If you happened to hear heavenly music wafting from Wiesbaden Army Airfield School-Age Services in the pre-dawn darkness, you weren’t dreaming. It’s just the sound of children learning to play the harp.

“I like seeing sparks in the kids’ eyes when they make a musical discovery,” said Valerie Weber, a professional harpist and program assistant at the Wiesbaden Child, Youth and School Services facility.

Weber, who has a master’s degree in the instrument and performs and teaches professionally, said her boss at the SAS has been very supportive of her efforts to introduce young people to the harp — even purchasing four small harps for the program.

“The kids love to get their fingers on the instrument because it’s so tactile,” said Weber, who after only a brief demonstration has the youngsters picking out simple melodies such as “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” or “Frere Jacques.”

“I started playing the harp when I was 11 years old,” Weber said, explaining that her father thought she’d be better off learning how to play the saxophone. But after seeing and hearing one of her mother’s friends playing the harp, she knew the harp was her passion.

In addition to working for SAS and giving private harp lessons, Weber said she also performs with a band known as Similla that specializes in Mediterranean and Latin-flavored jazz and folk music. “We’ve performed all over Europe and are coming out with a CD this year. I’ve been playing with them for seven years.”

“I was always interested in education,” she said, explaining that offering harp lessons is just another way of helping children reach their fullest potential — which is perfectly in line with the SAS philosophy.

“For me it’s a whole body, whole brain concept,” Weber said, adding that research has proven that learning music is part of a multi-disciplinary education improving language skills, movement, problem solving and a “perfect way to exercise one’s brain. Kids who study music always do better in school — not to mention what it does for their self-esteem.”

Learning music is also a family affair, she said. “When a child learns music it becomes a family thing. … Parents can learn too.”

So don’t be surprised if in the future you find a group of young harpists performing at a community venue near you. “I envision my students will be out there playing for the community one of these days.”

For more information about harp activities and other programs at the Wiesbaden Army Airfield SAS stop by Building 1502.

For information on private harp lessons, call Valerie at civ (0611) 205 9635 or email pullingstrings@web.de.

Published February 4, 2010