HARP LESSONS

Laurie has been teaching harp students for 18 years. She enjoys working with absolute beginners as well as those with more experience. All are welcome - her students range in age from six years to 80. It's never too late to learn! Lessons take place at Folkmote Music in Santa Barbara, CA.

Laurie is also the harp instructor at the Harmonic Alliance, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide private education in music to children of low income families and foster homes within the greater Santa Barbara area.

Emphasis is on establishing a healthy hand position and technique so the student will be prepared to pursue any genre of music, be it traditional Celtic, classical, or pop. Music theory is an integral part of studying harp and students are encouraged to learn to create their own arrangements. An ultimate goal is to share music in performance, either in a casual gathering with family and friends or in a more formal recital or concert setting.

HARP RENTAL

Beginners often choose to rent a harp for a few months before deciding what type of instrument to purchase. Please inquire about the availability of rental harps.

HARP WORKSHOPS

Laurie is a popular harp workshop instructor whose classes have been well-attended at festivals and conferences around the country. Some of her appearances as guest teacher and performer:

• Conferences of the International Society of Folkharpers and Craftsmen - Olympia, WA and Galveston, TX
• The Dusty Strings Harp Symposium - Seattle, WA
• The Summer Solstice Festival of Folk Music - Calabasas, CA
• The Los Angeles Irish Fair - Los Angeles, CA
• The Fort Flagler Folk Harp Festival - Nordland, WA

Workshop topics include:

Starting Out Right - Guidelines for Beginners
Turbo-Charge Your Practice Time - Shortcuts to Success
Make It Your Own - Creating Arrangements for the Harp
Slaying the Dragon - Conquering Performance Anxiety
Taking it to the Streets - Busking with your harp

Current Harp Students
To view the Student Lesson Calendar click here.