So You Want To Learn To Play Harp…

So you want to play the harp, eh? Today’s blog post is for you!

Or if you’re a harp teacher, feel free to send a link to this post to new students if you find it helpful!

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By the way, if the picture looks familiar…let me know in the comments which video it’s from!

Ok, so….here are some recommendations to help you get started!

Harp

You’ll need a harp to get started. Even though I believe you can start learning without a harp, sooner or later you’ll need one. If you can swing it financially, I’d suggest sooner rather than later. Beware though, there are some less-than-quality harps out there. If you find a harp you like, consider sending a link to an experienced harpist so he/she can check it out.

There are also rental and rent-to-own options. I strongly advise against taking out a loan for a harp. Curious about different types of harps?

Some reputable harps of varying price points include:

Music Makers* – this harp was built from a Music Makers kit.

I’m fond of Waring or Backyard cardboard harps/kits (yep! The soundboards are made from cardboard!). I find them to be surprisingly sweet harps!

Dusty Strings (if you’re in Southwest Florida check out Cadence Music, an authorized Dusty Strings dealer!) This harp is a Dusty Strings.

Camac

Lyon & Healy

Salvi

Sylvia Woods Harp Center & Virginia Harp Center are good dealers to check out too.

This is not an exhaustive list, but should get you started.

Tuning

You’ll need a tuning key that fits your harp. Not all tuning keys fit all harps, so check to see if your harp comes with one.

An electronic tuner* helps you tell when your harp is in tune. You can also download free electronic tuner apps. Not sure how to tune your harp? Check out this video.

Book/Music

A book can really help guide you. If you’re embarking on this journey on your own, here are a few books to look into.

Already read music? Sylvia Woods’ Teach Yourself to Play the Folk Harp* is a classic. (She was also a “5 Questions with…” guest).

If you’re coming to harp with a clean musical slate, Verlene Schermer’s Harp Newbies Level 1 looks like it’s worth trying out. I haven’t actually used this series, so if you have experience with it, please let me know your thoughts in the comments. There are three books for each level; I’d recommend using all three.

E-Z Play Today fake books* are soooo much fun to play from! New to fake books? I have an ecourse for that (maybe I’ll actually finish it someday…)!

Music Stand

You’ll need a place to set your music while you play. You could prop it up on a chair or have someone hold it, but a music stand is much more practical.

Really any music stand will do. The wire ones are fine, but if it’s in your budget & you’re playing from bulkier books like the E-Z Play Today* ones or bigger, a sturdier stand like this classic Manhasset (love that they’re made in the US!) is great! But like I said, you can totally get by with a wire one, especially if you’re still starting out. You might even check around to see if you can find one used.

Lessons

Although you might be looking to learn independently (& there can be a sense of fun & freedom in that), a teacher can also be super helpful. I offer both in-person & cyber lessons; you can choose whether to schedule regular lessons or one-time lessons. And don’t forget to watch my “Your First Harp Lesson” video.

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Have a wonderful time on your harp adventure! Leave me a comment, connect on social media, or send me a message to let me know how it’s going!

-Barbara

P.S. Looking for more suggestions? Check out this page of recommendations & affiliate links.