Brittany's Harp Fund

When I started playing harp, I was footloose at seventeen. I'd always been fascinated by the idea of playing harp and when I was able to strum my hands across my very own instrument, it was dreamlike. But as unreal as it seemed, I knew it was right. We just fit.

Speaking of perfect matches--my husband and I had our first date in 2005, which was actually a wedding I was playing for. He came along and helped me with the harp. You might say it was love at first load-in. We were married in 2007 and since then he's been to more than his share of nuptials with me and the harp.

And now that we have three sweet kids, there are child seats in the car where the harp used to be. It's no longer possible to take everyone and the harp anywhere in the same vehicle. That started me wishing for a smaller instrument that I could "toss" in the car with us for weddings and road trips when we go see my family in Alabama. 

I'd looked at smaller electric harps before in a "one day it'd be cool to have one of these" sort of way, but what had me seriously consider it was one night when my husband's grandfather was under hospice care and we knew that he didn't have long. His health was failing and we jumped in the car to go see him. He was at the point where he was no longer able to speak, but we knew that he could hear what was going on. As I sat there, tears filled my eyes not only because we were saying goodbye but because I wanted to play harp for him. I knew what a comfort it would be. But logistically, we weren't able to bring it. As we left that night, I felt a huge pressing on my heart to figure out a way to use the precious gift of harp and song on a whim--in moments like that when there isn't time to make arrangements.

When my sweet grandmother was at this point when she could no longer speak, we lived in the same house and I was in her room playing harp. I still count it a priceless gift that I was blessed to play to her when she breathed her last.

I've also thought about it during some hospital stays.Two of our three children began their lives in the neonatal intensive care unit. When I was 32 weeks pregnant with my daughter, I had a placental abruption that ended up in an emergent c-section. There's nothing like going home from the hospital each day and having to leave your newborn child behind. During those weeks in the NICU, there were so many tearful days when I would think to myself, "How awesome would it be if someone just walked in here with a harp and started playing?" I would love to play harp in the NICU for those sweet babies and exhausted moms and dads.

And just a couple of weeks ago, I was honored to go visit a dear lifelong friend under hospice care. Again I wished I could have brought the harp with us. I know it would have blessed her because she's always loved music. It was on the way home from her memorial service that I decided to go ahead and setup a gofundme campaign.

Something life has taught me is that when someone's in the hospital or under hospice care, they're not the only ones who need lifting up. When a person is undergoing treatment or when they're living what they know are their final days, there are caregivers there too. And they're worn out. They're grieving. They're answering the phone, filling out paperwork, figuring out meals and at the same time trying to be an encourager. They're continually pouring themselves out for the person they love and they need reprieve. The patient needs blessing tremendously; but sometimes the caregivers need it just as much.

I want to be that person. I want to be that breath of fresh air and encouragement to people that desperately need it. I want to bring hope and emotional healing. I want to use what God has given me to bless other people. Face to face.

And I think an electric lever harp would make all of this possible along with opening other doors. 

A smaller harp will fit in the back of our van without removing seats, allowing our family to be together when I need to play somewhere. I'd love to be able to play consistently at church without having to separate the family into two vehicles. And instead of me leaving my kids to play somewhere on Christmas Eve, we could all go together. We could bring it to Alabama when we visit my Granddaddy at his assisted living home. We could bring it to all kinds of family gatherings.

There'd be freedom to do beach weddings or other outdoor engagements where I might have to pick up and run if the weather turned. 



The Lyon and Healy Silouette comes with a strap that allows the player to stand and move freely, lending itself beautifully to playing in a hospital or nursing home where there is a need to travel from room to room. (Think Christmas caroling!) It would combine the beauty and uniqueness of the harp with the portability of a guitar.

And besides that, it looks incredible.

My dream is to take my music from a special occasion thing and make it a lifestyle thing. When we get a call that a friend or family member is sick or hurting, I want to pick up the harp and go. I long to have the freedom to use it all the time without so many logistical constraints. 

I love playing harp. More than that, I love singing. But even more that that, I love people. And when I can bless someone with a song, I feel like the sun beaming across the sky.  

Thank you for taking a few minutes to read about this longtime dream. If someone has blessed you with music somehow, I would love to hear from you.