>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

>> WELL, HELLO EVERYBODY, I'M HUELL HOWSER AND HERE WE ARE IN GLENDALE STANDING RIGHT ON THE SIDE OF GLENDALE AVENUE.

AND HERE IT IS FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

AND WE'RE KIND OF A MELLOW, EASY GOING, LAID BACK KIND OF AN ATTITUDE.

WE'RE GETTING READY TO KIND OF SLIDE INTO A NICE SUMMER WEEKEND.

AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO GET IN THAT MELLOW MOOD THAN TO GO INSIDE THIS PLACE RIGHT HERE, THE SYLVIA WOODS HARP CENTER.

IT SAYS IT ALL RIGHT HERE ON THE WINDOW.

"YOU CAN LEARN TO PLAY THE HARP, COME IN AND TRY ONE."

GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> HELLO, WELCOME.

>> I'M HUELL HOWSER.

>> I'M SYLVIA WOODS.

>> THIS IS YOUR PLACE.

>> YES, IT IS.

>> AND I KNOW WHO THIS FELLOW IS.

YOUR NAME IS?

>> CONWAY SNYDER.

>> I RAN INTO YOUR DAD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO OUT AT REDLANDS.

HE WAS ATTENDING A--A LITTLE-- A--EVENT OUT THERE.

YOU CAME UP AND INTRODUCED YOURSELF, AND WHAT DID YOU TELL ME?

>> I WANTED TO TELL YOU SOME THINGS I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE FIND OUT ABOUT MY DAUGHTER.

>> AH, YOU KNEW WE WERE COMING HERE TO DO A PROGRAM ABOUT HER.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND WHAT IS IT YOU WANTED TO SAY ABOUT YOUR DAUGHTER, I KNOW HE WAS VERY PROUD OF YOU.

>> OH, GOOD.

>> I WANTED TO SAY THAT WHEN SHE STARTED OUT 20 YEARS AGO SHE WROTE A BOOK AND IT SOLD 50,000 COPIES ALREADY.

>> ABOUT THE HARP.

>> ABOUT THE-- HOW TO PLAY THE HARP.

>> RIGHT.

NOW IS THIS SOMETHING YOU TAUGHT HER?

>> NO, I DIDN'T TEACH HER ANYTHING ABOUT THE HARP.

THE MAIN THING I DID WAS TO PAY FOR HER FIRST HARP.

>> OH, I GOTCHA [LAUGHTER] >> SO HE HELPED YOU GET STARTED.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WELL INVITED YOU TO COME, WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE-- >> WELL, THANK YOU.

>> --TO--TO WATCH YOUR DAUGHTER IN PERFORMANCE-- >> OH, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT FUN.

>> --YOU CAN STAND OVER THERE IN THE PEANUT GALLERY AND WATCH AS WE DO OUR LITTLE TELEVISION PROGRAM HERE.

>> ANY PEANUTS OVER THERE?

[LAUGHTER] >> NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.

>> NOW, WE'RE HERE TO LEARN ABOUT THE HARP BECAUSE I KNOW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT HARPS EXCEPT THAT THEY MAKE A WONDERFUL SOUND AND EVERYBODY LOVES THE HARP.

>> THAT'S FOR SURE.

THE HARP IS REALLY THE MOST ANCIENT OF THE STRINGED INSTRUMENTS AND EVERY CULTURE THAT HAD THE HARP, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED A MAGICAL OR A SPIRITUAL INSTRUMENT.

IT'S DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER INSTRUMENT YOU'LL EVER HEAR.

>> WHEN DID THIS START OUT, DO WE KNOW WHEN THE FIRST--WHAT CIVILIZATION FIRST HAD THE HARP?

>> ALMOST EVERY CIVILIZATION CAME UP WITH SOME KIND OF HARP.

SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT IT CAME FROM THE BOW AND ARROW WHEN YOU LET GO OF THE--THE ARROW IT MAKES THAT TWANG AND SO THEY WOULD START ADDING MORE STRINGS TO THE BOW.

OTHER HISTORIAN SAY THAT THAT'S TOTALLY RIDICULOUS.

SO WHO KNOWS EXACTLY HOW IT STARTED.

BUT FOR INSTANCE, ON THE WALLS OF THE PYRAMIDS YOU SEE PICTURES OF PEOPLE PLAYING THE HARP.

IN FACT, OVER HERE WE HAVE A-- >> OH, LOOK.

>> --A PAINTING THAT IS ACTUALLY PAINTED ON PAPYRUS IN EGYPT.

