Plan Now for Your Best Harp Summer Ever

By Anne Sullivan 

I can't wait for summer. 

It’s still rainy and chilly here, but summer isn’t that far away and my summer harp plans are already in place. Are yours?

WHAT? You don’t have summer harp plans yet? Let me help.

Summer is a time for vacations and relaxation, but it’s also perfect for spending quality time with your harp. I always enjoyed summer practice. With no immediate performances on the calendar, It was less structured and driven. I could learn new pieces or experiment with arranging piano pieces or pop songs I thought would be fun to play on the harp. I could focus on an aspect of music or harp playing that I didn’t have time to get to during the year. My lessons with my teacher were more relaxed too.

But the best part of summer was harp camp.

All through the year, I felt a little lonely. I had plenty of friends of course, but no friends I saw on a regular basis who played the harp.  I wanted harp buddies.

Spending time with harpist friends was what I loved most about harp camp. Everyone I met at camp understood the struggles and the fun of being a harpist, and yet there was a wide range of musical experiences that made each of us unique. My first summer at camp was an eye opener for me. And it was SO much fun.

This experience was what led me to start my own harp camp many years later. I started Harp in the Mountains (which is now called Harp Quest Summer Live) eighteen years ago, and it has been almost as much fun for me as a teacher as it was when I was a student. Each year I watch our students form strong friendships, develop new harp skills and leadership skills, and connect with the harp playing in a deeper way. But most of all, I watch our students have fun with their harps and their harp buddies.

Do I think you should consider going to a harp camp this summer? You bet.

Would I love you to come to Harp Quest Summer Live? Of course!

But the harp camp you choose needs to be a good fit for you. The questions below may help you make the right choice.

• Would you like a camp that would push you to achieve or one where the focus is more relaxed?
• Would you like to spend more time practicing by yourself or working with the group?
• Would you like to go to a sleep away camp or a day camp? (We have both options at Harp Quest Summer Live.)
• What is the most important thing for you to do with your harp playing this summer, according to you, your parents and your teacher?
• What would be the most fun thing you could do with your harp playing this summer?

Naturally, your teacher and your parents will help you with the choice too. But don’t wait for them. Do some online research now and show them a few options that appeal to you.  (You can find the Harp Quest Summer Live info here.)

One more thing: if you already have a good harp friend, why not consider both attending the same camp?