AHJ, Vol. 7 No. 1, Summer 1979

A First!
by Marilyn S. Marzuki
The American Harp Society has recently taken very
agressive action in making the harp more visible and
more accessible to the public. Our President, Ann
Stockton, had the foresight to see that it was time for us
to take the harp to the people. While it is true that the
Society provides its members with many services, the
next natural step was to service the public by educating
them as to the harp's versatility and accessibility.
With this in mind, our initial approach was to exhibit
at a national educational music convention. We chose
the Mid-West National Band and Orchestra Clinic, held
in Chicago December 11-16, 1978, as our first venture.
It attracts many people yearly (7 ,000-10,000), and all
teachers there are instrumental directors - the very people
who have the need for, and the influence to, obtain
harps for their groups. In addition, the exposure could
attract potential Society members.
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HAR
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IN YOUR
SCHOOL-
WHY
NOT?
The sign at the booth, designed and constructed by artist
Lois Henderson of Miami.
The American Harp Society's booth at the Mid-West
National Band and Orchestra Clinic, December 11-16,
1978, Chicago.
What a beneficial experience it was! Just by being
there, we created a greater awareness of the harp in
everyone who passed by our booth. For the people who
stopped and expressed interest, the personal contact was
much more effective than any mailing could be. Obviously,
the harp has more of a chance of being introduced
in their schools than it ever did before.
It was wonderful public relations for the Society.
Many who stopped were either harpists or friends of
harpists not currently members; this direct contact will
help stimulate the growth of AHS.
Ideally, we would like to have displayed a wide variety
of pedal and non-pedal harps but lack of booth space
prevented this. Because it was a public school music
convention, the non-pedal model was chosen for
SUMMER/1979
display. It seemed a most appropriate introduction to
the harp not only because of size, but especially of cost,
as cost is such an item in the schools. In the future, conventions
of another nature might warrant the exclusive
use of pedal harps.
The three harp manufacturers who supported AHS
by contributing to our recent competition were contacted
to participate in the exhibit in two ways: to lend
non-pedal harps and to donate any materials relating to
harp in the schools. Of the two manufacturers of the
non-pedal model, Salvi was unfortunately out of stock
but Lyon-Healy was able to supply one for our booth.
Both firms also contributed some very interesting and
apropos brochures concerning harp-in-the-schools programs;
this material was available to anyone who stopped.
We certainly appreciate both Henning Christiansen's
and Suzanne Balderston's interest and efforts
in making our first venture as successful as possible.
In addition to these handouts, we were also able to
provide visitors with some informative literature about
the Society as well as some fine magazine reprints.
Dorothy Remsen supplied us with membership
brochures, and Gail Barber with AMERICAN HARP
JOURNALS. Ann Stockton wrote an excellent synopsis
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