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The January/February ’09 print issue of the Harp Column has an extensive and informative article listing summer harp programs across the US.
I also maintain a shorter list of summer camps and festivals for harp students on my website at http://www.kelaharp.com/studio_calendar.htm (and I welcome information about other programs to add to this list)In my experience as a teacher I’ve had several adult beginning harp students with long term piano backgrounds that struggle more with certain aspects of harp technique. The concept of placing in general takes much longer to sink in, and they struggle with placing and closing the thumb properly. They often have trouble switching between the instruments if they still play the piano. So rest assured you are not alone.
My advice and tips as a teacher:
1. Try to avoid practicing the harp right after you’ve just finished practicing the piano. Do something else in between, or better yet practice the harp first.
2. Look at your hands. I suggest spending some time everyday doing a simple exercise that you have memorized so you can watch what your hand is doing and pay attention to how different it feels from the piano.
3. I concur with Julie Rabens’ advice, don’t try to learn a bunch of repertoire quickly. Instead focus on developing a good technique while learning one or two pieces at a time.
4. Avoid playing pieces that you already know on the piano later on the harp. There are lots of transcriptions of piano music for harp out there, but if you have trouble switching back and forth then I’d keep the repertoire separate.
5. Focus on the differences rather than the sames. Yes the music looks similar, yes you need curved fingers, music is universal, etc., but the realm of technique the harp is different from the piano (and my students run into difficulties when they try to play the harp like a piano). When you sit at the harp to practice remind yourself this is a harp not a piano, and approach it differently. It sounds simple, but it helps.
Bottom line every situation is unique and everyone learns differently. I hope you continue and enjoy your harp studies.
