The Harp Festival of Philadelphia

Have you always wanted to learn how to play the harp? Are you seeking to improve your playing, or become a professional? The Harp Music Festival of Philadelphia can help reach that next level through our education programs. Visit our education page for specific information. Inquire about scholarship opportunities, too! Any experienced harpist knows that they can do better with someone listening, a coach, a guide through the thorny paths of musical life. There are many harp dealers who can help you arrange a purchase or rental of an instrument, some are even our sponsors. There are also harpists who have instruments that they rent out. We can help you locate them so you can get started.

Harps can be compared to cars, when it comes to cost. You can get one new or used, major make or off-brand. You can get a shift or automatic. Well, sort of. Pedal harps have foot pedals that allow you to play any note, so they are suitable for classical, jazz or popular music. They have long been the standard, and come in several sizes and prices. Lever harps have little levers that enable you to change the pitch one string at a time, and are great for those with limited space, budget or needing a small-size instrument. How do you accessorize your harp? Mainly, they need a cover, a tuning key, a tuner or tuning aid such as tuning forks, a dolly or cart if you plan to move it at all. You need to have a set of spare strings at all time. You have to purchase music for playing and to have something on hand you can move on to next. If you don't support harp music publishers, we won't have sheet music anymore and we do need sheet music, preferably in a store so you can look at it.

Harps are strung with a combination of nylon, gut and wire strings.

The Harp Music Festival of Philadelphia is dedicated to education and we offer master class performance opportunities to dedicated harp students and professionals, and concert performance opportunities at each festival. Contact us for information on participation: tell us who you are, how long you have been playing, what you play on, what repertoire you play, with whom you have studied, what your goals are, and what you would like from our master classes. One may play in more than one, given space.

Open Lessons are a new approach to master teaching. With an open lesson, a student/performer has a full hour session with the master teacher and an audience.

We are pleased to offer this new approach. You will be able to submit a video DVD or audio recording (CD or cassette tape) for evaluation and a written critique by the artistic director. (This is not the same as an audition.) We are not yet offering live video. Telephone contact possible. Send an email inquiry for rates and payment. While not ideal, for harpists who cannot travel or need resources unavailable in their country or region, we are pleased to offer this service

Courses:

We are developing plans for ongoing summer harp study in the Salzedo method at a location to be announced. Contact us if interested.