Concert Grand Harp gives students new opportunities to learn

Recently, the Eisner Center welcomed a new silhouette into its midst: a Lyon and Healy Concert Grand Harp. In October, Professor and Studio Instructor Ni Yan traveled to Lyon and Healy Harps in Chicago to bring the Department of Music its first harp.

The process of finding a good harp can be challenging, involved and precise. Concert Grand Harps are individually made with 47 strings of different sizes and length, but all seven octaves must have the same quality of sound.

To ensure a quality selection, Yan and a colleague spent three hours playing and listening to various instruments, taking turns with one person’s back turned to choose the best sound through a process of elimination.

With the harp’s addition, students will now be able to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the instrument firsthand in addition to participating in ensembles. “Without an instrument, it is difficult to have a program, since most students who wish to learn do not own a harp,” Professor Yan explained. “Having a harp available for teaching and performing will make it easier to advance students skills.”

After a short ‘break-in’ period, the Department of Music looks forward offering new and current harp students the chance to try out the new instrument.