Here’s how it works:
Each week of the challenge will be focused on one of the big musical eras: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern. Each day we’ll highlight a piece from our list of suggestions at Harp Column Music, and give you tips you can use to practice that piece, or any others that you choose. Scroll down for the daily tips, or sign up for the challenge to get them delivered directly to your inbox.
Challenge rules
Pick a tune from each era
Pick four tunes, one from each of the eras we’ll be focusing on during the challenge (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern). Browse our suggestions or choose anything else you’d prefer.
Practice 20 minutes a day
Commit to practicing your music for a minimum of 20 minutes total each day throughout the challenge. You’re on the honor system!
Post on social media
Optional: Share your progress on social media by tagging Harp Column and #HCPracticeChallenge!
Download the practice log!
Win prizes!
We’re giving away great Harp Column prizes EVERY WEEK during the 30 Day Practice Challenge! Sign up for the challenge to be automatically enrolled in prize drawings throughout the challenge. Winners will be announced in challenge emails and at live events. Check out the great prizes we’re giving away:
A year of Harp Column magazine!
We’re giving away full one-year subscriptions to Harp Column magazine! Prize includes six issues of Harp Column delivered to your door (or download the PDF edition outside the U.S.).
Harp Column Music Gift Card!
Your choice of sheet music downloads at Harp Column Music with an HCM gift card! Choose from over 5,000 downloads from top arrangers!
A year of Harp Column Academy
We’re giving away full one-year memberships to Harp Column Academy! Your membership includes all access to nearly 500 lessons on harp technique, repertoire, and more!
Daily tips
We’ll be posting daily tips and inspiration right here every day of the challenge.
Sign up now to join the challenge and be enrolled to win prizes!
Day 30
“The end of a musical challenge is the start of new energy and passion. You see what music and hard work can bring, and it’s invigorating.”
—Gustavo Dudamel
Today’s tune:
Autre Chose
—by François Pernel
Purchase this Modern repertoire suggestion for lever harp at Harp Column Music, or substitute something else!
Today’s Tip:
CELEBRATE!
Yay you! You completed the 30 Day Practice Challenge! Take a moment to feel proud and acknowledge how far you’ve come. Whether you celebrate in a quiet way or shout your achievement from the rooftops, you can bask in the glow of knowing that you’re a stronger and more capable harpist than when you began. Spend a little time today reflecting on what you’ve learned and how you can apply these skills to your next big project.
Learn more:
Continue learning at Harp Column!
Celebrate completing the 30 Day Practice Challenge with a special offer from Harp Column! Use the coupon code practicechallenge10 to receive 10% off at all Harp Column websites! Shop Harp Column Music, subscribe to Harp Column magazine, join Harp Column Academy—or do all three! Coupon can be used once at each site through February 15.
Day 29
“Perfection is boring. It’s the tiny imperfections, the human touches, that make music resonate with people.” —Ben Folds Today’s tune: Akiko —by Fabio Rizza Purchase this Modern repertoire suggestion for lever harp at Harp Column Music, or substitute something else!...
Day 28
“Every combination of sounds is like a unique brushstroke in painting; it creates a timbre that is vivid and fresh to the ear.” —Arnold Schoenberg Live event today! • 12:00 p.m. ET Join us for today’s live session featuring “Music of the Modern Era.” In each live...
Day 27
“I find that less can be more. Practicing effectively means taking time away from the instrument to think about phrasing and interpretation. Visualization and mental practice are as powerful as playing.” —Alisa Weilerstein, cellist Today’s tune: Fountain —by Gary...
Day 26
“Rhythm is the foundation of music. It’s the bedrock on which everything else stands.” —Steve Reich Today’s tune: Swinging —by Maurice Draughn Purchase this Modern repertoire suggestion for lever harp at Harp Column Music, or substitute something else! Subscribe...
Day 25
“I have learned throughout my life as a composer chiefly through my mistakes and pursuits of false assumptions, not by my exposure to founts of wisdom and knowledge.” —Igor Stravinsky Today’s tune: Berceuse from the Firebird Suite —by Igor Stravinsky, arranged by...
