Annemieke Harmonie reckons the world needs harpists and, fortunately, there seems to be a worldwide resurgence in playing an instrument that has been around for thousands of years.
She describes it as the instrument of the heart and goes on to say there is nothing quite like the sound of a harp orchestra plucking the strings of 10 or so harps.
Her students form the Harmonie Harp orchestra which provides the rare experience of listening to ‘many harps played in harmony’ and which she says is divine and very special.
Tucked away on a ‘homesteading’ block in Dovedale, Annemieke has been teaching harp in the region for 14 years and today’s students range from six to mid-70s, with some overseas students taught via Zoom.
As a six-year-old growing up in Holland she pleaded with her parents to be able to play a harp, and three years later they sought out the harpist at a concert who said she would teach at their village if they could get enough kids together.
A harp has accompanied her on her journey ever since and, as a young woman travelling around Europe busking, she was invited to play in castles, palazzos and even caves.
“It’s an amazing way to travel,” she says. “As soon as you sit down, it reaches people’s hearts.”
Her backpack was made to accommodate her harp – which come in a range of sizes – and at 24 she headed south with a one-way ticket to Singapore and beyond, eventually busking in Australia and then New Zealand, where she has stayed.
Then at 27, her birthday present to herself was changing her name by deed poll from Neidig to Harmonie, which she felt better represented who she wanted to be.
These days she plays at weddings and increasingly at funerals, while her students busk because she encourages them to get out there and play to people.
“I tell my students to take their harp busking; take it to rest homes, churches, schools. Share their music and that motivates them to get even better.
“The harp is for every age and ability. I work with dyslexic and people who can’t sight read, and it isn’t an issue. I teach them by sight initially and then tell them to put their music aways and play by heart.”
That is, after all, what playing by heart means, she says. Listening to their heart when they play.
“I think music is the expression our soul.”
Harps aren’t cheap - about $7,000 new - which is why Annemieke has rental harps for her students.
Though if they do buy a new one, she says it will increase in value, partly because it’s hard to find a new one, but harps literally improve with age.
Their sound gets better as they are played.
Anyone wanting to hear the orchestra of harps will have to wait another two years.
Concerts have just been held in Nelson and Motueka and Annemieke says she only holds them every two years because it takes time for students to practise for the next one.
