Stories about The Reverie Harp

I wanted to tell you that the harp arrived safely at my home. It arrived last Friday morning.
I want to tell you a story that I think will touch your heart. It is about healing, music and connection.

I heard the doorbell ring when I was still in bed. I had the flu a few days last week and wasn't feeling well so I had slept in a bit. When I did get up, I found the box from you at the door. I brought it inside and told myself I would open it later so I sat it by my desk in my den.

I was busy doing routine things around my home and waiting for my son to come for a visit. He is a 20 year old college student at UW River Falls and a most amazing young man. He was diagnosed with Asbergers Syndrome/PDD and Tourette Syndrome when he was 4. We worked very hard with our local school system and he had a "pushy" mother who never took "I can't" for an answer. He does extremely well, but still has issues that face every person who suffers from this type of disorder. I told you this for a reason and this is what makes the day the harp came even more special. I was resting in my recliner when he came and he spotted the box. He asked what was in it and I explained the story to him. He asked if he could open it and I told him he could. I moved to the carpet and we sat together and opened the box. Both of us gasped when we saw the harp! At the same time we said "Isnt that beautiful"......."look at the tree in the middle, wonder if it is a tree of life". Then he strummed the strings and we both melted. What a beautiful sound!!! We sat on the floor for 1 hour. He just kept saying how soothing the sound was and how he thought it was a really neat thing. We talked about the sounds and the vibrations. It was wonderful to see him interact with the sounds of each string and then the sounds of each strumming of the strings. Then I took it and we sat a bit longer as I enjoyed making my special sounds on it. He asked if I knew how to play it beyond just making the soothing sounds and told me he would like to learn to play it.

SO..........this harp you sent for me to try has already done 2 things. It made a special young man sit by his mother and share some special time. It soothed both of us that day and I have enjoyed it each day after. Sometimes I just sit and pluck each string and love the sound. It is a beautiful piece of equipment and that time I shared with my son.............the day the harp came.....was a gift!!!! I am moved by what happened from the time we opened the box. Some things are meant to be.

Here is a slide show about the Reverie Harp produced by the St. Paul Pioneer Press

I wanted to tell you how my friendship with the Reverie Harp is growing. I haven't yet taken her to the hospital where I play because I want to know her better, but I have played her for individuals in my home and theirs, and the amazement has been universal.

Most of all, on the evenings when I have played my large harp at the hospital for several hours, I curl up in a comfortable chair and play the Reverie for myself. All the hospital noise and busyness falls away, and I can return to the still place where I need to go frequently if I am to have music worth giving anyone.

For the most gentle tone, I use the original Reverie tuning. I have tried soft rubber "picks", and the rubber finger protectors I get from a sewing supply house, but my favorite sound comes from plain fingers on the strings. The best relaxation comes from a balance of note groups and pauses for the harp's full resonance. Improvised and discovered tunes with slow arpeggios across the strings are deeply soothing.

Although the Reverie Harp can be played by people of all ages and musical backgrounds, it is no toy instrument or substitute for "real music." Each time I play her, the sound both soothes and amazes me, as if someone else were playing for my relaxation. My fingers find new melodies and harmonies whenever they touch the strings.

This is a wonderful new version of the ancient psaltery, deep and harmonious. Thank you and all who worked on her development.

Elizabeth Hazen
Vermont

I took my harp to the nursing home where Granny was confined for three months as she recovered from a broken leg with multiple fracture. There was an 86 year old lady there who couldn't see, hear or speak. I placed my harp on the table in front of her where she was waiting for her food to be served. I placed her hand on the strings of the harp and allowed her to become familiar with it. There was little expression on her face. I then put the pick in her hand and helped her strum the strings. Still little expression on her face. I then took the harp and placed it against her chest, face, jaw bone and ear. I strumed the strings and was rewarded with a huge smile! I then placed the pick in her hand and helped her to strum the strings. She began to smile so very big and to utter something like AAAwwwww. As she kept on strumming the strings, she began to look around to try to find me, all the time smiling so big and saying AaWW, Aweee. No one will ever know for sure, but might this have been the first time she had expirenced Music as we know it????? The expirence was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today I introduced the Reverie Harp to a hospice patient. This 91-year-old hospice patient has thoroughly enjoyed music therapy sessions. Today he had the opportunity to actually play the harp himself. I placed the Reverie Harp across his chest as he sat up in his hospital bed. At first he slowly and deliberately plucked the strings, mostly low notes. Then he strummed to create soothing chords. He continued to intently focus on the instrument, moving his stiff hands gently across the strings. When he finally stopped, he said through misted eyes, "the song is about water. The water was so beautiful there in Pearl Harbor. I had to keep my head above water. I lost so many friends that day. The water was so beautiful and this song is about that water.

Background on Irma: Irma is in a nursing home.. She is in her 80's and is completely bed ridden. She has no hips and is in extreme pain with any movement. She can't change position without help - lies on her back in bed 24/7. She wishes she could die. Her 92 year old husband visits daily. Her hands are by her sides. I've never seen her hold a book/paper, so she can't read. Her only activity is watching TV. She told me after strumming the harp after I placed it on her chest, "If I had one of these, I'd never watch TV again." She was able to strum the harp with her fingers with very little arm movement.

Then visited Irma again. When I walked in her door, she said "Did you bring it again???!!!" She didn't think she could play it (had forgotten she did it on Monday) but when she started strumming it with wide grin that never left, she asked me to go find some nurses and aides who would come and hear her play. When I said that Irma was playing my harp and "wants some of you to come and hear her play", this nurse looked at me like I was reporting a miracle since Irma doesn't use her hands/arms. She walked down the hall with me, 2 aides followed to see this miracle, too. They all stood around her bed as Irma played and were in awe.

Lucille
Rock Island, IL

Just two weeks before she died, I became aware of a very small harp-like instrument that was made by Musicmakers in Stillwater, MN. It is called the Reverie Harp. I had it shipped to Mesa, on the Wednesday before she died, and she was able to strum it on her lap, for a couple of days, until she became too weak to do so. Music was very important in her life, and she was so proud that I had taken up the harp...and was studying therapeutic music. Those of us in her hospital room would strum the little harp and just make pleasant sounds in the midst of a hospital setting. The harp was on her lap when she died, and we all felt comforted by its lovely sounds.

Kathy
Jackson, MN

I played the Reverie Harp at a gathering a couple of weeks ago, and people were mesmerized. One gal who plays a regular harp told me it sounds like I have been playing for years and years.

I then took it to a friend of mine and played for her and her husband, the strumming and plucking and then the dulcimer hammers - they were awed. This is the most incredible instrument ever. When I was first told I would be playing a stringed instrument, I had a dream. In my dream, I found what now as I know it appears to be a dulcimer, but it was strummed and it was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. I thought, God, is there really an instrument that sounds that beautiful? So I researched the internet and the very closest was a 36 string harp, but yet, it was still not the sound I had heard in my dream. So I typed in harp kits one day and came to the Musicmaker's website. I saw this Reverie Harp and listened to the sound bites. It was the exact sound I had heard in my dream. I teetered to pay bills or to get the harp when a voice came very loud and clear into my head "JUST GET IT!"...At which point I then ordered the Harp.

It is the most amazing sounding instrument anyone could ever play. No special musical talent is needed, just a desire to play. Thank you for creating this most wonderful instrument. I know many doors of healing opportunity are opening to play for people who need to be touched.

Pamela
Almond, WI

Stories and videos about the Reverie Harp