Day 24
“The modern composer builds upon the past, yet seeks to say something new and relevant to the times in which he lives.” —Leonard Bernstein Today’s tune: Romanian Folk Dances —by Bela Bartok, arranged by Ion Ivan-Roncea Purchase this Modern repertoire suggestion for...
Day 23
“The beauty of modern music lies in its diversity. No single style or genre dominates; instead, we have a mosaic of voices contributing to a global soundscape.” —Yo-Yo Ma Today’s tune: Elegy —by Lauren Scott Purchase this Modern repertoire suggestion for lever harp...
Day 22
“I want to make music that is both pleasing to the ear and worthy of the heart.” —Antonín Dvořák Today’s tune: The Evening Prayer Book —arranged by Darhon Rees-Rohrbacher Purchase this Romantic repertoire suggestion for lever harp at Harp Column Music, or substitute...
Day 21
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” —Plato Live event today! • 12:00 p.m. ET Join us for today’s live session featuring “Music of the Romantic Era.” In each live session we’ll talk with some of...
Day 20
“Music is the moonlight in the gloomy night of life.” —Franz Liszt Today’s tune: Oh Quand Je Dors —by Franz Liszt, arranged by Lise Vandersmissen Purchase this Romantic repertoire suggestion for pedal harp at Harp Column Music, or substitute something else! Today’s...
Day 19
“Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.” —Frédéric Chopin Today’s tune: Chopin Preludes —arranged by Maria Luisa Rayan Purchase this Romantic...
Day 18
“Inspiration is a guest that does not willingly visit the lazy.” —Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Today’s tune: June “Barcarolle” —by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, arranged by Elzbieta Szmyt Purchase this Romantic repertoire suggestion for pedal harp at Harp Column Music, or substitute...
Day 17
“Music is enough for a lifetime—but a lifetime is not enough for music.” —Sergei Rachmaninoff Today’s tune: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini —by Sergei Rachmaninoff, arranged by Kana Matsumoto Purchase this Romantic repertoire suggestion for pedal harp at Harp...
Day 16
“I am convinced that music should be written for the human soul, with the aim to express emotions that speak to the heart.” —Clara Schumann Today’s tune: First Arabesque —by Claude Debussy, arranged by Tamsin Dearnley Purchase this Romantic repertoire suggestion for...
Day 15
“To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable.” —Ludwig van Beethoven Today’s tune: Für Elise —by Ludwig van Beethoven, arranged by Marilyn Rummel Purchase this Classical repertoire suggestion for lever harp at Harp Column Music, or...
Day 14
“When I don’t make any progress, it is always because I haven’t yet been able to reduce the thing to its simplest terms. Once I have succeeded in doing that, it goes along by itself.” —Albert Einstein Live event today! • 12:00 p.m. ET Join us for today’s live session...
Day 13
“The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.” —Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Today’s tune: MInuetto —by Luigi Boccherini, arranged by Helga Harper Purchase this Classical repertoire suggestion for lever harp at Harp Column Music, or substitute something else!...
Day 12
“Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening.” —Nelson Mandela Today’s tune: Adagio avec expression from Sonate no. 6 —by Jean-Baptiste Krumpholtz, arranged by Megan Reeve Purchase this Classical repertoire suggestion...
Day 11
“Never allow yourself to play an aimless note. Every note must have direction and purpose.” —Carl Czerny Today’s tune: 25 Studies —by Carl Czerny, arranged by Kaffee Peck Purchase this Classical repertoire suggestion for lever harp at Harp Column Music, or...
Day 10
“The Classical style in music stands as an ideal: simplicity without loss of sophistication, emotion in balance with form, and clarity with elegance.” —Charles Rosen, musicologist and pianist Today’s tune: Dance of the Blessed Spirits —by Christopher W. von Gluck,...
Day 9
“I pay no attention whatever to anybody’s praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.” —Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Today’s tune: Mozart’s London Sketchbook —arranged by Megan Reeve Purchase this Classical repertoire suggestion for pedal harp or for lever harp...
