Harp lessons in Basel
I’m a certified harpist and harp teacher. I’ve been teaching the harp in Basel in my own studio since 2010. I also teach harp didactics at the Music Academy Basel since 2022. I teach every musical style, all levels and I believe that positivity and encouragement are the best way to learn efficiently! Age 6-7 is the most ideal to start. Contact me for a trial lesson and enjoy browsing this website entirely dedicated to my activity as a harp teacher.
Welcome to my harp studio in Basel
I’m a certified harpist and harp teacher. I’ve been teaching the harp in Basel in my own studio since 2010. I also teach harp didactics at the Music Academy Basel since 2022. I teach every musical style (classical, pop, jazz, folk…) and the atmosphere during my lessons is always positive and cheerful. Age 6-7 is the most ideal to start. Contact me for a trial lesson.
Instruments
I teach the lever harp, the pedal harp and the electric harp!
Languages
Lessons are possible in german, french, english, italian.
Online lessons
They can be a good complement to in-person lessons.
Flexible lessons
I teach private lessons in my harp studio and I also organize concerts and chamber music for my students (on voluntary basis). Online lessons are also possible and can be a good complement to in-person lessons. I can use Skype, Zoom, Jitsi or Whatsapp and I regularly send music and recordings via e-mail. The lessons can also exceptionally take place in my house in the Leimental (25 minutes from Basel with the car).
Instrument
For children, lever harps are the best option. These harps are smaller and lighter, and a lot of different musical styles can be played on them (irish, pop, classical, children’s songs). I recommend to rent a harp before buying it (contact me for advice). It is absolutely necessary to have a harp at home, since daily practice is a big part of learning an instrument. The harp should have enough space and be in a calm environment. You will also need a music stand. The equipment doesn’t need to be carried to the lessons since students can play on my harps in the studio. I also happily give instrument care advice (tuning, changing strings, etc).
Subscription
Mini-Abo, Maxi-Abo or Giga-Abo: You pay a certain amount of lessons in advance. (valid from 6 to 12 months). Advantages: Flexibility and discount for bigger subscriptions.
Dauer-Abo: We decide together how many times you’d like to come to the lessons every month and you pay every month the same amount. Advantages: regular lessons and no invoices.
Fees
Mini-Abo
6 lessons à 30 Min or
4 lessons à 45 Min or
3 lessons à 60 Min
300.-
Maxi-Abo
18 lessons à 30 Min or
12 lessons à 45 Min or
9 lessons à 60 Min
850.-
Giga-Abo
24 lessons à 30 Min or
16 lessons à 45 Min or
12 lessons à 60 Min
1100.-
Dauer-Abo
Contact me for more information
50.- min/monthly
Fees
Mini-Abo
6 lessons à 30 Min or
4 lessons à 45 Min or
3 lessons à 60 Min
300.-
Maxi-Abo
18 lessons à 30 Min or
12 lessons à 45 Min or
9 lessons à 60 Min
850.-
Giga-Abo
24 lessons à 30 Min or
16 lessons à 45 Min or
12 lessons à 60 Min
1100.-
Dauer-Abo
Contact me for more information
50.- min/monthly
The Harp
The harp belongs to the family of plucked string instruments. We can play melody and harmony together, or even sing along. It is used to play solo, chamber music, orchestra, for story telling, for musical therapy…
There are harps in many different sizes. The biggest harp is the concert harp, with 47 strings and 7 pedals. Common wood to build harps is maple or spruce. The strings are made of gut, nylon or metal. The harp may be a very old instrument, but harpists nowadays also play jazz, rock and pop music!
I am a classically trained harpist with big interest in jazz and electronic music. It is important to me that my lessons are as diversified as possible. I can teach many different styles and aspects of harp playing: finger technique, reading notes, rhythm, songs, improvisation, composition etc. I am open to the wishes of my students and I try to adapt to their favorite music. I like to arrange music for my students that is adapted to their level, I play with them together during the lessons, I organize chamber music and concerts for those interested.
Trial lesson
Are you curious and would like to try the harp ? Book a trial lesson! It is bookable once, costs only CHF 40.- and lasts between 30 and 45 minutes.
You can pay directly at the lesson, cash or with Twint.
Write me an e-mail (without commitment) and we will find an appointment together. My studio is in Basel near the station SBB.
I am happy to meet you!
Subscribe to harp lessons
Contact me to subscribe:
Read the terms and conditions for my lessons (in german):
Workshops
I have been teaching workshops for all levels and all ages for several years. My focus is electric harp, improvisation and rhythm. I also collaborate with a yoga teacher for a yin yoga workshop with live music. Contact me for more information. I am also available for bookings to teach a workshop in any setting.
Ensemble
This workshop is about playing together without pressure. We’re all playing the same repertoire with focus on the melody.
For adult harpists. All levels
PDF-Info: German
Next workshop: June 21st, 2025, in Basel. Contact me for subscribing
Electric harp and effects
I play the swiss made Neveltec electric harp in several of my projects. Come try it out in my workshop! I bring the instruments and the effects. You can bring your own repertoire if you want.
For harpists of all ages and levels.
PDF-Info: German
New dates coming soon
Electric harp with band
During this workshop, participants get to play their favorite songs together with electric bass and drums, and feel like rock stars! The workshop is organised and led by Esther Sévérac, with Francesco Rezzonico on electric bass and Philippe Adam on drums.
The songs have to be prepared in advance and playable on lever harps. Alle ages. At least three years of harp playing are required.
PDF-Info German | French | English | Italian
New dates coming soon
Yin Yoga, flute and harp
Yoga teacher Renata Zaczek and the Duo Estival (Anne-Lise Teruel, flute and Esther Sévérac, harp) are creating this very special moment by combining Yin Yoga with some beautiful pieces of the classical repertoire for flute and harp. Don’t miss this moment of complete relaxation !
Languages: French or english. PDF-Info: FR | EN
Next date: October 12, 2025, in Village-Neuf (France). Language: french Contact
About me
Esther Sévérac was born in Geneva and is currently based in Basel, Switzerland, working as a free-lance harpist with a repertoire reaching from classical solo concerts to jazz ensembles. She regularly collaborates with saxophonist Niko Seibold and flutist Anne-Lise Teruel. She is also member of the pop/jazz quartet Ayé! founded by Bern based vocalist Mirjam Hässig. In these different ensembles she keeps experimenting with harp amplification and sound effects. Her solo debut album Work Witch! for harp and electronics was released on Hout Records in September 2023.
Being a dedicated educator with a lot of experience, she teaches a big harp class with students of all ages in Basel in her own harp studio Esthers Harfenstudio. Since 2022, she is also teaching harp didactics at the Hochschule für Musik Basel .
She studied the harp at the Hochschule für Musik Basel with renowned harpist Prof. Sarah O’Brien and holds two Master degrees in solo harp performance and music pedagogy.
She is active on social media with an always growing number of online followers. Prior to her academic career as a harp student, Esther earned a bachelor’s degree in multilingual communication from the University of Geneva.
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