Absolute Harp Program
The sound of the harp is often dreamlike, almost like a fairy-tale. But to create this magical sound, it is a lot to keep track of for the musician: 47 strings and seven pedals! The first harp instruments existed already about 5,000 years ago. At that time the instrument looked different; the harps were small, did not have as many strings as today – and no pedals at all.
New Age Owls Music Academy conducts both pedal harp and none pedal harp for our students. We encourage young students less than 14 years to start with none-pedal harp.
New Age Owls Music Academy's Harp Therapy e-Outreach Program
It is a program pairing individuals with disabilities with youth mentors through partnerships with community agencies and schools worldwide.
The Harp Therapy e-Outreach Program offers harp and music instruction to at-risk youth and students with mental, intellectual and physical disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome, and other emotional and neurological disorders.
This life-transforming experience not only provides students healthy social interactions with their peers, but also results in clinically documented improvements in behavior and occupational motor skills. This innovative program utilizes the harp and music instruction to develop musical, psychosocial, and physical skills in children and youth, enabling them to build life and social skills and develop friendships and peer groups that otherwise would be difficult to acquire.
Mentors benefit through experiencing a viable application of their music study, giving them direction and strengthening their chances for a college education or career in music.
In addition to peer mentors, the program includes a professional harpist/educator, music therapist and occupational therapist. A weekly evaluation tool measures the efficacy of the harp as a therapeutic tool. Progress in musical, psychosocial and physical goals continues to be recorded.