Harper Angela Biggs teaches the beginner harp workshop.

On Wednesdays from October 9 – November 13, 2:45-3:45 pm at the CSB Community Center, Claremont vocalist and harper Angela Biggs will be teaching a harp course geared toward students of middle school and high school age. New harpers will start at the very beginning with games and exercises to orient them to the harp, and along the way will learn a couple of simple songs. Classes will conclude with a short demonstration in the main lobby of the CSB Community Center — and perhaps a marching harp-band!

Topics covered will include: the anatomy of the harp, fundamentals of technique, scales, basic composition, a couple of extended techniques, and more if time permits. Students will also be encouraged to find some extended techniques of their own. Harps are provided, and the suggested donation is $30 for the series ($5 per class; classes are cumulative).

The next workshop in the Hands on Harps series is scheduled for Saturday, November 2 at 12:15 pm in Union Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 133 Old Church Road, Claremont. (Another session will be added at 1pm if more space is needed.) Each installment in this popular series starts at the very beginning, no prior experience or participation required! Novice harpers get to play together, improvise for each other, and learn a simple song, with an emphasis on having fun while discovering a beautiful and rare instrument. This edition of Hands on Harps takes place during WCCMA’s annual NH Open Doors event. Doors open at 10am: come early to shop, and hear a live harp performance — perhaps even a rare harp duet! — from 11-noon. Harps are provided; class size is limited; fee is by donation.