Hi Folks,

Got my harp from Ben Bechtel in Columbus OH. Ben is a great old guy whose specialty is early instruments, and he only builds a few a year but he warrantees them for his lifetime (he IS getting up in years...). Mine is actually a Gothic (French) style harp, but I love it-- lightweight, with a carrying case and a lot of sound for its size. Ben designs his harps himself and he designs them for optimum volume, sweetness of sound and light weight. In fact he'll talk your arm off about the physics of sound and etc. Ben was beginning work on a Celtic style harp when I got mine, but I decided I really liked the gothic and didn't want to wait. When I got mine I was planning to attend the Oberlin Harp Week (part of the Scottish Harp Society's Scottish Music week and Scottish Games, at Oberlin College north of Columbus OH) When he wasn't able to get it finished in time Ben lent me his demo harp for the week! This is by the way a very good event, Sue Richards, a very fine harper based out of DC, is usually on staff. It used to be a bigger event, but the teaching is solid and if you're interested in Scottish style harping it is good. Personally I think it's good to work with a regular teacher but also to go to some of the week-long teaching events that are held through the year. You get to hear some very diverse playing and it really broadens you. And it's fun. The Swanannoa Gathering near Ashville NC has Celtic Week; Augusta Heritage Arts Workshops in Elkins WV does Irish Week; and the John Campbell Folk Arts School (also in NC) is offering a beginning and intermediate harp class this year. I'm sure there's other stuff around the country. These programs are usually from Sunday to Friday or Saturday, and you can usually get a dorm room or go camping at a campground near by. The best part is that at Augusta and Swanannoa there's usually lots of informal music going on all evening long-- sometimes into the wee hours.

Good luck with your search-- it's worth checking out a number of instruments till you find what you want...