a harp to bring home and practice on. When it came time to do it in front of the cameras, Bialik nailed the harp performance with just two takes!

"If you watch 'The Big Bang Theory' and see [Bialik] playing the harp, you can say definitively that it is actually Mayim playing and doing a remarkable job of playing and singing with only a handful of lessons," MacDonnell assured.

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