Day 8
“Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.” —Albert Einstein Today’s tune: Adagios: Gentle Baroque and Classical Selections —transcribed and arranged by Kathryn Cater Purchase this Baroque repertoire suggestion for lever harp...
Day 7
“Practice is the best of all instructors.” —Publilius Syrus, Latin writer Live event today! • 12:00 p.m. ET Join us for today’s live session featuring “Music of the Baroque Era.” In each live session we’ll talk with some of the Harp Column Music artists whose pieces...
Day 6
“In music, the voice is the soul, and the soul is not only heard, but felt.” —Marc-Antoine Charpentier Today’s tune: Three Pieces by Francois Couperin —arranged by Meredith Mancini Purchase this Baroque repertoire suggestion for pedal harp at Harp Column Music,...
Day 5
“I have not chosen this art; it has chosen me.” —Antonio Vivaldi Today’s tune: Largo from the Lute Concerto —by Antonio Vivaldi, transcribed by Rhett Barnwell Purchase this Baroque repertoire suggestion for lever harp at Harp Column Music, or substitute something...
Day 4
“The best music is that which is the most pleasing to the ear and the most expressive of the heart.” —Arcangelo Corelli Today’s tune: Sonata VII —by Arcangelo Corelli, edited by Isabelle Perrin Purchase this Baroque repertoire suggestion for pedal harp at Harp...
Day 3
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” —Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, writer Today’s tune: 5 Scarlatti Sonatas —transcribed by Marcia Dickstein Purchase this Baroque repertoire suggestion for lever harp at Harp Column Music, or substitute something else! Today’s...
Day 2
“I worked hard. Anyone who works as hard as I did can achieve the same results.” —J. S. Bach Today’s tune: Prelude and Fugue no. 2 in C Minor, BWV 847 —by J.S. Bach, transcribed and edited by Katherine Thomas Purchase this Baroque repertoire suggestion for pedal harp...
Day 1
“Where words fail, music speaks.” —Hans Christian Andersen, author Live event today! • 2:00 p.m. ET Join us today at 2:00 p.m. ET for our New Year’s Day practice challenge kickoff party! Find out what we’ve got planned for this year’s challenge, and get tips for...
Live event lineup
Stay motivated by joining our FREE live sessions througout the challenge!
Kickoff party January 1!
First up is our annual 30 Day Practice Challenge kickoff party on Wednesday, January 1, at 2:00 p..m E.T. on Zoom! We’ll be featuring some of our Harp Column Music artists with tips on how you can get the most out of this year’s challenge.
Music of the Eras
We’re continuing our live events weekly with sessions on music of each era, featuring Harp Column Music artists. (Watch this space for updates on featured guests.)
All events below take place at 12:00 p.m. E.T. on Zoom.
Tuesday, Jan. 7 • Music of the Baroque era with guests Rhett Barnwell and Laura Sherman
Tuesday, Jan. 14 • Music of the Classical era, with guests Isabelle Perrin and Kaffee Peck
Tuesday, Jan. 21 • Music of the Romantic era with guests Maria Luisa Rayan, Elzbieta Szmyt, and Tamsin Dearnly
Tuesday, Jan. 28 • Music of the Modern era with guests Lauren Scott, Maurice Draughn, and Fabio Rizza.
Get the music!
You can choose any music you want to work on during the 30 Day Practice Challenge, but if you don’t know where to start, or just want to try something new, check out our list of recommendations that you can download now at Harp Column Music!
Here are a few of our favorite suggestions:
Baroque
Largo from Lute Concerto
by Antonio Vivaldi, arr. Rhett Barnwell
Purchase this Baroque selection for lever harp at Harp Column Music.
$6.00
Classical
Variations in C Major
by Haydn, arr. Isabelle Perrin
Purchase this Classical selection for pedal harp at Harp Column Music.
$20.00
Romantic
First Arabesque
by Claude Debussy, arr. Tamsin Dearnly
Purchase this Romantic selection for lever harp at Harp Column Music.
$10.00
Modern
Elegy
by Lauren Scott
Purchase this Modern selection for lever harp at Harp Column Music.