Even as a child, Li Lu had a very creative demeanor, and there it was no surprise to anyone when she took up the harp at age 10. After seeing it being played in an old movie playing on TV, Li Lu Jennings asked her parents for “one of those”. Six months later, her parents enrolled her in music classes, and within a year, she became one of the most skilled harp players in the class. Two years later, she left that school to go to a special training academy where she perfected and honed her talent. As she got older, her talent came to be recognized and she has travelled across the globe with orchestras and symphonies.

The harp can be traced back to early Mesopotamia and Sumer in about 3500 BCE. Harps were also found in royal tombs. In 200 BCE, there have been mentions of “yaal” harps in Indian Tamil Literature. Made of wood, harps are shaped in a triangular fashion. Harps have been used in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and America for a long time and have been further developed. Pedal harps use the mechanical action of pedals to change the pitches of the strings. The harp found its early orchestral use as a solo instrument in concerti by many baroque and classical composers. Li Lu Jennings considers herself fortunate to have travelled with many composers across capitals including London, Paris, Rome, and Tokyo.

She offers the following advice on learning to play the harp.

1. The harp is like a piano set upright. The low notes at the bottom, the high notes at the top.
2. Simple chords can be learnt in 2 weeks and songs in 4 months.
3. Before starting, figure out what type of music you are interested in playing, because this will help you determine what type of harp to buy.
4. Pedal harp or lever harp, whatever you choose, remember that it requires a lot of practice.
5. Li Lu Jennings says if you are not certain, then it is a good idea to rent one before you go out and buy.
6. The strings on the harp are like keys on the piano. Realize the similarities.
7. Using the tuning key that came with the harp, you can CAREFULLY tighten or loosen the strings to change the notes.

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