Three Places to Find a Harp in St. Paul/Minneapolis

Updated 2024

Harps at Musicmakers

This lovely music shop, located in Stillwater, MN just off of Hwy. 36, has been around for over 30 years. Three of my lever harps come from Musicmakers. Their instruments tend to be lightweight (good for transporting) and have a big, resonant sound. They rent out several of their smaller harps and offer a rent-to-buy option.

Musicmakers’ Website: https://www.harpkit.com/harp-rental
Musicmakers’ Phone: 651-439-9120 (You can leave a message or send an email as well.)

Harps at Groth Music

Groth Music in Bloomington is a resource every Minnesota musician should know about, regardless of whether you are looking to buy a harp or not. This store will order almost anything for you. Groth Music sells harps on consignment; they don’t always have harps but it’s worth a visit or a call to see what they have.

Groth Music’s Website: grothmusic.com

Harps at Hobgoblin Music/Stoney End

This folk music Mecca is not exactly in the Twin Cities, but it is well worth the trip! Hobgoblin Music in Red Wing sells and rents Stoney End harps. As far as I’m aware, they have rentals and rent-to-buy options. Make a point of exploring their store sometime, browsing their hefty sheet music offerings, or attending one of their frequent concerts and workshops.

Hobgoblin Music’s Website: stoneyend.com
Hobgoblin Music’s Phone: 1-877-866-3936

All of the companies I’ve listed above make quality instruments. Of course there are many online options, but when it comes to making decisions I think it is necessary to see and play a harp in person.

Keep in mind that you should talk with your harp instructor (or prospective harp instructor) before renting or buying harp. They will have the expertise to help you find the harp that best matches your needs! If you’d like to do a little reading on this by yourself, check out this article on Buying a Harp: the Ultimate Guide.

Used harps

I’ve listed some of the places one might find these used harps in my article Selling Your Used Harp In Minnesota. When looking at used harps, be sure to examine the harp really well for cracks or defects. Make sure the levers work. It’s not a bad idea to tune the harp before buying to make sure it holds pitch and that the pins don’t slip.

If you see a lovely harp for a ridiculously low price (for example, any functional pedal harp for only $4K, or an intact lever harp for $500) it is probably a scam. Be cautious! Ask a harp teacher if you have one before making a purchase. Make sure to visit the harp in person.

Stephanie Claussen teaches harp lessons out of her home in St. Paul, Minnesota. She strives to ingrain in each student not only effective harp technique, rhythm skills and a sense of musicality, but also a love for making music.