These one hour general-session classes are offered throughout the afternoon and on Sunday. Some are offered only once, while others are offered twice over the weekend. You do not need to register in advance to attend these classes.
Arrangement 101
Instructor: Deborah Henson-Conant
Levels: All
Harp Required? Optional
Need to make a 'melody' into a 'piece'? There's a formula for that and you can learn it! Deborah's mother taught her the secrets of arranging when Deborah was just a kid - and she's been using the same principles ever since then. Now she will pass them on them to you!
Group Lessons
Instructor: All
Levels: All
Harp Required? No, a pedal and lever harp are provided.
A group lesson is limited to four people who work one-of-one with the instructor for about 15 minutes. Others may observe but not participate in the lesson. You will all learn by listening to each other. You will be asked to play, so please bring something to work on with the instructor. This could be music you're learning or questions about your technique or music. This is a great way to get the direct insight of our outstanding faculty as they discuss your personal questions and concerns.
Group lessons are available at no additional charge and playing space can be reserved via the registration form with the exception of Deborah Henson-Conant. Schedule group lessons with her directly at info@hipharp.com.
Harp Cosmetology 101
Instructor: Jerry Brown
Levels: All
Harp Required?No
Is your harp showing its age? You will be surprised how easy it is to make your instrument look its youthful best. Jerry Brown, Harp Cosmetologist, will demonstrate simple home techniques for cleaning smudges (exfoliation), hiding scratches (applying foundation), restoring grain color (eye-liner), and even steaming out dents with a household iron (Botox?). Bring a harp that needs a little face-lift – Jerry will help you give it a fresh new look as part of his demonstration. He will also have inexpensive Harp Cosmetic Kits available for purchase.
Hear It, Like It, Buy It!
Instructor: TBD
Levels: All
Harp Required? No
This popular BITM class gives you a chance to hear harp music played by a professional harpist so that you can decide if it's something you might want to add to your own library. We'll come armed with lots of favorites we think you'd like to hear, but you can also bring things you'd like our harpist to play.
I Hear a Harp
Instructor: TBD
Levels: All
Harp Required? No
Are you overwhelmed by choices when you walk onto the floor of a harp showroom? Do you wonder about the differences in sound between each make and model? In this class, which takes place in the exhibit room (only open to class members during this time), a professional harpist will play and describe different instruments so you can make a side-by-side comparison of each one's sound. Virginia Harp Center offers the largest selection of harp makers in the country, so take advantage of this opportunity to hear them all!
Lever it Up!
Instructor: Robbin Gordon-Cartier
Levels: All
Harp Required? Optional
Are you limiting your playing to one key, no accidentals and certainly no lever slides? Get the most out of your levers and learn how adaptable your lever harp can be! This is a hands on workshop designed to get you playing in many keys, modulating and even jazzing it up!
Oh, The Places You'll Go, The Music You'll Play!
Instructor: Sunita Staneslow
Levels: All
Harp Required:No
Take a tour with Sunita and let her open the doors to places you may have never thought about playing. As a world traveler, Sunita has a treasure chest of stories. Come learn about playing at hospitals, Ambassador's residences and on the streets of Amsterdam, to name only a few. Your virtual tour will include ideas for different types of music that are best in certain locations.
So You Want to Play the Harp?
Instructor: TBD
Levels: Basic Beginner
Harp Required? No
This class is for the novice just starting his/her foray into the incredible journey that is the harp. Welcome! We will discuss the basics of beginning, including:
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the process of buying/renting a harp
•
which harp is right for you
•
the difference between a lever and a pedal harp
•
how to find a teacher
•
good beginner material
String Changing Seminar
Instructor: TBD
Levels: All
Harp Required:No
This class is for anyone who gets a knot in their stomach just thinking about what would happen if a string broke and you had to change it in a hurry. We will show you how to tie a basic knot and how to secure a string to the tuning pin. If time permits, we'll also talk about changing wire strings.
Technical Tips for Musical Mastery
Instructor: Lynne Aspnes
Levels: All
Harp Required? No
Have you ever wanted to skip the "practice session" and go straight to "playing" the whole piece of music? Lynne Aspnes will demonstrate how proper harp technique and productive practice sessions are worth their weight in gold. You will learn how to practice effectively while building up your technique, so that you will be free to effortlessly express your music artistically. Come learn how to build your technical repertoire!
What's that squiggle?
Instructor: John Wickey
Levels: All
Harp Required? No
The signs and symbols used in harp music can sometimes leave you scratching your head. This guided tour of standard symbols used in harp notation with demonstrations will help you understand just what to do the next time you find one of these squiggles on the page.
Zen and the Art of Harp Maintenance
Instructor: Howard Bryan
Levels: All
Harp Required?No
And you won't be afraid to ask! Friendly and ever so patient harp builder Howard Bryan returns to help you understand our inseparable companion friend, and sometimes temperamental foe--the harp. He will discuss how to inspect a harp (what you don't want to find when you inspect a harp you bought on E-bay), along with performing a harp "autopsy" (on a real live harp!) to show you the inner workings of the harp.
During the second part of the class Howard will spend time on ways to move our little beauties (sometimes beasts!) and entertain questions. Curious companions (and designated harp movers!) are encouraged to attend.
