Child wants to learn piano and harp- advice?

[Coolyule]

Hello. My dd had piano lessons aged 5 and loved them but her piano teacher relocated and so she stopped her lessons. She will be starting lessons again with school in year 3 next sept. She has said on a few occasions that she would like to learn the harp- she does cerdd dant in the eisteddfod where she sings with the harp which has sparked her interest. I’m not planning on buying a harp anytime soon as they’re crazy expensive and obviously this might just be a whim! But I was wondering- would she be best doing piano for a few years and then trying harp when she’s older if she is still keen? Or would it be best to start harp lessons alongside piano? Thanks

Do you know if there are harp teachers around? Maybe ask the person who she sings with? My DC is learning violin and trumpet and we rent the intruments from the teacher and the county music service. You don't need to buy the harp most likely. If you child is so keen on the harp, find out what's available first and talk to the teacher about it.

She can learn the piano at school if she likes it? Our county music service is
£270 a year and both my DCs take music lesson at school.

What I mean is she can learn multiple instruments in year 3. It's not a one or the other choice. My year 3 does trumpet at school and is also learning the piano with me.

Are there options for lessons through school? Maybe talk to them & see what they say. I know a few of dd's friends played harp, and they definitely started in primary, but I can't recall what age.

They work quite well together - my dad did both. She started with piano and then the harp. They recommend you hire a harp for practice, if you do check to see if the hire costs will be deducted from the overall cost if you buy it later (it be worth your while as if you do this you can then go on to sell the harp and recoup past costs).

If you have a piano, then it’s cheaper for you if she starts with that and gets to a certain standard before adding the harp. Mine plays harp and piano. Started asking to learn harp at 6 or 7. He was already doing piano then. We said get to grade 3 on piano first I think but that was more to make sure he was keen. We also had to find a teacher. He started harp in year 4 or 5. It meant he could already read both clefs of music and was used to 2 hands working independently. It made the start of learning faster I guess but I don’t think it’s essential. We had a rent to buy scheme for the harp - so first year rental then after that rental was put against purchase cost. To start with we had to take the harp into school for lessons. Now more children learn and there is an instrument in school for lessons. Her size also affects the size of harp - mine was big enough to start on a 34 string by the time he started. The smaller ones only take you to a certain level of grades, 34 can get up to grade 8.

Thank you. Music service at county do offer harp- I will ask about renting one. I do have a piano already.