They Might Be our Next Wedding Harpists

Little people just can’t stay away when they hear harp music; they are drawn to the sparkling gold and multi-coloured strings. And really, who can blame them?

I started playing the harp when I was 7 years old after listening and watching my grandmother play my entire life. Now one of my favourite parts of playing at weddings and family events is when the children muster up the courage to approach the harp and closely watch as I play.

And if they seem interested, I thoroughly enjoy letting the children take a turn plucking the strings and making a glissando (only with clean hands, obviously!).

The harp is an expensive instrument, and it is a particularly big investment for parents when a child decides they want to learn. But the more children are exposed to the harp, and have the opportunity to hear and see it live, the greater their understanding of the level of practice required to master this amazing instrument.

As you may have seen from my previous posts, my concert grand harp has 47 strings and 7 pedals. Playing the harp is a very physical activity as it requires dexterity and control whilst using your entire body to reach, stretch, dampen strings and move pedals. All this is done at an angle as the harp rests part of its 100lb weight solely on your right shoulder.

Ava plays on Michelle Dalton’s harp at a wedding in Sutton Coldfield, England

Due to its delicate nature, not all harpists are as willing to let children play on their instrument. But for me this is an amazing gift and experience, and worth sharing at every opportunity.

And maybe, just maybe, some of the children who first tried the harp at a wedding in the West Midlands of England, will go on to learn the harp and perform for weddings and corporate events around the world.