Composers, harpists, and harpist-composers share their advice for working together
Harp camp might look a little different this year, but we’ve rounded up the details on nearly 40 programs happening in-person and online
this summer.
Tips and strategies to land grants from a professional grant writer and harpist. —by Elizabeth Huston
Pandemic life has created a slew of dilemmas in our harp lives. Our experts weigh in with their advice on navigating them. —by Alison Reese
Lockdown hasn’t been all bad. Harpists around the world tell us about the unique projects they’ve done with their unexpected time at home.
How to make the most of the “new normal” in college and beyond. —by Katherine Ventura.
How one harpist put her sudden abundance of time to use during COVID. —by Christa Grix
Got rhythm? Our experts share tips on understanding pulse, rhythm, and how to use your metronome. —by Kela Walton
We test eight of the most popular metronome apps to find out which ones are best for harpists. —by Kela Walton
Five ways to bring purpose to your daily practice. —by Rachel Lee Hall
Harpists around the world are adapting to the sudden changes in our daily lives brought about by the global coronavirus pandemic.
Get your tuning technique in tip-top shape with some advice from our tuning experts. —by Kela Walton
Wondering which tuning apps are best for the harp? We test them out and rate the best ones. —by Kela Walton
Nearly two decades after Harp Column first interviewed the Welsh phenom, we found Catrin Finch on a different path than tradition would have dictated.
Forget the guitar or the piano, these singer-songwriters use a harp to tell their stories. —by Sam Hickman
We have a fascinating conversation with one of the most prolific harpists of her generation as we catch up with Judy Loman for our 20/20 series.
It’s back! We rounded up everything you need to know about nearly 50 summer harp programs.
We combed through hundreds of apps to find the 15 best game-based music apps.
Xavier de Maistre has been on quite a ride for the last two decades. The French harpist tells us why he’s happier today than ever in the latest installment of our 20/20 series.
Author Anne Sullivan shows us how much there is to love about the much-maligned etude.
Stop wallowing in the sea of things undone and start focusing on just one thing you can do right now.…
Our popular harpmobile review is back! We give you the lowdown on two dozen vehicles to haul your harp. —by Alison Reese and Gabrielle Rabon
We check in with Yolanda Kondonassis 26 years after her debut album and our first interview with her in the latest installment of our 20/20 series.
Managing all of your unstructured time as a freelancer can be the most difficult part of the job. Find out how the pros manage their time. —by Anne Sullivan
We catch up with publishing powerhouse Sylvia Woods to find out what has changed in music publishing and where the industry stands on the cusp of 2020. —by Alison Reese
Want to make your arrangements look as stellar as they sound? We’ve got tips and tricks to help you get the most out of Sibelius notation software.
We take a closer look at six successful public school harp programs around the United States. —by Kela Walton
Our summer camp roundup is back with over 50 programs to help you hone your harp skills.
Whether you’re taking on your first student or entering your 40th year with a full teaching load, the new year is the perfect time to evaluate your studio policies.
Harpists describe the people who have shown them how to live the musical good life.
If you use Finale to arrange your music, we’ve got some hot harp tips you need to know. —by Rachel Green
Avoid the holiday rush by learning some new Christmas music this fall.
Having weathered the synthesizer storm on Broadway, the harp is enjoying its moment.
From aviation to table tennis, we talk to harpists who have achieved great heights in fields that couldn’t be further from the harp. —by Christa Grix
Find out some strategies to get better faster when an injury affects your playing. —by Angela Schwarzkopf
Find out how to create a gig book you’ll look forward to opening at every job.
Tales of seven harpists who ditched paper for pixels and how you can digitize your library too.
Take advantage of your winter downtime by getting your wedding game ready for next season.
Find out which orchestra parts the pros say every harpist should know
Find out which pieces harp teachers love to teach and why you should add them to your repertoire. —by Kela Walton
Find motivation to learn music that isn’t at the top of your list of favorites. —by Rachel Brandwein
Find out what makes for a memorable performance for harpists who have spent their lives on stage.
Find out six ways to find more time to help balance the demands of home and harp.
—by Megan Metheney
Whether you are shipping your harp across the country or around the world, our experts share their tips for getting your instrument safely from point A to point B. —by Katherine Pecora
Get back to the basics with 30 days of technique practice. We’ve taken the best from our online 30 Day Practice Challenge and put it all in one place!
We’ve rounded up over 60 programs where harpists young and old, beginner and advanced, can spend their summer. —by Kristina Finch
Finding your voice as a newbie in orchestra can be a challenge. We have some great repertoire ideas to get you started. —by Michelle Gott
Wondering what to do about your gut strings? We take a look at current state of affairs in gut and help you sort out your options.
