If you regularly read this blog, you know I offer therapeutic harp lessons to harpists who desire to play at the hospital and hospice bedside. It is such a joy to work with these students!

One observation that I’ve made, after working with several of them, is harpists need a teacher. What do I mean by that? It seems like many harpists that learn the instrument as an adult are self-taught or learn by watching a few videos. I don’t agree with this approach! (And keep in mind, I don’t teach beginning harp lessons, so this is not about me filling my calendar with students.) In other words, this blog post is not self-serving, but rather, my opinion because I care deeply about the harpists I meet.

So why do harpists need a teacher?

• The harp technique is very challenging. You need a teacher to correct any mistakes or bad habits from the very beginning. (A weekly lesson is preferred to develop excellent habits.)
• By learning proper posture, hand technique and fingering, you “ward off” injury as much as possible. Especially as we age, this is important.
• As you learn proper techniques, you get the optimal sound out of your instrument. Unlike piano (and some other instruments), the harp needs good technique to sound good. (The piano can just be played without much technique; this is NOT the same for the harp.)

If you need an excellent harp teacher, I will do my best to help you find a good fit. I can help you assess what you need to work on and suggest harp teacher resources for your specific needs.