Join us for our 21st annual JPG Harp Confab for adult and teenage harpists of all levels of playing with Deborah Henson Conant!

JPG Harp Confab - July 25-27, 2024 in scenic Chattanooga, Tennessee. We sold out in 2023 and capacity is limited. Act now!

Things you may want to know about JPG Harp Confab....

The two people you see above are our founders, the parents of Jan Pennington Gray. They started our confab in 2001 to educate, support, and inspire harpists. Since that time, much has changed, but one thing remains...the love of the harp. 

Chattanooga is a travel destination with visitors coming from across the country. We have beautiful mountains, Tennessee River, lakes, and fun music and art venues. In this beautiful and inspiring setting, adult harpists gather for 3 days to learn and to share. With a maximum of 50 harpists, it remains an intimate setting. There is no moving your harp around or racing to get a good seat. Once you arrive the first morning and pick your spot, you and your harp have found a welcoming home.

Imagine arriving and someone is there to open the door for you and give you a big smile. If this is your first time, relax. You are about to meet best friends that you didn't know you had. At least one harpist has been to our harp confab 19 years! You tune your harp as you listen to the excited chatter and get to know those around you. Class begins promptly at 9 and all sit on their benches or provided chairs with anticipation. 

Courses are geared to what our previous harpists say they want. All skill levels are welcome and are encouraged to play what they can play. If someone to your right is more advanced, s/he will probably be a support for you. If someone to your left has less skill than you, you get to be the helper. We are all there to learn and support others.  

If you think the harpists are diverse, so are the harps. Our musical partners come in pedal harps, floor lever harps, lap harps, wire and double strung. And the music? You are catching on if you realize that the music is varied also.

We provide you lunch and delicious snacks, along with your complete workbook containing all class work.

On Friday night, all of us are encouraged to perform something. This is not a requirement, just an encouragement. A few years ago, a brand new harpist in her early retirement years played a solo simply and beautifully with one hand. The year before that, our newest harpist played a simple tune while telling a story. It is a time to be brave, creative, and safe knowing you are playing in front of a very supportive audience.

How do you get started? Click on the STORE page and then click on HARP CONFAB to complete the application and pay with your credit card. 

About our 2024 teacher, Deborah Henson Conant

DHC is a performer, composer, mentor, coach and designer of her own harp line.

She is a Grammy nominated harpist who loves to inspire harpists of all levels to learn to play with freedom.

JPG’s President, Beverly Inman-Ebel, has taken lesson from DHC and raves about Deborah’s positive attitude, encouragement to harpists wherever they are on their journey, and passionate about getting harpists to truly enjoy playing.

We are thrilled to be able to bring Deborah to Chattanooga. She is also giving a concert on Saturday night, 7/27 at 7 p.m. open to the public. Tickets are purchased at our store. She redefines what can be done with the harp and has the voice of an angel. While she simplifies the mysteries of music to us, she has written scores for the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and the Salzburg Orchestra in Austria as recently as 2023.

Details about the classes

Three classes will focus on Hands on Harmony.

• How scales becomes chords

• How chords are expanded, altered & substituted (and why we’d want to do that)

• How to modulate from one key to another

• What Modes are, why they’re useful ~ and the 2 modes we use the most

• What the harmonic ‘families’ are on the harp

• How to play creatively from a simple lead sheet

Three classes will focus on Progressions.

• What a progression is and several useful progressions to know

• How to play the same progression in different keys

• How to modulate from one key to another

• What Modes are, why they’re useful

• The 2 modes we use the most

Additional classes include:

• How to enter the music with a harp

• Sing and play harp with 3-chord magic

• The 7 strings of Passion

And there’s more!! Deborah will lead us in practice and performance of Orchestrating Community. All harpists will get this experience and those that want to play with Deborah Henson Conant on stage Saturday night are encouraged to join her in mass for 1 or 2 songs!! (Imagine how that will make your harp resume impress others!). All registered harpists in the confab will receive the music in advance. Deborah says only she will have a microphone so don’t worry about mistakes. There is an additional fee to attend her concert so in the store purchase a discounted concert ticket. Playing in the concert is optional and fun!!

2024 JPG Harp Confab Schedule

Dates – July 25-27 2024

CHECK IN on Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m., on July 25th.  Because all harpists register online, all you have to do is give your name and you will be given your workbook and concert ticket if you ordered that. Next, you will place the column of your harp on one of the colored circles on the floor, and place your harp bag in the storage area. Bring your bench and music stand. chairs are available if you need them.

Thursday – 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Friday - 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Friday Performances:– 5:30 p.m. followed with heavy Hors D’Oeuvres provided by JPG

Saturday - 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Saturday Concert Rehearsal to play with DHC following lunch.
Saturday DHC’s Concert - 7:00 p.m.

Daily Breaks and Lunch are provided each day.

JPG Harp Confab Capacity:

Number of teachers –  1
Number of students – 50 max

Location: JPG Harp Confab is held in beautiful Chattanooga, TN with easy access from CHA airport and BNA and ATL airports by shuttle van. It is also accessible by I75 and I24. The address for our 2024 camp is:

The Oak Street Center

433 Oak Street

Chattanooga, TN 37403

Courses for 2024:

Deborah excels with teaching all levels of harp players. She will free you from paper. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish in 3 days!

Fees:

Click on STORE above for all purchases.

The fee for 2024 JPG Harp Confab is $345 which includes instruction, workbook, Friday’s performances, lunches, snacks. and Friday Hors D’oeuvres.

Cancelation Policy: Registration is refundable, except for the small percentage that SquareSpace keeps, until May 1, 2024. By May 1, supplies are purchased, printed, etc. Even then, we will do our best to work with you if the reason for cancelation is illness or a death in your family.

The fee for Deborah’s concert on Saturday night, July 27, 2024 is as follows:

Harpists at JPG Confab: $35

General admission: $45

For harpists at JPG Confab who need financial assistance, you can email Beverly at bie@talklisten.com to sign up to serve as an usher or table worker the night of the concert and your admittance will be no charge. We will need about 10-12 helpers.

Lodging:

Chattanooga is a tourist city and there are many hotels in the downtown area close to where we will hold the confab. To get the best price, sites, such as priceline.com or airbnb.com can offer discounts and many options.

What to bring:

Bring your harp, music stand, and bench. Chairs are provided, if needed. Dress is comfortable. We recommend you bring a sweater in case the room is too cool for you. We strive to strike a happy medium, but people have different temperature needs.

To Register:

Please go to the STORE page which is at the very top of this page and the third button from the right.