Traditional Harp School

The Traditional Harp School is about learning the harp from the Gaelic and Gallic (Irish and Celtic) traditions of Ireland and the British Isles. The Traditional Harp School’s distinctive approach involves ‘training by ear’ with flexible, creative arrangement from the first lesson – inviting the player’s choice from simple options, building complexity at a steady pace so the player is performing from their own creative impulse. Social musicianship i.e. the art of the ‘Irish session’, are at the heart of this method also which enables players to participate at all levels of music activity and in any location. Literacy follows fluency - unlike the Classical art music method that is literacy-lead. There is much to commend the traditional approach and, lead by its exemplars, it is increasingly becoming the harping style of choice.

From 2025, students can choose whether to learn within the Irish tradition alone, or to learn the same method through a mix of music from all the Celtic regions in Britain with the recent publication of the ‘Harp of the British Isles’ series of tutor volumes. Effective for all ages of players in all abilities providing all that is necessary to ensure a life-time of joy and musicianship, healthy technique and finger fluency, cultural heritage and belonging, community and friendship, the Traditional Harp School ensures every player’s comfort and confidence with our national instrument.

Janet Harbison has been a champion of traditional (oral/aural) harp training, social music participation and performing excellence since the 1980s. From a celebrated background of competition triumphs, national awards and harping at Ireland’s highest level (including travelling on state visits with Ireland’s president), Janet has shared her prowess, trained over 40 All-Ireland Champion harpers and brought many other performers to the international stage through her harp orchestras (the Grammy Award winning Belfast Harp Orchestra (1986-2002), the Irish (1999-2023) and Irish Youth (2005-2016) Harp Orchestras). Since the publication of her Harp Tutors from 2004, her training has become available to harpers, teachers and ensemble directors world-wide accruing many accolades, awards and recognition.