Hands on Harps!

Hands on Harps is a six week group/whole class program designed to develop musical skills. The Harp, our National Instrument of Wales, is the central focus.

Students will discover the instrument and develop their musicianship skills through, playing the harp, listening to harp music and singing/moving to a harp accompaniment. Musical stories (HarpTales) from Wales and beyond will form a central focus to workshop content.

The project uses eight beautiful medieval replica lap harps, each with 17 strings, for the student to learn on. I lead the workshops on a 34 string Celtic harp, the lap harps and for one session a ’show and tell’ on a concert pedal harp. Boomwhackers and percussion are used additional instruments for Hands on Harps sessions to assist with rhythm and note understanding for the whole class.

There are ten clear targets for students to work towards on the harp (see below). At the end of the six weeks a show case of skills assimilated will take the form of performing a musical story as a group. Action and drama is augmented by music played on harps, songs learnt and a variety of other musical effects and sound. This final aim creates momentum with a clear goal to work towards and can be recorded for prosperity!Music covered in a session will encompass a variety of styles and genres including Celtic and Medieval tunes for class to play on the harp. Hands on harps of course includes well loved traditional welsh tunes. 

 

Harp Tales™ from Harp Wales!

 

Harp Tales™ are interactive, exciting and educational musical stories told with harp accompaniment and child participation through song, sound and movement.

Each HarpTale™ is carefully tailored to engage appropriately the age group being worked with. Music covered in a session will encompass a variety of styles and genres including well loved traditional welsh tunes.

The session will begin with listening to the sound of the harp, a general introduction and interesting facts about the harp. This is followed by warm up activities to develop musical skills, all with a central focus on composing sounds and actions for the story being worked towards. A song will also be learnt by the group and then…the Harp Tale will begin and children join in with sounds, movements and song. It may possible child to have the opportunity to the harp at the end of the story and finally the session will close with reflection and farewell!

HarpTales™ can be booked as standalone session for Primary Schools, nurseries, library story time afternoons, public events etc. The HarpTales™ also form part of Hands on Harps - a six week group/class harp project.

 

What Harp Tales can you expect?

 

Three Billy Goats Gruff

Hare and Tortoise

Jack and the beanstalk

The Gruffalo

Owl Babies 

Morgan and the Golden Harp

The Emerald Harp

Gabriel and the Bear

Treasure Hunt

Hairy Scary Castle

Harp O’Gold

Jack and the beanstalk

….And many more! Do make a request!

 

Music in Hospitals - Creating Joy Through Live Music:

 

Playing in Hospital day rooms and Nursing Homes providing entertainment for people who are not able to attend cexternal oncerts is  a very important and rewarding aspect t of my work.

For more information on the work Music in hospitals carry out please visit their website: www.music-in-hospitals.org.uk

For further information on lunchtime recitals, concerts and other public/community appearances, please use the tabs to the side, also visit my blog for updates and up and coming events.

 

To ask questions or book any of the above please do not hesitate to contact me, I look forward to hearing from you!

 

Shelley Fairplay - e: info@harpwale.com t: 07960 718663