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Day 30 – Highs/Lows The highs are easy. I truly love what I do. Getting to be part of weddings, special events, and meaningful moments—and knowing the music brings a sense of peace, beauty, and elegance—is something I don’t take for granted. It makes me so happy to hear that people enjoy it, relax, and remember those moments. I really do feel honored every time someone trusts me to be part of their day. The lows? Sometimes it’s the practical things—changing strings, handling the business side, or traveling at night. And yes… there are times when I’m not chosen for an event, and that can be a little disappointing. But those moments are small compared to the bigger picture. The positives far outweigh the negatives. And even the harder parts have solutions, rhythms, or people (like my husband!) who help carry the load. At the end of the day, I still love sitting down at the harp and playing. And I’m really thankful I get to call this “work.” 
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Day 29 – Harp in Numbers My harp, a Prelude: 38 strings 36 levers 44 pounds 64 inches tall The harp is played with just 8 fingers (no pinkies!) Harps can range anywhere from 19 to 47 strings Pedal harps have 7 pedals I started harp lessons at age 17 I purchased my harp at age 22 I’ve been playing professionally for 15+ years I’ve studied with 2 harp teachers And have taught 12+ harp students (and counting!) Lessons: 45 minutes weekly $180/month Events: $200/hour Wedding ceremonies: $400 Lots of numbers… but each one represents a story, a student, or a special moment.  Day 28 – Harp Mobile “Can I help you?” the salesman asked. “Yes… can you pull that SUV up, put the back seat down, and let me try my harp in it? If it fits, I’ll be back.” That was my car-buying strategy. 😊 You can look up storage space online, but the way seats fold (or don’t) makes all the difference when you’re trying to fit a harp. That first vehicle sold before we could go back for it, but shortly after, we found a Mazda5. I brought my harp, tried it out, and it fit perfectly. We test drove it, sat down to do paperwork… and another salesman came over asking for the keys because someone else wanted to test drive it. That made me feel pretty good about the decision—especially since it was my first car. I drove that Mazda for nine years and absolutely loved it. In October 2025, it was hit at an intersection and totaled. Thankfully, my husbandand son were both okay—we are so grateful for that. But still… it was hard. It may have “just been a car,” but it was my harp-mobile for along time. After a lot of research (thankful for my husband on that one!), we ended up test driving a Chrysler Pacifica—and it checked every box. This one fits both my harp and my children’s harp… and both car seats. Just a few weeks after getting it, we were all able to load up and head to a Christmas concert together. That moment alone made it feel like such a gift. If you’re considering getting a harp, don’t forget to think about the “harp mobile” too.   Day 27 - Favorite Thing to Listen To Since I listen to more than just music, here’s what you’ll usually find playing on my phone or in the car… Most mornings, I start with listening to the Bible. Last year I went through The Bible Recap, and this year I’m listening through the ESV on the Bible app. For podcasts, my favorite (and the one I actually stay caught up on!) is Simple Purposeful Living by Erin Port. If I could meet one person right now, it would probably be her—she’s been such an inspiration to me. I’m also looking forward to reading her new book Tiny Tweaks, Happy Life. Other podcasts in my rotation include The Crystal Paine Show, The Lazy Genius, Be a Blaze!, The Jasmine Star Show, and Truth for Life Daily Devotions. In the van, Paisley usually requests The Collingsworth Family Radio. Since it’s on Pandora, it rotates through similar artists, so we get a mix of family groups and men’s ensembles. I also have a station called Anne of Green Gables Radio that I turn on when I want background music I won’t sing along to—it leans more Celtic, which I really enjoy. And recently, I added something new. I found myself feeling a little robotic in my own playing—wondering what people actually hear and feel when they listen. I know what they say, but I wanted to feel it too. So one evening, I turned on the TV, opened YouTube, and just listened to harpists. All kinds—men and women, young and old, sacred, classical, Celtic, fast, slow… And it was wonderful. Peaceful. Beautiful. The kind of music that makes you stop and just… breathe. Now, I’ll often listen to harpists as I scroll on Instagram or Facebook and imagine I’m sitting in the audience, hearing it for the first time. And that right there—that feeling—is why I keep playing. For you. For the quiet moments. For the “wow, that was beautiful” moments. What do you love to listen to?  Click photo to hear a harp song titled "Stillness". One of my favorites. Day 26 – Harp Crush My dream harp has always been my Prelude—and after 19 years, I’m still completely happy with it. If I ever did consider a pedal harp, I’d be drawn to the Lyon & Healy Style 85E (especially in ebony to match). I’d also be curious about the Salvi Daphne 40 as a smaller, more portable option. But truly? I love what I have—and I have no plans to change it.  Day 25 - Away from the Harp Professionally, if I’m away from the harp… I’m at the piano. With my family, I’m making memories. For fun, I’m usually in the kitchen—most likely baking something sourdough. In my dream world, I’d also be a gardener with flowers blooming all around the house. With friends, I’m building relationships (often over coffee… or something baked). In the past, I’ve dabbled in photography. When the weather is nice, you’ll find my kids and me outside—sunshine, water, and all. I’ve been reading more this year (thank you, library prizes, for the motivation!). And I still try my hand at art—mostly sidewalk chalk and the occasional painting project. Do I stay busy? Yes. But it’s a mindful, purposeful, my heart is full kind of busy.  