HOW NOT TO BE A HARPIST
Learn jazz harp improvisation from day one, sessions designed for real playing
HNTBAH 2026
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Spring Sessions
Sundays, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM (East Coast Time)
Each session is independent
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April 12 – Jazz Improvisation for Classical Harpists 101
Introduction to the fundamentals of jazz improvisation for classical harpists.
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April 19 – Arranging a Song
Learn how to develop the accompaniment of a simple melody.
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April 26 – Blues (Part 1) – Fundamentals & Scales
Basics of blues: scales, motifs, and techniques for improvisation.
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May 3 – Jazz Reharmonization (Part 1) – Transform Any Song into Jazz
Reharmonization techniques to play any song in a jazz style.
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May 10 – How to Build a Solo (Part 1) – Melody & Rhythmic Phrasing
Build a solo from the melody and experiment with different phrase lengths and rhythms.
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May 17 – Jazz Harp Workout “How Not To Be a Harpist” (Part 1)
Practical exercises to develop your jazz vocabulary on the harp.
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May 31 – Jazz Reharmonization (Part 2) – Intermediate Concepts
Deepening reharmonization concepts and enriching chord progressions.
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June 14 – Blues (Part 2) – Enriching the Form
Advanced techniques to improvise and enrich the structure of the blues.
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June 21 – How to Build a Solo (Part 2) – Intermediate Solo Concepts
Advanced techniques to create more complex and personal solos, with rhythmic and intensity variations.
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July 5 – Jazz Harp Workout (Part 2)
Final session to put all concepts into practice and improvise in real situations.
How does it work ?
Each How Not To Be a Harpist session lasts 2 hours and can be
attended independently of the others.
The lessons are group sessions, online, designed to let you work directly
on improvisation techniques, jazz vocabulary,
and practice with backing tracks.
Each session has its own theme (see schedule above).
Rates:
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Single session: $75/2 h
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5-session pack: $330
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10-session pack: $600
Each session is independent, allowing students to join
any class without prerequisites.
By enrolling in multiple sessions, you can take advantage of a discounted rate while deepening your harp improvisation practice.
How Not To Be a Harpist is a comprehensive
teaching method for harpists who want to go beyond conventions and expand their jazz harp practice.
Born from previous editions of intensive 5-day workshops, totaling 15 hours of practice, this method has evolved into a flexible and progressive approach, tailored to each student, regardless of their level.
It combines technical discipline, jazz, harmonic knowledge, and improvisation,
allowing each harpist to explore music in a new way.
Who is it for?
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Beginners curious to explore jazz and improvisation
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Advanced harpists looking to expand their jazz vocabulary and improvisation skills
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Anyone wanting to go beyond classical habits and develop their personal musical language
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Pedal harps and lever harps welcome
What You’ll Learn
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Individual or group lessons (see schedule below)
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Work on improvisation technique and jazz vocabulary
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Development of your ear, rhythm, and musical sensibility
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Technical approaches adapted to both pedal and lever harps
Why It Works
This method is entirely practice-focused: you will play with backing tracks from the very first lesson, developing your improvisation skills and jazz vocabulary directly in real musical situations.
Classical technique and improvisation complement each other:
every exercise and piece helps you progress both
in your mastery of the instrument and
in your personal musical language.
What People Are Saying...
Elizabeth R., USA
“I learned a lot and have many new tools to use. This class was understandable for beginning students and in depth enough for more advanced harpists. I also have a better understanding of the jazz genre overall and how to play it on the harp. Suffice to say this is one of the best classes I've ever taken!”
Liz M., USA
“I am still in awe of the amount of work you put into this class! I came to the course looking for how I can develop my own voice/sound along with my love of the American Songbook standards. There is so much for me to unpack from all that you have given me, so thank you so much!”
Maria L., GERMANY
“This week was such a great experience!
Eleonore is a fantastic teacher, she really takes the time to meet each student where they are. The amount of material we received was incredible - I’ll be using it for months to come. I’m so happy to finally understand how to approach improvisation in a way that makes sense to me. ”
I'M IN!
No payment required at this stage