How to Invest Wisely in Your Harp Playing

By Anne Sullivan 

Perhaps you were lucky enough to have Santa (or Grandma) give you some cash or a gift card as a holiday gift this year. What could be better than to put that gift to good use by investing it in your harp playing? Below are ten quick tips for spending that gift in a way that will make you happy, make your teacher happy and make your parents happy too. Now that’s major holiday harp happiness!

1.  Stock up on accessories. Take advantage of the year-end sales at many music stores and stock up on strings, tuners, metronomes and any other essential tools that you use everyday. My favorite suggestion for harpists: a spare tuning key to keep in your car’s glove box!
2.  New music stand or stand light. Improve your outlook with a new, less rickety music stand or a brighter stand light.
3.   New repertoire. This is the time to add a few new items to your “must-learn” repertoire list. Include a couple of stretch pieces to push you a little, some shorter pieces useful for gigs, and a couple of sight-readable fun things to play.
4.  Schedule an extra lesson with your teacher. After the holidays when life slows down a little is a great time to schedule an extra lesson. You could work on a special piece or dedicate this entire lesson to improving your technique. A little extra focus never hurts!
5.   Register for summer harp camp. There are many options for summer study, from ambitious camps for serious-minded students to ones that combine learning with a more easy-going approach. Do your research and find the right one for you. (Don’t forget to check out Harp Quest Summer Live!)
6.  Buy concert tickets. Listening to and watching performances online is great, but it doesn’t come close to the experience of a live, in-person concert. It doesn’t have to be a harp concert; an orchestra concert or chamber music concert or a recital by another instrumentalist can be just as inspiring and educational.
7.  Take a language course. This may not seem directly related to music, but recent research (“Music, Language and the Brain,” by A. Patel) has discovered deep cognitive connections between the two. Studying a language could not only help your musical study, but help you on your next international tour!
8.  Pamper your hands. Buy some handwarmers like Hot Hands, or some comfy mittens or gloves, or even better treat yourself to a manicure. I have a pair of down-filled mittens that I count on when the weather is cold and snowy. Don’t forget nail clippers to keep in your harp bag.
9.  Buy a practice journal. Starting the new year by organizing your practice is a terrific plan. There are dozens of practice journal options you’ll find online. Possibly even a plain notebook is all you need. You can check out what we have in the Harp Mastery® shop and see if any of those are right for you.
10. Get social. There is nothing so much fun as being part of a group of people with the same interests as you. Check out the American Harp Society website and look for a chapter near you. The AHS national events are great ways to meet other young harpists too.Just get out there and join the party!