Two Little Words Can Improve Your Harp Posture

Picture your ideal harpist. Is this harpist slumping like a rag doll at the harp? Or are they graceful and strong and straight? 

When people tell you to sit up straight, the list of directions seems endless. “Pick your head up, put your shoulders back, pull your chin in, don’t hunch your shoulders, keep your feet flat on the ground,” etc., etc., etc. 

We are here to tell you there are two little words that can be your foundation - literally - for your best harp posture. Well, maybe the words aren’t so little. Are you ready? The words are…

Ischial Tuberosity.

Yep. That’s them. What do they mean? They are fancy words for your “sit bones,” those knobby bumps on your bum that you sit on. (But we like ischial tuberosity better, just because it makes us sound smart.)

So how do your sit bones help your harp posture? 

Try sitting on your harp bench. Sit up straight and you can feel your sit bones, directly underneath you, supporting you. Now slump. You can still feel your sit bones, but they just feel bumpy, not strong. Now lean a little forward, the way we harpists sometimes do. You probably can’t feel your sit bones under you at all.

Here’s the point. If you remind yourself to sit directly on top of your sit bones, you’ll be sitting up straight. Two little words equal one great harp posture.