Matt Edwards, left, is the inventor of the Reverie Harp.
Donna Jo Kopitzke, center, is the Music Therapy Coordinator at Rice Hospice.
Jerry Brown, right, is the owner of Musicmakers of Stillwater, which sells the Reverie Harp.
Donna Jo Kopitzke, Rice Hospice Music Therapy Coordinator, made a special trip to Stillwater, Minn., in July 2009, where she picked up sixteen Reverie Harps from Musicmakers. The majority of the harps will be used by Hospice staff and volunteers to share music with hospice patients and their families. "This is an instrument that absolutely anybody can play and enjoy," said Donna Jo. One harp will reside in each of the Hospice offices located in Appleton, Benson, Dawson, Granite Falls, Montevideo, Ortonville, Paynesville, and Willmar.
Rice Institute Inpatient purchased a harp as well, for the department's occupational therapist to use with mental health patients. And, a harp was purchased by the Cancer Cetner to use with cancer patients. Several employees and volunteers also purchased harps for personal use.
The Reverie Harp is rated "E" for everyone, musician and non-musician alike. It is lightweight, produces beautiful, soothing music and requires no skill to play, making it ideal for use in healing environments such as hospitals and hospice care programs.
Donna Jo recently invited Hospice staff and volunteers to learn how to use the harp with patients and their families who might benefit from it. "It's an instrument that can bring great peace and relaxation, even a sense of accomplishment for someone who isn't musical because this is a way they can make music," she says. "It also can be played by all ages. I've used it at Camp G.K.Bear where the children think it's just great - they aren't at all afraid to make music."
The Reverie Harp is tuned to a simple five-tone scale, so every note goes with another - it always sounds pleasant. The harp was designed and is manufactured at Musicmakers, based in Stillwater, Minn.