We’ve got the music you need for this year’s challenge!

Harp Column’s annual 30 Day Practice Challenge is back on January 1st! This year, we challenge you to transform your practice habits. Each day we’ll give you a new tool that you can add to your practice toolkit to help make your time behind the harp more efficient, effective, and fun.

Scroll down for our handpicked music recommendations, available for instant download at Harp Column Music.

(Titles marked with an * are playable on lever harp.)

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FOUNDATION TOOLS

Building the essential framework for effective practice

*Modern Etudes

by Lauren Scott
Modern Etudes, by Lauren Scott, is a collection of 22 technical etudes for lever or pedal harp. Each etude targets a specific technical challenge, designed for flexible use across skill levels. Scroll down for additional notes.

*Pick and Mix ~ Warm-up Exercises for All Harpists

by Eira Lynn Jones
Eira Lynn Jones’ Pick and Mix 1 ~ Warm-Up Exercises for All Harpists is for the advanced beginner lever or pedal harpist. This book guides harpists through warm-up exercises from finger exercises, to modes, rhythms, and more! Beginners will strengthen their fingers and develop a rich tone, while advanced harpists can use this book as a way to reinforce technique!

*Pick and Mix 2 – Technical Exercises for Harpists

by Eira Lynn Jones
This second edition guides harpists through exercises for finger patterns, warming up, scales, arpeggios and rolled chords. Also included are useful French terms, practice thoughts, and more!

*Technical Exercises for Lever Harp

by Ailie Robertson
Technical Exercises for Lever Harp, by Ailie Robertson, includes fourteen chapters of exercises for solo lever harp that help lever harp players develop the technical skills they need to increase dexterity and speed.

Pedal Exercises for Harp

by Jacqueline Pollauf
You’ll find an incremental and logical approach to tackling pedals through forty exercises in Jacqueline Pollauf’s Pedal Exercises for Harp.

*Fundamental Exercises for the Harp, Volume 1

by Samantha Ballard
Fundamental Exercises for the Harp, Volume 1 by Samantha Ballard is a technical exercise book for harpists, teachers, and students, playable on lever or pedal harp. It reinforces basic patterns in music such as scales, triads, and arpeggios in various keys.

*Autumn Colours

by Hannah Haynes
This piece is the first etude in A Suite of Botanical Etudes, a collection of original, botanically-themed etudes by Hannah Haynes. “Autumn Colors” is a satisfying beginning study on harmonic thirds.

*Three Note Arpeggio

by Anne Sullivan
This original etude by Anne Sullivan was the first piece in Harp Column’s Tear-Out Tunes series! You can purchase it on Harp Column Music, or you can download it for FREE (along with 16 others!) with a subscription to Harp Column magazine.

*Practise with Intention

by Amanda Whiting
Amanda Whiting’s Practise with Intention is a collection of “technical conditioning exercises with rhythmical and theory focus, leading to the possibility of improvisation” for solo lever or pedal harp. There’s plenty of material here to get you through the challenge and beyond!

 

TECHNICAL TOOLS

Skill-building methods that accelerate learning

*Ribbons

by Stephanie Curcio
This classic original composition by Stephanie Curcio is a focus in descending 7th arpeggios. Practice it super slowly as an etude. When you’ve mastered it, use it as a concert solo!

*The Merry Brook

by Frances Miller
Based on upward and downward arpeggios, Frances Miller’s The Merry Brook, for lever or pedal harp, is another etude-like piece you can use for slow study or student performances alike.

*Variations on Tallis’ Canon

arr. Lucy Bunce
Lucy Bunce’s arrangement for lever or pedal harp is, based on a melody by Renaissance composer Thomas Tallis, is a workout in rolled chord practice. Its theme and variation structure lends itself perfectly to today’s theme!

*First Collection Crimson

by Rachel Brandwein
This collection of four short original works for lever or pedal harp by Rachel Brandwein includes lots of left-hand ostinato passages for interval and placing practice.

*Left Hand Etude Collection #1

by Stephanie Claussen
If you’re looking for a left-hand workout, this book by Stephanie Claussen is for you. It drills down fourth-finger crossunders, 3–4–3 turn-arounds, playing beautifully phrased melodies in the left hand, jumping back and forth between low notes and high chords, and bracketing complex chords together.

*International Rhythmic Collection Vol. 1

by Alfredo Rolando Ortiz
Looking for a rhythm workout? Look no further than this popular collection for lever or pedal harp by the harp rhythm master himself, Alfredo Rolando Ortiz.

