Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn to play the harp
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
The clarsach, the Scottish lever harp, changes key with small levers on the strings rather than the pedals of a concert harp, and the Clarsach Society points out that it is very hard to make an unpleasant sound on one. Harp societies and some classes rent or lend instruments, so you can learn before you buy.
Moderate£100 to £500 / $130 to $650MonthsIndoorsAlone or with othersUK and US
What it's really like
Most beginners start on a lever harp. The Clarsach Society, the Scottish harp charity, explains that a clarsach makes semitone changes with levers, while the classical pedal harp uses pedals. Group classes start with hand position, simple tunes and exercises, and some teach by ear as well as from written music.
Getting hold of a harp is the main hurdle, and not every class provides one, so check before you book. Fèis Rois in Dingwall offers free instrument hire to anyone in one of its weekly classes, and harps are among the instruments it lends. The Clarsach Society hires clarsachs to members who join a local branch, from a waiting list, with collection from its office in Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh International Harp Festival, run by the Clarsach Society, has run four-day adult beginners' courses of 90 minutes a day. In the US, chapters of the American Harp Society run harp circles, workshops and recitals.
Ways in and what they cost
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Fèis Rois, Dingwall, Scottish Highlands | All Ages Beginners Clarsach: Thursdays, 45 minutes; term 2 of 2026/27 is six weeks from 2 November 2026; for brand-new players; free hire for weekly class members | £54 for six weeks |
| West Virginia University Community Music Program, Morgantown | Harp on It, summer 2025: four Monday lessons of an hour; no musical background needed; hand position and simple tunes; harp rented through the local American Harp Society chapter | $80 plus a processing fee; harp rental $60 |
| Wharton Arts, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey | Harp Circle for Adults: 13 Thursday afternoon sessions of 90 minutes plus a recital; for new and returning beginners | $675 |
The Clarsach Society listed hire at £30 a month by standing order plus a one-off £40 admin fee, with insurance included. Morley Harps listed a Dusty Strings Ravenna 26 lever harp at £60 a month, with three months paid upfront, a 12-month minimum and the hirer arranging insurance. In the US, The Harp Connection listed lever harps from $50 to $80 a month, four months paid in advance, with a deposit of $125 to $200.
How to start
- Find a teacher or class through a harp society; the Clarsach Society has a Find a Tutor page, and the American Harp Society has a chapter finder and a directory of teachers.
- Start on a lever harp and borrow or hire one; some weekly classes lend harps free and harp societies hire them by the month.
- Ask about a come-and-try session or a short beginners' block before you commit to a longer course.
Where to go
- Fèis Rois: All Ages Beginners Clarsach, weekly class (Dingwall, Scottish Highlands) UK
- The Clarsach Society: harp hire terms UK
- American Harp Society: join a chapter and find a teacher US
- Wharton Arts: Harp Circle for Adults (Berkeley Heights, New Jersey) US
We opened these links on 9 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a lever harp and a pedal harp?
Both can change key. A lever harp, such as the Scottish clarsach, uses levers to raise a string by a semitone, while the classical pedal harp uses pedals, according to the Clarsach Society.
Can I rent a harp?
Yes. The Clarsach Society hires clarsachs to members at £30 a month plus a £40 admin fee, and The Harp Connection in the US rents lever harps from $50 a month with a four-month minimum.
How do I find a harp teacher near me?
In the UK, use the Clarsach Society's Find a Tutor page or ask a local branch. In the US, the American Harp Society has a chapter finder and a professional directory of teachers.
Can you rent a harp and then buy it?
Some dealers allow it. The Harp Connection applies all of the first four months' rent to the price, and Morley Harps may credit some rental payments on new lever harps.
Where this comes from: The Clarsach Society, Frequently asked questions; The Clarsach Society, Terms and conditions of hire; Fèis Rois, All Ages Beginners Clarsach with Bill Taylor; Fèis Rois, Instrument hire; Edinburgh International Harp Festival, home page; Edinburgh International Harp Festival, adult beginners' four-day course (T02); West Virginia University Community Music Program, Harp on It; Wharton Arts, Harp Circle for Adults; American Harp Society, Join a chapter; Morley Harps, Harp hire; Morley Harps, Dusty Strings Ravenna 26 harp rental; The Harp Connection, Lever harp rental program. Opened 9 November 2026.
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