At Let's Play Music, we know your child is eager for musicianship training, even if her young fingers aren't quite ready for the keyboard yet.
The autoharp offers a fantastic way to learn while her fingers develop. All 1st Year students play the autoharp in class, and some can practice at home. For those who can’t, here are tips on the why and how of practicing autoharp skills at home without a harp!
Why Practice Autoharp?
Playing the autoharp in class helps students develop multiple skills at once. They coordinate both hands, read the Chord Map, press buttons with one hand, and strum with the other. Students learn to maintain a steady beat while incorporating chord changes and harmonizing with their singing. This improves their ability to hear and identify chords and play an instrument on the beat.
When it's time to play piano, these students will be ready, with skills in reading music, keeping time, and self-correcting. As they compose in 2nd and 3rd Year, their ear training will contribute to their success.
Given all this learning, wouldn’t it be great if you could practice these skills even without a real autoharp?
Use the App
Did you know our Let's Play Music app includes an autoharp? Just toggle to the key of C Major, F Major, or the major/minor mode, press the chord triangles and strum! This is best when your child is reading from the Homework Booklet and singing along. Using a tablet gets better results than a phone.
Use Your Homework Booklet
Your child can improve her skills by pressing the chord triangles and strumming the coil on your homework booklet while listening to the album. Don’t underestimate this simple, effective tool at your fingertips!
Open to the chord maps in your booklet, play the album, and strum away!
Make an Awesome Autoharp
Crafty parents can create a homemade autoharp!
Print a full-color photo of an autoharp (8x11 or 11x17). Use a local print shop for larger sizes.
Mount it on foam-core, cardboard, or plywood for sturdiness.
Optional: Use Mod-Podge to protect the image.
Add texture to the "strings" with glue for ridges. You can also use fishing line for added texture.
Stick real stickers on the appropriate chord buttons.
Buy an Autoharp
If crafting isn’t for you, consider buying an autoharp. It's perfect for family gatherings, road trips, and talent shows.
Look for:
At least 21 chords (15 is the minimum for Let's Play Music).
A chromatic harp, which includes all notes like a piano.
Used harps can be great buys, often starting around $100 on platforms like eBay. Oscar Schmidt is a common brand, with new harps costing $350-$600.
Essentials:
A digital tuner and a tuning tool (if not included).
Avoid harps that:
Can’t hold tuning or have loose pins.
Replacing a missing or broken string is usually inexpensive, but if a harp doesn’t hold tune for weeks, consider replacing all strings. Felt replacement is manageable with a kit.
We love all the benefits of playing autoharp and hope you will notice these in your child's education!
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