The harp section in an orchestra is usually a table for one. But when you are called to play with one, two, three, or more harpists, we’ve got expert advice on how to be a good team player.
Need to make more but don’t want to put down your harp to work at Starbucks? We’ve got 50 ideas to use your music skills to put more money in your pocket.
Behind the Scenes: Go off stage at the 10th USA International Harp Competition.
Author Kristina Finch explores how to expand your teaching to reach special needs students.
Want to give back to your community, but your efforts are falling flat? We’ve got seven strategies to create a project that works. —by Jennifer Ellis
Playing the harp is a life-long pursuit, but our relationship with the instrument definitely changes over the years. We talked to harpists in all phases of their harp life to find out what’s behind their number. —by Erin Wood.
You’ll want to read our top tax tips for freelancers before paying Uncle Sam this year. —by Jan Jennings
Curious about harp therapy? We lay out what the field is and what it is not and how you what the profession looks like in action. —by Rhett Barnwell
Baby, it’s cold outside! We’ve got your survival guide to help your harp and hands survive the winter.
Author Megan Metheney shows you how to take improvisation from intimidating to inviting with her easy-to-follow, original approach.
Whether you’re subbing or playing second harp on a gig, find out the keys to fitting in seamlessly with any group.
Behind every twirling snowflake and pirouetting flower on stage in Tchaikovsky’s iconic Nutcracker ballet are the flying fingers of a…
College campuses are buzzing with a new crop of students this fall. We’ll take you step-by-step through the college search process and give you our directory of 130 harp programs to choose from.
It is well known that Google is the largest search engine in the world, but if I asked you to…
Tracing your harp heritage can lead to fascinating discoveries. Find out which famous figures you are related to and what…
Discover what can happen when you move your learning beyond the practice bench and out into the world. Sitting on…
Want to truly bring those notes on the page to life? Try talking to the composer who put them there.…
Yes, you can use Bach and Beyoncé in the same lesson, and once you do, you might start wondering why…
Having a great website is like owning a fabulous pair of shoes—they will help you look good, help you do…
Tucked up in the Pacific Northwest, Dusty Strings has quietly become an iconic instrument builder recognized worldwide. On the flight…
Ready for summer? Start planning your summer harp experience with our guide to more than 60 camps, festivals, retreats, and…
Students share their daily experiences a some of the programs listed in our Summer Camp Roundup 2015. A day at…
Ditch those bulging binders of music and lighten your load by digitizing your gig music library. —by the Chicago Harp…
I can remember clearly when my teacher finally kicked me out of the nest. I say kicked, because it was…
I can hear my heart in my ears, thu-thum, thu-thum, thu-thum. I’m just about to start, and I really don’t know…
Next to “How much does your harp cost?” one of the most common questions harpists hear from onlookers is “What…
For me, and probably for you too, happiness is closely related to harp-iness. I have loved the harp since I…
Teachers are in the business of doling out valuable lessons. Some are practical, some are philosophical. Some go in one…
Put a fresh twist on the old standbys. Have you ever had that déjà vu experience of teaching a student the…
—by Elizabeth Volpé Bligh Composers aren’t always kind to harpists (we’re talkin’ to you Wagner, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky). Find out how to…
—by Kirsten Carrell Osborne How to get the most value out of your time by working smart, not hard. Throughout my…
Forget your music? Duo partner fall sick? Subbing on “Tzigane” with no rehearsals? This survival guide will help you keep your…
Clear out the clutter, spruce up your studio, and get organized with these practical tips for Spring Cleaning. Ah, spring.…
With thousands of moving parts, lots can go wrong on a pedal harp. But here are five things you can…
What music do you crave when you need something warm and nourishing? The cold, blustery days of winter are upon…
—by Rhett Barnwell and Erin Wood Editor’s note: This article is presented in two sections, beginning with Lever Harp. The Pedal Harp…
The California-based chamber group reflect on their staying power after a quarter-century together. When it comes to musical collaborations, getting…
For harpists looking at colleges this fall, we’ve got a few more to for you to consider. Our college harp…
Editor’s Note: Jump to the end of the article for detailed results and more info on interpreting the chart above.…
Looking at where past USA International Harp Competition winners are today. There have only been eight gold medals handed out at…
143 schools for harpists across the U.S. It’s been nearly six years since Harp Column last compiled our guide to college…
If college is on the horizon for you, then these valuable words of wisdom from recent college harp graduates should…