*A Bouquet for Young Harpists

by Bonnie Goodrich
Don’t let the title fool you. You will fall in love with this collection by Bonnie Goodrich with technique building solos for lever or pedal harp whatever age you are!

 

MUSICAL TOOLS

Expression and interpretation development

*The Nightingale

by Deborah Henson Conant
This best-selling solo by Deborah Henson-Conant, for lever or pedal harp, is a perfect tool for examining structure, expression, and creating a musical story.

*A Walk in the Mountains

by Kathryn Cater
You’ll have no trouble telling a story with Kathryn Cater’s original compositions such as “​​Up the Mountain Trail,” “The Stars Come Out,” and “Rain on the Lake.” Find them in this collection for lever or pedal harp.

*Basically Bach

by Rhett Barnwell
Rhett Barnwell has collected some of J. S. Bach’s most popular works and arranged them for solo lever or pedal harp. This collection will give you plenty of material to work on creating natural phrasing.

*Lettre d’amour

by Megan Metheney
This lush, romantic, original composition for lever or pedal harp by Megan Metheney offers plenty of opportunities to explore color, dynamics, and more.

*First Arabesque

by Claude Debussy, arr. Tamsin Dearnley
This gorgeous classic of the Impressionist piano repertoire provides a perfect opportunity to add breathing to your music. Although the key has been transposed to G major from the original E major in order to allow the necessary modulations to take place, the piece has otherwise been adapted as faithfully as possible.

*Prelude 1 in C Major

arr. Laura Sherman
This one-page piece by J.S. Bach, and arranged by Laura Sherman, develops hand independence and familiarity with common hand-shapes and left-hand fingering patterns found in Baroque music.

*Nannerl’s Music Book

by Megan Reeve
Megan Reeve has transcribed 20 selections by Leopold and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart from Nannerl’s Music Book.

*O Mio Babbino Caro

arr. Ailie Robertson
Ailie Robertson has arranged Giacomo Puccini’s famous aria “O Mio Babbino Caro” from Gianni Schicchi for solo lever or pedal harp. Both an easier and a more advanced version are included.

*Amazing Grace

arr. Brook Boddie
The classic hymn tune leaves plenty of room for self expression, especially in this lovely arrangement by the late Brook Boddie.

PERFORMANCE TOOLS

Preparation and mindset for sharing music

*Solos for Lever or Pedal Harp

by Elizabeth Volpé Bligh
This collection includes original compositions and arrangements for solo lever or pedal harp, by Elizabeth Volpé Bligh. Pieces range from intermediate to advanced levels. Also included are performance notes, program notes, and general technical tips.

*Midnight Tango

by Lauren Scott
Lauren Scott’s Midnight Tango collection includes five brief and evocative solos for lever or pedal harp. Each piece targets one or two different techniques.

*Easy Classics

by Meinir Heulyn
In the amazingly useful collection Easy Classics, Meinir Heulyn has arranged 12 well-known melodies from the classical repertoire for solo lever or pedal harp.

*New Shoots—Old Roots

by Monika Stadler
Monika Stadler’s collection of 12 original and traditional works for solo lever or pedal harp includes harmonics, rolled chords, pres de la table, grace notes, lever slides, and lever kicks (a way of bending notes). Plenty of fun to last all year!

*Romance in the Key of Harp – Volume I 

by Jacqui Cook
Jacqui Cook’s collection includes four original compositions for solo lever or pedal harp. Each piece captures a different aspect of love and emotion. (Get ready for Valentine’s Day!)

*The Entertainer

arr. Darhon Rees-Rohrbacher
This Ragtime classic is always a crowd favorite for a driveway concert or park pop-up performance. Made popular during the pandemic, these low-pressure DIY concerts are a great way to practice performing. Check out more driveway concert music ideas on our Harp Column Music blog!

*African American Spirituals

by Kathleen Blackwell-Plank
Kathleen Blackwell-Plank’s collection of African American Spirituals includes four traditional arrangements for solo lever or pedal harp. An optional vocal part is also written into each arrangement. Historical notes add to the understanding of these powerful pieces.

*The Harp of Brandiswhiere

by Sylvia Woods
Sylvia Woods’ suite of 11 original pieces for lever or pedal harp tells the story of the legend of Brandiswhiere. It’s a classic collection you’ll want in your repertoire!

*Les Amuse-Bouches (Appetizers)

by François Pernel
This original collection of 60 short, charming pieces for lever harp or pedal harp includes “a taste of modal and modern,” says François Pernel. It’s a great repertoire builder for students of any age!