The Therapeutic Harp Workbook

A practical workbook for harpists and musicians working in health care and the community

Alison Ware

• Publisher: Gentleharp
• Year: 2021
• eBook ISBN: 9780648705215
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Music & Business

The Therapeutic Harp Workbook is a practical guide exploring the wonderful world and nuances of therapeutic harp. This relatively new profession uses the harp to support a person's physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing in healthcare facilities and in the community. The harp has been an instrument of transformation and healing since ancient times and a recent resurgence in its use in health care has seen the profession of therapeutic harp grow.

Drawing on 12 years of clinical practice, Alison provides guidance and suggestions for all musicians wanting an insight into the deeper aspects of playing in a therapeutic style within health care and community environments.

By using case studies, practical strategies, journaling and art activities, this workbook will assist and further develop your understanding of therapeutic harp. Topics include: what is therapeutic harp, finding a training program, self-care, professional practices, musical development, artistry, and exploring the spiritual aspects of playing music at the bedside of the ill. Also included are inspirational stories from other therapeutic harp practitioners.

The Therapeutic Harp Workbook encourages you to dream big as you create and develop a new way of offering your music.

Music skills

As therapeutic harpists our core business is music. Therefore, basics such as good foundational harp skills, ability to memorise and improvise, good repertoire development, and knowledge of music are essential in developing a broad musical toolbox. A good technique and body posture will also help when moving our harps from our cars, around facilities and community centres and playing for extended periods. We use a wide range of music skills so we can play in a wide variety of areas.

An inventory of your music skills can be useful.

My musical strengths include:

What music skills do I need to focus on and develop?

I encourage you to be lifelong learners and continue ongoing music lessons. With the advent of the internet, the world has become a small place. We can access excellent teachers from around the world.

An idea is to look for a teacher who can help you with a specific issue. For example, do you need help with modes, rhythm, improvisation, entrainment, resonant tone or technique? An experienced teacher can help keep you on task and show you different ways of approaching your music development.

Ideas of teachers and music programs I would like to learn from:

Take advantage of weekend workshops, conferences and programs, such as Virtual Harp Retreat and Virtual Harp Summit – all affordable ways to learn.

My list of harp workshops and conferences I would like to attend:

Practice

‘The things you do every day take on a certain beauty and provide a kind of invisible architecture to daily life.’

– Gretchen Rubin

Music is at the core of our service. Therefore, ongoing music practice can help us develop and play to the best of our ability. The ideal is to continue learning and practise every day. It can be hard to find time to practise as there are so many competing demands in daily life especially if we are working, and juggling study and family life. Like every creative act, practice can sometimes feel easy and enjoyable and yet other days feel like a struggle where you can’t quite seem to play that one phrase as you want to.

However, often it’s the structure around your routine, process and discipline of turning up to practise that’s important. The practice room can become a creative hub where over time great improvement, creativity and artistry can happen. We just need to keep showing up. I really feel that if we reframe how we think about our practice time it can become a time of self-nurturing, growth and playing as opposed to just practising.

It is possible to create a routine of looking after yourself and then use this time to connect with your inner self. This inner self will be reflected outwards by how you approach your playing, how your music sounds and how you progress.

However, often it’s the quality and consistency of our practice that makes a difference over time. For example, 20 minutes of focused daily practice can be more productive than playing for 2 hours once a week. My first teacher advised me: ‘As a harpist, if you are not playing or practising daily, you are going backwards.’

Why practise?

This section will look at how to establish an effective practice schedule. I have included several ideas that you may find helpful.

We practise:

» To build skill.

» To learn new repertoire.

» To develop technique.

» To perform and offer our music to the world.

» To give a purpose and goal to our playing, e.g. practising to play at church.

» To connect and be comfortable with our instrument.

» For enjoyment!

What is my motivation to practise?

What stops me from practising?

How can I make time and space for music practice?

I always find it helpful to have a purpose for my practice session. Having a purpose or a goal gives me structure, meaning and an extra reason to sit down and practise. It allows me to develop a plan to grow as a musician. For example, a purpose for your practice may include starting your internship, playing at a family gathering or playing in church.

To begin, buy a beautiful notebook and pen to encourage you to write a practice log. Then create a plan for your p...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Copyright
• Acknowledgments
• Contents
• Introduction
• A therapeutic harpist’s creed
• Notes on art, creative and reflective exercises
• The harp as an instrument of healing
• Exploring therapeutic harp
• Training to be a therapeutic harpist
• Work experience as an intern or volunteer
• How to create a therapeutic harp position
• Approaching facilities
• Therapeutic harp and professional practice
• Documentation and support networks
• Specialising in therapeutic harp
• Taking it further – diversify!
• Music
• Playing with spirit
• Self-awareness and self-care
• Conclusion
• Appendix
• Resources
• Selected bibliography
• Back Cover