Harp Therapy Certification

The CHT level is a 310-hour course consisting of 119 classroom hours,  130-hour closely mentored internship, 13 one-on-one contact hours with a mastery level certified harp therapist, and a 12-week, 36-hour online course, “Conversations on Ethics for Therapeutic Musicians.” Students shall take 12 hours of music and repertoire development offered in 3-hour segments after each module. Additional requirements include repertoire and improvisation development, completion of a practicum project, as well as assigned readings and writings. Three of the four classroom modules may be taken remotely, in real time. Module III, “Working with the Depressed, the Seriously Ill and the Dying” must be taken in person in the Bedside Harp Great Room in Bensalem, PA.

To achieve the level of Certified Master Harp Therapist (CMHT) one must have met all of the requirements for the CHT and have taken an additional 200 hours of studies consisting of a 120-hour mastery level supervised internship, 12 one-on-one contact hours, our 12- week, 48-hour online advanced level course, “Conversations on Research for Harp Therapists,” and Module IX, a face-to-face or remote (in real time) 20-hour workshop/retreat on “Harp Therapy as a MindBody Modality.”  Additional requirements include repertoire and improvisation development, assigned readings and writings, as well as a final practicum project presented both in writing and orally. 

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.” We offer out of state and country students the opportunity to earn the designation of “Internship Intensive,” if they play a minimum of 20 hours a week for two consecutive weeks at one of our host hospitals. For all of these designations, the names and logos of both Bedside Harp and the host hospital will appear on the certificate. If a student wishes to play their internship at a pre-approved non-host facility, the Bedside Harp name and logo will appear on their certificate.

Certification candidates will be required to complete certain reading and writing assignments and will, as well, submit professional recordkeeping reports and maintain a journal during their internships. To be awarded certifications, candidates must have attended all classroom modules, completed their internships and practicum project(s), submitted all reports, records and assignments and completed the final review. Candidates are encouraged to begin their internships (Module V) immediately after taking classroom Module I, playing in common areas for at least 10 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 110 hours, or 85%, of a student’s first level of certification shall be spent playing in patient areas.

Our mindfulness-based certification programs are truly personal journeys. We learn to pay close attention— to our body, our thoughts and our emotions, as well as to those whom we serve—in a particular way, on purpose, moment-to-moment, non-judgmentally.

Students may take three of our four classroom modules in person or remotely in real time. Module III must be taken in person so that students can participate in essential experientials and experience actual harp therapy sessions . We encourage students to satisfy all of their requirements within two years of their starting the program.

Certifications must be renewed biannually and includes playing a minimum number of hours of therapeutic harp as well as a completing a minimum number of continuing professional units (CPUs), earned by attending relevant workshops and/or by taking relevant courses or studies.