Day 1

“The end of a musical challenge is the start of new energy and passion. You see what music and hard work can bring, and it’s invigorating.” —Gustavo Dudamel Today’s tune: Autre Chose —by François Pernel Purchase this Modern repertoire suggestion for lever harp...

“Perfection is boring. It’s the tiny imperfections, the human touches, that make music resonate with people.” —Ben Folds Today’s tune: Akiko —by Fabio Rizza Purchase this Modern repertoire suggestion for lever harp at Harp Column Music, or substitute something else!...

“Every combination of sounds is like a unique brushstroke in painting; it creates a timbre that is vivid and fresh to the ear.” —Arnold Schoenberg Live event today! • 12:00 p.m. ET Join us for today’s live session featuring “Music of the Modern Era.” In each live...

“I find that less can be more. Practicing effectively means taking time away from the instrument to think about phrasing and interpretation. Visualization and mental practice are as powerful as playing.” —Alisa Weilerstein, cellist Today’s tune: Fountain —by Gary...

“Rhythm is the foundation of music. It’s the bedrock on which everything else stands.” —Steve Reich Today’s tune: Swinging —by Maurice Draughn Purchase this Modern repertoire suggestion for lever harp at Harp Column Music, or substitute something else! Subscribe...

“I have learned throughout my life as a composer chiefly through my mistakes and pursuits of false assumptions, not by my exposure to founts of wisdom and knowledge.” —Igor Stravinsky Today’s tune: Berceuse from the Firebird Suite —by Igor Stravinsky, arranged by...

“The modern composer builds upon the past, yet seeks to say something new and relevant to the times in which he lives.” —Leonard Bernstein Today’s tune: Romanian Folk Dances —by Bela Bartok, arranged by Ion Ivan-Roncea Purchase this Modern repertoire suggestion for...

“The beauty of modern music lies in its diversity. No single style or genre dominates; instead, we have a mosaic of voices contributing to a global soundscape.” —Yo-Yo Ma Today’s tune: Elegy —by Lauren Scott Purchase this Modern repertoire suggestion for lever harp...

“I want to make music that is both pleasing to the ear and worthy of the heart.” —Antonín Dvořák Today’s tune: The Evening Prayer Book —arranged by Darhon Rees-Rohrbacher Purchase this Romantic repertoire suggestion for lever harp at Harp Column Music, or substitute...

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” —Plato Live event today! • 12:00 p.m. ET Join us for today’s live session featuring “Music of the Romantic Era.” In each live session we’ll talk with some of...

“Music is the moonlight in the gloomy night of life.” —Franz Liszt Today’s tune: Oh Quand Je Dors —by Franz Liszt, arranged by Lise Vandersmissen Purchase this Romantic repertoire suggestion for pedal harp at Harp Column Music, or substitute something else! Today’s...

“Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.” —Frédéric Chopin Today’s tune: Chopin Preludes —arranged by Maria Luisa Rayan Purchase this Romantic...

“Inspiration is a guest that does not willingly visit the lazy.” —Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Today’s tune: June “Barcarolle” —by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, arranged by Elzbieta Szmyt Purchase this Romantic repertoire suggestion for pedal harp at Harp Column Music, or substitute...

“Music is enough for a lifetime—but a lifetime is not enough for music.” —Sergei Rachmaninoff Today’s tune: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini —by Sergei Rachmaninoff, arranged by Kana Matsumoto Purchase this Romantic repertoire suggestion for pedal harp at Harp...

“I am convinced that music should be written for the human soul, with the aim to express emotions that speak to the heart.” —Clara Schumann Today’s tune: First Arabesque —by Claude Debussy, arranged by Tamsin Dearnley Purchase this Romantic repertoire suggestion for...

“To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable.” —Ludwig van Beethoven Today’s tune: Für Elise —by Ludwig van Beethoven, arranged by Marilyn Rummel Purchase this Classical repertoire suggestion for lever harp at Harp Column Music, or...

“When I don’t make any progress, it is always because I haven’t yet been able to reduce the thing to its simplest terms. Once I have succeeded in doing that, it goes along by itself.” —Albert Einstein Live event today! • 12:00 p.m. ET Join us for today’s live session...

“The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.” —Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Today’s tune: MInuetto —by Luigi Boccherini, arranged by Helga Harper Purchase this Classical repertoire suggestion for lever harp at Harp Column Music, or substitute something else!...

“Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening.” —Nelson Mandela Today’s tune: Adagio avec expression from Sonate no. 6 —by Jean-Baptiste Krumpholtz, arranged by Megan Reeve Purchase this Classical repertoire suggestion...

“Never allow yourself to play an aimless note. Every note must have direction and purpose.” —Carl Czerny Today’s tune: 25 Studies —by Carl Czerny, arranged by Kaffee Peck Purchase this Classical repertoire suggestion for lever harp at Harp Column Music, or...

“The Classical style in music stands as an ideal: simplicity without loss of sophistication, emotion in balance with form, and clarity with elegance.” —Charles Rosen, musicologist and pianist Today’s tune: Dance of the Blessed Spirits —by Christopher W. von Gluck,...

“I pay no attention whatever to anybody’s praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.” —Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Today’s tune: Mozart’s London Sketchbook —arranged by Megan Reeve Purchase this Classical repertoire suggestion for pedal harp or for lever harp...

“Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.” —Albert Einstein Today’s tune: Adagios: Gentle Baroque and Classical Selections —transcribed and arranged by Kathryn Cater Purchase this Baroque repertoire suggestion for lever harp...

“Practice is the best of all instructors.” —Publilius Syrus, Latin writer Live event today! • 12:00 p.m. ET Join us for today’s live session featuring “Music of the Baroque Era.” In each live session we’ll talk with some of the Harp Column Music artists whose pieces...

“In music, the voice is the soul, and the soul is not only heard, but felt.” —Marc-Antoine Charpentier Today’s tune: Three Pieces by Francois Couperin —arranged by Meredith Mancini Purchase this Baroque repertoire suggestion for pedal harp at Harp Column Music,...

“I have not chosen this art; it has chosen me.” —Antonio Vivaldi Today’s tune: Largo from the Lute Concerto —by Antonio Vivaldi, transcribed by Rhett Barnwell Purchase this Baroque repertoire suggestion for lever harp at Harp Column Music, or substitute something...

“The best music is that which is the most pleasing to the ear and the most expressive of the heart.” —Arcangelo Corelli Today’s tune: Sonata VII —by Arcangelo Corelli, edited by Isabelle Perrin Purchase this Baroque repertoire suggestion for pedal harp at Harp...

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” —Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, writer Today’s tune: 5 Scarlatti Sonatas —transcribed by Marcia Dickstein Purchase this Baroque repertoire suggestion for lever harp at Harp Column Music, or substitute something else! Today’s...

“I worked hard. Anyone who works as hard as I did can achieve the same results.” —J. S. Bach Today’s tune: Prelude and Fugue no. 2 in C Minor, BWV 847 —by J.S. Bach, transcribed and edited by Katherine Thomas Purchase this Baroque repertoire suggestion for pedal harp...

“Where words fail, music speaks.” —Hans Christian Andersen, author Live event today! • 2:00 p.m. ET Join us today at 2:00 p.m. ET for our New Year’s Day practice challenge kickoff party! Find out what we’ve got planned for this year’s challenge, and get tips for...