certification programs for adults

Once students show proficiency at the harp, they are invited to begin working on their certifications as a therapeutic harpist.

The Certified Harp Therapist (CHT) and the Certified Master of Harp Therapy (CMHT) programs are designed to train adult Intermediate-level harpists to play in various medical settings. The CHT currently consists of classroom hours, a practicum project, readings, writings and a 120 hour closely supervised internship. Qualifications for a Certified Master of Harp Therapy (CMHT) include all the requirements for the CHT, as well as an additional 120 hours of a closely supervised internship, an additional practicum project, and additional readings, journaling and recordkeeping. If 80% of the internship is completed at one of our host hospitals, graduates will receive the special designation of Hospital-Certified; if 50% of the internship is completed at one of our host hospitals, graduates will receive the special designation of Hospital-Intensive.

To accomodate our out of state and out of country students, we have designed an Internship Intensive which consists of playing a minimum of 20 hours a week for two weeks at one of our host facilities. For all of the certifications above, both Bedside Harp and our host hospital's names will appear on the certificate. If a student wishes to do their internship at a non-host facility, that student will be awarded a Certified Harp Therapist and/or Certified Master Harp Therapist designations, conferred by Bedside Harp only.

Certification candidates will be required to complete certain reading and writing assignments and will, as well, keep records and a journal during their internships. To be awarded certifications, candidates must complete all modules, complete their internships and practicum project(s), submit all reports, recordkeeping and assignments and pass the final review exam. Candidates are encouraged to begin their internships (Module V) immediately after taking classroom Module I, playing in common areas for at least 20 hours of their internships between Modules I and III. After taking classroom Module III, students may be granted permission to perform rounds in patient areas. At least 90 hours, or 70% of a student’s first level of certification shall be spent playing in patient areas.

If classroom modules are taken at Bucks County Community College, C.E.U. credits are available. Further, if classroom modules are taken at the College, and a student achieves the mastery level of certification with Bedside Harp, that student may apply to receive 10 college music credits from the College.

Our Certification Programs are truly personal journeys. Some students complete their work quickly; others take longer. We offer a seven week Summer Intensive for advanced harpists and harpers. This intensive is highly demanding and was designed for students who are able to devote themselves to working fulltime on their certifications and music development. All other certification classes are offered in regular semesters in the Fall and Spring. We encourage all certification students to satisfy all of their requirements within two years of their starting the program.

Please read our certification renewal policy.

View FAQs regarding our certification program.

View more information regarding all the variations on internships available.

Please read our Certification Intern and Graduate Resources.

Module I: To Soothe The Savage Breast

Fall '08 Class:
September 11-14, 2008
BCCC, Newtown, PA
Spring '08 Class:
March 27-30, 2008
The Valley Hospital,
Ridgewood, NJ

This 4-day module focuses on music and spirituality -- both of which are, after all, at the heart of our work. Much attention is given to healing music fundamentals, modal playing, noodling and playing by ear. We'll also explore the fascinating links between spirituality and science which necessarily come into play in our work. Work on our selves, our fears and on healing our wounds are part of this and every module.

Module II: Glimpses Within

Fall '08 Class:
October 17-19, 2008
BCCC, Newtown, PA
Spring '08 Class:
April 11-13, 2008
The Valley Hospital,
Ridgewood, NJ

This 3-day module focuses on our coming to understand what brought us to do this work. Our main self reflection tool is the Enneagram. As an overlay to that, Brian Stevenson, one of our graduates, has ingeniously tied together Meyers-Briggs to our work, offering us a unique tool which fairly accurately indicates those areas of this harp therapy journey each of us is likely to be most challenged by.

Like all the modules, this module has a good number of creative and musical freeing interactive exercises and activities built into it, along with segments on repertoire and music development.

Module III: Working with the Depressed, the Seriously Ill and the Dying

Fall '08 Class:
November 20-23, 2008
BCCC, Newtown, PA
Spring '08 Class:
May 15-18, 2008
The Valley Hospital,
Ridgewood, NJ

Module III, like Module I, has been expanded to a 4 day presentation, to allow for a great deal of interaction and practice. Forgiveness is a major theme of this module -- self work essential to our continuing development of compassion. We look at our own attitudes on death and dying. With all of our self work, we never go anywhere uncomfortable, but we do explore new ways to look at our issues. This being the last classroom module required before we play in patient rooms, a good amount of time is devoted to healthcare protocols, working through the modes, repertoire development and exploring various styles of playing and delivering harp therapy.

Module IV: Creating Work for Yourself/Creating Yourself for Work

Fall '08 Class:
May 1-3, 2009
BCCC, Newtown, PA
Spring '08 Class:
August 1-3, 2008
The Valley Hospital,
Ridgewood, NJ

The spotlight in Module IV, a 3-day module, is on the two challenges immediately ahead: getting to certification and creating work for ourselves. A riveting powerpoint presentation ties together all four modules and the whole journey of harp therapy. At the center of the module a panel of our grads and current interns tell their stories and answer questions. As always, there are ample segments on music and repertoire development as well as self care.