Harp Camp
Enrich your harp learning over the summer with SFCM’s Harp Camp for students aged 12-18. Hone your musical skills and connect with other young harpists from the Bay Area. During this five-day program, each harpist gets to perform solo, in a master class, and with the harp ensemble. Harpists receive daily instruction in topics including harp ensemble, eurhythmics, harp history, and special workshops such as arranging your favorite harp piece, improvisation, managing performance nerves, and more. Come join us this summer, collaborate with your harpist peers, and get your harp playing in tip-top shape!
Faculty: Jennifer Ellis, Program Director
Ages: 12 – 18
When: Monday, July 17, 2023 - Friday, July 21, 2023 (12:30 - 4:30PM)
Tuition: $550
Registration Deadline: April 15, 2023
Requirements:
Up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination and booster is required for all those participating in Summer at SFCM programs. If you are unable to get vaccinated due to a medical reason, please email summer@sfcm.edu.
Participants must have previous harp experience, ideally at least 1 year of instruction. After registration, participants will be asked to send an introductory video so we can get to know both you and your playing. You will share your name, share what you're most looking forward to about harp camp, and play one song.
Sample Daily Schedule (12:30 PM - 4:30 PM)
12:30 PM - Welcome Activity
12:45 PM - Harp Ensemble Rehearsal
1:45 PM - Eurhythmics break!
2:15 PM - Workshop of the day (Performance Success, Amazing Harp Sound Effects, etc)
2:45 PM - Performance Success Workshop
3:15 PM - Master Class
4:30 PM - Closing Circle
Faculty
Committed to pushing the boundaries of harp performance, Jennifer R. Ellis (D.M.A. University of Michigan, M.M. Cleveland Institute of Music, B.M. Oberlin) has performed over one hundred premieres. She embraces firsts; she was the first harpist to be a U.S. State Department One Beat Fellow and the first harpist to attend Bang on a Can, Fresh Inc., and Splice summer festivals. An Alice Chalifoux Prize awardee, her recordings range from American Indian Fusion (Dha Re Dha with Sumkali) to premieres for harp and saxophone (Launch with Jonathan Hulting-Cohen on Albany Records). From kinesthetic music education to ergonomics to teaching for diverse learning needs, Dr. Ellis is dedicated to innovative music pedagogy. In addition to a rich classical tradition, she welcomes the opportunity to teach electroacoustic harp performance and improvisation. She enjoys helping harp students design and meet their own creative goals. She was named an inaugural University of Michigan Engaged Pedagogy Fellow, earned a UM CRLT Graduate Teacher Certificate, and trained in eurhythmics pedagogy at CIM. She was a guest instructor for MPULSE, a 2017 featured clinician at the International Harp Festival, 2018 harp faculty at Nief Norf Summer Festival, and a 2017-2018 Artist-In-Residence at UC Davis. She currently teaches for Mills College, Harps Etc. and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.