College Harpist in Distress

[HBrock25]

I am by no means a professional-level harpist. I had been
playing harp seriously in high school, but I studied abroad my
senior year and my playing was discontinued. Now I am in my
second year of college at a school where there isn’t really much
of a harp program, so last semester I took private lessons and
hope to continue this semester. The problem is that I am out of
practice. I really want to get back into playing the harp seriously
and I really regret that I was not able to major in harp. What I
want to know is if anyone knows of an intensive summer
program for college students that would help me to get back in to
playing but one that isn’t exclusively for harp majors. Also, I was
wondering if it would be possible for me to do an exchange for a
semester at another university. What I mean is to take harp
lessons and harp/music related classes at another university for
a semester. I am nearly done with the requirements for my major
(which is Chinese) and I believe I would have the time to do so if
it were possible. I am very frustrated with my situation right now
and sort of feel like I don’t have many options because I am not a
harp major. I don’t know if I want to pursue a career related to
harp playing ( and at this point I don’t know if that is an option any
longer) but I do know that I want to keep playing. Any advice
would be appreciated.

[Jennifer Ellis]

Try attending Alice Giles’ Summer Harp Course.

[unknown-user]

It sounds like you need to go away for the summer and practice. You should contact Professor Ellen Ritscher of North Texas State University about her summer program, and there are a few other summer festivals with lessons like Eastern Music Festival, Brevard Music Center and Interlochen. You can also study privately with someone for an intensive period, two or three lessons a week without going to the country. Also, you should transfer to a school with a harp program or able to offer lessons. I don’t encourage dreaming of a professional career unless you are willing to dedicate yourself and take a lot of risks and chances, because it is still very difficult to do so, but a lot of people play part time, and there are other ways to contribute your music.

[Evangeline Williams]

I don’t think it’s ever too late to pursue a harp career.

[Author]

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