Derin Kenny,
Harpist

As children change grades, switch schools, and drop out of dance or karate classes, harp lessons will always be a constant. After 12 years of spending my Monday afternoons with my harp teacher, we are friends and respectful colleagues. Harp lessons eventually become a stable, long-term adult relationship in their lives. In some cases the harp teacher becomes a mentor to their student, in others a place to go where school and work do not matter for that hour. Also, the years of lessons with your teacher will eventually put you in a place to look back and see how much progress you’ve made in a way you can’t sense when other aspects life are often changing.

Back To Questions

Most students don’t come to harp with the goal of turning professional. It takes determination and a big commitment to go to college for a music degree. While this is a path of interest for some students, many just want to have fun. There is nothing wrong with wanting to improve without the pressure of getting into schools and orchestras as well. Regardless of their goals, all of my students are taught as though they can be professionals, so that they have a good foundation no matter what they decide to do with it.

Back To Questions

I emphasize the differences in each student that I teach. Not everyone can learn the same way, and I make an effort to tailor each lesson to the specific needs of the student I am working with. Methods are personalized without losing the main points that every student needs: technique and tone. I emphasize technique from the beginning, rather than after they have grasped some pieces.

I try to stay kid-oriented with most of my teaching. We play games to learn to read music, race each other to place correctly on the strings, and sometimes draw pictures to learn our tempos. Music is your reprieve from school and work, I want to keep it fun rather than a chore.

Back To Questions

I started as a 6 year old in the Suzuki program. I continued Suzuki until I graduated from the program, studying under Kathy Kienzle until I attended Northwestern University. My dad was there for every step of the way, from teaching me pieces by ear on our electric keyboard while I picked them out on the harp to practicing my closing with me on castenets by the stereo for my first few lessons.

Back To Questions

Lessons are $25 for 30 minutes, $35 for 45 minutes, and $45 for 60 minutes. All beginners start with 30 minute lessons, and move up to 45 minutes as they progress.

Back To Questions

The Suzuki method started out with a violinist, Shinichi Suzuki. It has developed into programs for a variety of instruments, including the strings, harp, flute, piano, recorder, voice, organ, and guitar. Mary Kay Waddington developed the harp books which include the traditional Suzuki pieces as well as some specifically for the harpists to learn technique through a carefully developed program of pieces.

Back To Questions

No! You can rent from a harp company or a colleague or possibly your teacher. Some people rent for a year, some for only a few months. Some harp companies will rent you a harp that you eventually pay off and own.

Back To Questions

The harp is certainly a unique instrument, that nearly covers the range of a piano. With the harp a player essentially accompanies themself, unlike the single line instruments (flute, violin, etc). It also won’t sound screechy or out of tune with your beginning harpist, so those first tunes will sound pleasant to the ear. This is great for the beginner student, sounding good from the start will prevent some of the frustration that can come of not getting the tone right away.

The harp is a beautiful instrument. It has more career choices than most instruments, because it functions so well as a solo instrument without needing a piano to back it up. Harps are in demand for weddings, events, and concerts; as well as orchestras, operas, and chorus pieces.

Back To Questions

There are a variety of prices for a harp. Pedal harps can range from $18,000-$34,000 depending on the decoration and style. Renting is a good option for harpists starting out, some lever harp companies have rent to own programs. Lever harps are much less expensive than pedal (concert) harps, and more portable. There is a huge variety in styles, prices, and shapes of harps; we can work together to find one that works best for you.

Back To Questions

Music lessons teach discipline, attention to detail, and provide an outlet to express emotions. With weekly lessons, your child will be getting a reprieve from the pressures of school, and will develop a constant presence in their lives that will last over years when classes, jobs, and events around them are changing.

Back To Questions