San José State University offers individualized harp instruction within the School of Music. Harp study is available to music majors, music education majors, and music minors, allowing students to incorporate focused harp training into several academic pathways.
Private instruction emphasizes technical development, musicianship, solo repertoire, performance preparation, and the skills required for ensemble playing. Students may have opportunities to perform in university ensembles and develop experience with orchestral and other ensemble repertoire.
Harp instruction may also be available to students who are not harp majors when their ensemble participation requires them to play harp. This can include students performing harp parts in orchestra, band, wind ensemble, and other university ensembles. Lessons can provide focused preparation in harp technique, instrument-specific notation, pedals, fingering, and effective preparation of ensemble repertoire.
The program is suited to students interested in combining focused individual study with the broader academic and performance opportunities of a university music program. Music education students can develop harp skills alongside their preparation as future educators, while performance-oriented students can build solo and ensemble experience applicable to graduate study, teaching, orchestral playing, and freelance work.