Welcome to the harp studio!

Katherine’s Background as a Teacher

Currently, Katherine is a Teaching Artist for the Lyra Society in Philadelphia. She has previously held faculty positions at the Music Institute of Chicago and the People’s Music School of Chicago. During her time in Chicago, Katherine also maintained a full private studio and was the Harp Coach for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras. Her students have won prizes in citywide competitions and positions in the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras and the Midwest Young Artists Orchestra. She has given masterclasses at the Young Artist’s Harp Seminar and the University of Northern Iowa. Katherine has frequently been invited as harp faculty at the Sun Valley Summer Music Institute in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Katherine's teaching philosophy has been guided by training in harp pedagogy with Gretchen Van Hoesen at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, as well as training courses in the Suzuki Method. Katherine is a registered teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas. She has completed training in Suzuki Book 1 with teacher trainer, Phala Tracy.

Teaching Philosophy

Katherine loves teaching and hopes to share her passion and enthusiasm for music and the harp with her students. She creates a positive, encouraging, and safe environment in every lesson. Proper posture and technique is critical to every musician. Emphasis on posture, hand position, relaxation, and injury prevention is a focus of every lesson to ensure students can enjoy the harp without pain. Studying music is hard work, but it should be fun! Students are encouraged to be creative and take pride in their hard work and accomplishments. Games are often used to teach younger students, as are fun projects, like writing your own composition! Students will learn how to be supportive of their studio mates as they all perform and grow together.

Katherine has been very lucky to have three incredible teachers and mentors throughout her career: Gretchen Van Hoesen, Principal Harp - Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Sarah Bullen, Principal Harp - Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Elizabeth Hainen, Principal Harp - The Philadelphia Orchestra. Katherine strives to emulate these three inspiring pedagogues every time she works with students.

About the Harp Studio

Katherine offers both traditional and Suzuki lessons and she is currently accepting new students into her private studio. Lessons are available over Zoom or Facetime. Yes, it’s possible to learn the harp remotely!

Students of all ages are accepted to the studio. Katherine loves working with all students and has experience teaching students from age 4 to 80!

Studio recitals take place twice a year, and additional outreach performances (at nursing homes, schools) are added as possible. Students are encouraged to be members of the local harp chapter and participate in local events such as concerts, competitions, or masterclasses. Students will gain confidence with performance experience and stage presence skills are incorporated into lessons.