Harp Making Blogs

Greetings, Folks. Today, I was inspired to slow down, stop and reconsider the results of my harp making efforts here at John Kovac Harps by Davy C. I suggest you may, as well, be interested in what has caused me to pause to reflect upon my woodworking career, concerning the harp instruments I create and sell. What inspired me can be found in a short woodworking video blog produced by a woodworker, Steve Ramsey whom I link to in my favorite Web Links. His channel is entitled, Workworking for Mere Mortals.  You can check out Steve's thought-provoking video on YouTube...

It's with a heavy & grieved heart I announce the passing of our most beloved Founder, harp-maker, harpist, inventor & mentor, Maestro John G. Kovac (July 2022).  "John G. Kovac, beloved husband, brother, Harpist, and friend, 76, of Front Royal, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, at his home..." Reprinted from the opening of John's obituary. The whole can be found below: John G. Kovac What can be said? Those of the world who knew him or, at least knew of him had great admiration & respect for John Kovac & what he brought to the World at large....

Remember to keep music in your life. What? What makes Humans as created higher than all other biological kingdoms on Earth is our ability of intelligence; chiefly, exponential & transcendent creativity. Chief amongst those is our ability to make music; especially that meant for divine worship.  During such present times of global war, strife, stress, turmoil & upheavals (this is not a "political" post), what keeps us as risen above the dumb brutes is our sensitivity to beauty; especially as we find in our music; as such music is found within our civil societies.  Certainly, to borrow someone else's phrase, music "soothes...

So, I am discovering a misunderstanding concerning how one might play a "regular" lever folk harp compared to a "Paraguayan" folk harp.  It seems to be often [erroneously] thought one has to use only the South American style of harp playing (traditional Paraguayan in particular) in order to play a "Paraguayan"-type harp.  However, that is far from reality. A Paraguayan harp can be played in the same manner as any other typically envisioned, lever harp found in North America. In fact, for many beginners, the Paraguayan is often found to be easier to learn on, comparativley speaking. The strings are...

Over the last several years, especially during COVID, many folks have decided to build their own harps. Good idea! Yet, on a few occasions, I've been asked the question of why our various harp kits are so expensive? While it is not for me to judge anyone's budget or to second guess what they should or should not afford, I am sensitive to the costs involved; both of what my customers have to pay and the value of what they purchase from me compared to the cost I have to pay to buy the parts in the first place and...