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The International Harp Therapy Program lists all their practitioners here:
http://harprealm.com/pract.htm#LocationThere seems to be at least one practitioner in Missouri listed.
Good luck!
HebaDear Adam,
I can make a recommendation regarding the harness for the harp. Alot of the ones sold for folk harps have no padding, which means that within 20 minutes it is digging into your shoulder. What I did for mine was buy a strap for a bass guitar and alter it. It is about a one hour project at most. You may need to remove some of the length of the leather strap to allow the padded part to rest on your shoulder and re-stitch it to the plastic attachments.. It works really well, it is very cheap (about 18 british pounds vs 35 plus shipping for a folk harp harness) and you can pick from a wider range of styles, colors, than you could for a folk harp harness.
Anyway, I hope this helps.
HebaDear Michaela,
I am currently a student of IHTP. I finished both taught modules (yes, the system is now changing and there is now only one module you need to travel for) and am currently doing my practical training.
I do not know very much about the comparable programs but I can tell you a little bit about being an IHTP student if you want to email me with specific questions. I have had a very positive experience with the program, feeling that it has delivered on its promises. It also is probably one of the most gratifying personal and musical experiences that I have ever had. It has transformed my harp experience, as it is based on a method of playing the harp that is liberating and extremely creative ( i.e: you don’t play memorized music, you learn how to improvise ). It also involves composition, which sounds scarier than it is but it is taught in way that makes it quite easy to learn. This has really changed the way I think about harp playing.
In short, I highly recommend it. It is a time commitment, but you can take it at your own pace. For example, I am a full-time PhD student and have been able to work on the assignments without too much trouble over the past two years.
I also have to say, that the program is probably not for everyone, so read up on it and get a feel for things in advance. Getting a copy of the main text book should give you a good idea.
Best of luck!
HebaLet me see if I can help you. I do not want to reiterate what others have said regarding finding a teacher;so at this point I hope that you have found one or are closer to doing so. A teacher will accelerate an already difficult process and take much frustration out of it and once you do find one, I urge you to get as much technique done as you can; Deborah Friou’s book is very fun, it will give you great agility in your hands and you will start getting “harpy fingers” within a few weeks of serious practice. It will also help with reading. Follow the order of the book in the beginning because it introduces the various fingers gradually. You may find that you should go back and re-practice simple exercises if you need to relearn new position.
I would like to comment on the “unlearning” bad habits concept though; I agree that it takes alot of work to unlearn the incorrect position, but there is a positive side to the fact that you know what “wrong looks like”..you’re familiar with it, so you’ll be quick to detect it and feel it if you slip back, at least this my experience.I also take notes during the lesson; you will find the teacher is making more than one change at once and it can really be overwhelming to try to fix them all together..write notes of what she wants position-wise and work on them gradually. I used to put up little signs so that visually it is right infront of me. Doing things slowly lets the mind and hands to work together better, never underestimate the virtues of sloooooow). It can only get easier, everytime it will get easier. I would advise that you take time to change a habit slowly. Do the same exercises you did before but much slower, reteach your fingers to accept the new normal..and very soon you will unlearn any bad habits. Teachers tend to get exasperated when we pick up bad habits because it comes back to haunt them, and us, for a long time. Still, you are obviously trying very hard to get good position on your own initiative and learning the harp without basic resources such as a teacher is a challenge.So definately keep trying. I am a beginner myself and I’m blessed with a teacher from heaven, so here are some words from one struggling beginner to another regarding your slippage problem(my teacher uses a method that is a combination of French school and other methods, so Sylvia woods Folk methods may not apply, as far as I know): the position of the fourth finger on the string may be what is hindering you.the 4th has to be slightly extended along the string length so that it is almost straight, this will give it room on the horizontal plane to move in and out without striking neighbouring strings. Try bringing it into the palm straight, as you said, by bending the first knuckle and let the tip of the finger lay against the palm gently,don’t press it and don’t point it inwards. you will find that it gets back into position faster and smoother if it does not have to unfurlDear Harp lover,I also am a harp addict and I really had to fight for my harps..very long story.My advice would be this:small is always good.you can’t go wrong with a lap harp,since they are really the only harps you will ever be able to travel with easily(you can’texactly ship your 36 string harp for a week at the beach!).I have been playing for a while now and nothing is as nice as being able to take your lap harp with you on a trip..really.If you practice regularily you will find that a few days away from your harp is often hard to bear!so go for it!You will also enjoy being able to share your harp with others.I find that I reach morepeoplewith my lap harp because it gets to go out more often!.I have some comments for you that may help as well.There is an excellent book called the lap harp companion published by Lyon and Healy.It is a delightful book and a great place to start.It has so many lovely songs and you will really enjoy playing them.the one drawback that lap harps have is that they feel a little different of course when you play them..spacing maybe a bit different,but I agree.a harp is a harp.It’s small size will also mean that the tension is lower,so it will build up your finger strength less aggresively than a larger harp with higher tension.With a little adpatation you will be able to also play on a bigger harp if you feel the need.Larger harps satisfy a different aspect of harp playing and it is true that all harpists usually aim to own a range of harp sizes,it’s a different feeling.I tend to like harps on the large side,but that does not mean that smaller harps do not give an enriching experience.I do have one word of advice though:you may be tempted to teach yourself,or rely on your past experience and resume your harp playing.I would strongly suggest that you get started with a teacher..no matter how good the teaching
Go to this site:www.harplust.com and enter onto the harplust list.If you sort the list geographically you’ll get a whole bunch of harpmakers in Australia and I think it is safe to assume that at least one lives in Sydney or sells his harps in a music shop there.Another excellent harpseller/maker list is http://www.harpmall.com.I hope this is useful!Good luck!
