<![CDATA[Kristie's Music Studio - Blog | Kristie Smith, harpist]]>Wed, 28 Aug 2024 20:46:30 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Sitting Pretty! Great Posture at the Harp]]>Tue, 20 May 2014 23:50:26 GMThttps://www.kristiesmusicstudio.com/blog--kristie-smith-harpist/sitting-pretty-great-posture-at-the-harpSitting Pretty!
Great Posture at the Harp
by a harpist and certified Pilates instructor

Have you ever thought about how you sit at the harp? Did you realize that your posture affects how you look and sound when you perform?

Improving your posture at the harp will give you confidence and a sense of well-being. Perhaps more importantly, it will help you to be a better performer! Keep reading to discover 5 essential steps to great harp posture.
Picture of me sitting at harp
“Developing strong, balanced posture
is one of the simplest ways to improve
as a performer.”

5 Steps to Great Posture at the Harp

  1. Adjust the bench so that when you are seated at the harp, your right eye is at about the height of the discs of the top C string. (This can vary, depending on the height and proportions of the harpist. For a smaller harp or lever harp: line your right eye up with the levers of about the 5th string from the top.)
  2. Find the balance point of the harp. Although a full-size pedal harp weighs around 80 pounds or more, when you rest the harp at or near its balance point, it effectively weighs almost nothing! This may come as a relief if your back and shoulder ache from holding the harp up all the time.
  3. Balance the harp on the inside of the right knee. (The left knee should not touch the harp.)
  4. Rest the harp lightly on the right shoulder. Do NOT twist the body so that the harp rests on the right upper arm. Briefly explain the benefits here.
  5. Find neutral spine, which I explain and demonstrate in the video below.
(video demonstrating the steps goes here)

Take It One Step Further
with
Advanced Posture Consultations

I have a lot of personal experience with the importance of good posture at the harp. I have experienced a lot of joint and nerve pain, and improving my posture is something that has helped me on my path to well-being. In fact, I pursued a Pilates teacher training program because exploring body awareness and balanced posture and movement was a major game-changer for me!

With my background in both playing the harp and teaching Pilates, I am uniquely suited to help other harpists seeking to improve their posture.

If you are interested in improving your posture at the harp, or perhaps you’d like to explore ways to feel better—both while at the harp, and even while moving the harp--send me an email. I offer Skype and in-person consultations, and I can also point you in the direction of some helpful resources.
Has this article inspired you to explore your posture? Did you learn something new? Do you tend to slump and round your back at the harp, or do you arch your back like I tend to do? Let me know in the comments!
Suggested Reading
  • Bond, Mary. The New Rules of Posture: How to Sit, Stand, and Move in the Modern World. Rochester, Vermont: Healing Arts Press, 2007. Chapter 3, “The Root of Posture,” pp. 54-71. See especially pp. 60-64.
  • McDonald, Susann, and Linda Wood Rollo. Harp for Today: A Universal Method for the Harp. Louisville: MusicWorks, Harp Editions, 2008, p. 12.
  • Renié, Henriette. Complete Method for Harp. Translated by Geraldine Ruegg. Paris: Aphonse Leduc, 1966, p. 7.
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