Day 24 - Regrets If I had to name a few regrets, most of them would fall into one category: not starting things sooner. I wish I had learned how to use a music program years ago. I have several projects on my list now—but they all take more time than I can realistically give at the moment. And honestly? That’s okay. As a small business owner, I do wish I had focused more on the business side earlier on. I started teaching as a teenager and didn’t charge much—sometimes nothing at all. Even now, I’m still learning how to promote what I do and put myself out there. For a long time, I’ve caught myself thinking, “There are others who do this so much better than I do.” But I’m learning something important. Harpists in other parts of the world—the ones I admire—can’t do what I do here. This is where I’ve been placed, and these are the people I get to serve. And that matters. Every time I’m asked to play for an event or take on a new student, I’m reminded what an honor that is. One of my favorite things about teaching—especially now that I work mostly with teens and adults—is seeing that it’s never too late to learn something new. (My oldest student is almost 85!) So instead of holding onto regrets, I’m choosing to move forward-- to keep growing, keep learning, and keep building what’s in front of me.  Day 23 - How I Mark My Music Most of this post probably needs pictures… but here’s a little behind-the-scenes of what you’re seeing. The biggest rule I learned from my first harp teacher: lever changes are marked in red. Always. That way, when I see red coming up, I know my left hand needs to be ready. And for me—nothing else gets to be red. That color is reserved. 😊 Beyond that, my music can look a little… creative. I use sticky notes, stickers, arrows, and little reminders like “smile” or “breathe.” One of my favorites—someone once looked at my music and said, “I know the harp is a string instrument… why does it say breathe?” The answer: because I used to hold my breath through harder passages without even realizing it. My teacher caught it and made me write it in. Now I don’t forget. I also tend to use:
What about you? Any favorite ways you mark your music? Day 22 - Teachers I’ve been incredibly blessed by the teachers I’ve had along the way. My first harp teacher was Dona Delcia Coelho. I started lessons with her on October 29, 2001, and studied with her for two years before my family moved to the United States. At the time, I didn’t have my own harp, so my schedule looked a little different. I had lessons on Mondays and would stay to practice until my mom picked me up. Then on Wednesdays, I’d go back and practice again while my mom ran errands. One of the most valuable things she taught me was that you don’t have to be at your instrument to practice. Reading music, naming notes, clapping rhythms, noticing accidentals and dynamics—there’s so much you can do anywhere. I still use that today. She also had an incredible ear. She could be resting on the sofa while I played, wake up, and tell me exactly what I got wrong. She tried to give me space during practice, but every now and then I’d hear a correction called out from upstairs if I was about to lock in a mistake. She gave me such a strong foundation, and I still think of her every time I sit down to play. Years later, after I purchased my Lyon & Healy Prelude, I began lessons in Chattanooga with Mrs. Laura Goldstein. She didn’t just teach me how to play—she helped me step into performing. I still remember when she told me a friend of hers would be calling to ask if I could play for a wedding cocktail hour… and that I was to say “yes.” I was shocked. I didn’t feel ready. I didn’t think I had the right music. I didn’t have a music degree. I still felt like a beginner. But she walked me through everything—contracts, music selection, what to expect when I arrived, how to set up. And after the event, she checked in to see how it went. That one “yes” opened the door to so much of what I do now. I’m so grateful for her guidance and encouragement—I truly don’t know what my music journey would look like without it. Good teachers don’t just teach music. They shape the path you take with it.    Day 21 - Learned the Hard Way When I first started playing for weddings and events, I would get paid when I arrived. That worked… until one particular wedding. I showed up and asked about the check. “Ask mom.” “Ask dad.” “I think it’s in the truck.” “The truck is locked… who has the keys?” Meanwhile, it was time for me to start playing. Not wanting payment issues to delay a wedding, I went ahead and set up. It was a windy day, and at one point the wind was actually playing my harp strings for me… just not any of the songs the bride had requested. Then, during the prelude, someone finally brought the check and set it on the grass next to my music stand. And the wind? It took that too. Thankfully, I was able to grab it quickly, tuck it safely into my music book, and keep playing. That was the day I realized… there had to be a better system. Now, after 15+ years, I require a 25% deposit to book, with the remaining balance due two weeks before the event. It makes everything smoother—for me and for the client. And that wasn’t the only lesson. At another wedding, I played the bride’s entrance music… and the bride didn’t walk in. I kept playing. And playing. Then finally ended the piece. Still nothing. I looked at her mom, and she said, “the bride’s song!” That was the bride’s song. Turns out, they had added children to the processional and hadn’t told me—so the order had changed completely. Now, I always make sure I have the coordinator’s contact information ahead of time and confirm the final plan before the ceremony begins. Because sometimes things change… and not everyone gets the memo. Some lessons you only have to learn once.  Wedding Ceremony at the Botanical Gardens in Dothan, AL. |
Bethany MurphyWife, mother, small business owner, music teacher and performer. Categories |
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