AND THIS IS A REPRESENTATION OF ONE OF THE PICTURES OF THE HARPS FROM THE PYRAMIDS.

AND IF YOU'LL NOTICE THE FRONT PART OF THE HARP THERE'S NO FRONT PILLAR LIKE THESE FRONT ONES HAVE.

AND SO EVERY TIME YOU TUNED ONE STRING ALL THE OTHER STRINGS WOULD CHANGE PITCH BECAUSE THE NECK WOULD BEND.

AND SO WHEN THEY CAME UP WITH A HARP WITH A FRONT PART THAT WAS A MAJOR DESIGN ADVANCEMENT IN THE HARP.

>> SO THE HARP HAS EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS.

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

>> AND WE KNOW THAT THE HARP IS AT LEAST THOUSAND OF YEARS OLD.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> NOW, LOOKING OUT OVER HERE, WE CERTAINLY HAVE A ROOM OF FULL OF HARPS HERE.

>> YES, WE HAVE ABOUT 65 HARPS.

THIS IS THE LARGEST SELECTION OF HARPS YOU'LL FIND ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WE BELIEVE.

>> AND WE PROBABLY HAVE ENDLESS HARP STORIES.

>> OH, YES.

>> BUT I THINK WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO WAS TO KIND OF GIVE US AN INTRODUCTION TO THE HARP AND KIND OF LET US, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO PLAY IT A LITTLE BIT AND KIND OF EXPLAIN WHAT IT ALL IS.

NOW DON'T GET TOO, YOU KNOW, NARROW ON THIS-- >> OH, OKAY.

>> --'CAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE SOME PEOPLE.

>> I'M USED TO THIS.

>> YOU GOT TO REMEMBER, WE'RE STARTING FROM SCRATCH HERE.

>> WE HAVE FREE WORK SHOPS HERE TWICE MONTH CALLED "I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO PLAY THE HARP," AND SO WE START WITH BRAND NEW BEGINNERS.

SO THAT'S--THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE.

>> OKAY.

>> OKAY.

THE HARPS IN THESE FIRST THREE ROWS HERE ARE CALLED IRISH HARPS OR CELTIC HARPS OR FOLK HARPS OR LEVER HARPS.

AND THE WAY THAT THEY WORK IS THE STRINGS ARE COLORED.

THIS IS THE ONE SECRET THAT NO ONES ABOUT HARPS.

"C" STRINGS ARE RED AND "F" STRINGS ARE BLUE OR BLACK, AND SO IT'S A DO RE MI SCALE JUST LIKE PLAYING THE WHITE NOTES ON THE PIANO, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. AND THEN ON THIS TYPE OF HARP WE HAVE WHAT ARE CALLED SHARPING LEVERS, WHICH ARE THESE BLACK LEVERS HERE.

HERE'S AN "F" AND IF I FLIP THIS UP THE SAME PITCH GIVES ME AN "F" SHARP OR LIKE A BLACK NOTE ON THE PIANO.

SO THAT'S HOW THESE WORK AND YOU WOULD SET THEM-- YOU SET YOUR SHARPING LEVERS FOR THE KEY YOU WANTED BEFORE YOU STARTED TO PLAY.

HARP MUSIC LOOKS LIKE PIANO MUSIC.

YOUR RIGHT-HAND READS THE TREBLE CLEF, PLAYS THE HIGH STRING.

YOUR LEFT-HAND READ THE BASS CLEF, PLAYS THE LOW STRINGS JUST LIKE ON THE PIANO.

>> I'M KIND OF IN THE MOOD TO HEAR SOME HARP MUSIC.

>> ALL RIGHT.

[HARP MUSIC] >> WOW.

NOW THAT GETS US IN THE MOOD.

WE SAID OUT FRONT THAT WE WERE KIND OF--IT'S FRIDAY AFTERNOON, WE'RE KIND OF IN THIS MELLOW MOOD.

>> THAT'S ONE THING HARP MUSIC IS--IS NICE AND MELLOW.

>> WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE HARP THAT IS SO MELLOW?

IS IT JUST THE SOUND OF THE STRINGS OR THE TYPE OF MUSIC OR THE MOOD IT PUTS YOU IN.

>> ALL OF THE ABOVE.

THEY USE A LOT OF HARPS FOR HEALING IN DIFFERENT CULTURES, AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE NOW THAT ARE PLAYING HARPS IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS AND NEO NATAL UNITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHILE PEOPLE ARE GETTING CANCER TREATMENTS, BECAUSE IT IS SO MELLOW AND RELAXING.

>> WOW.

IF YOU HAD A CD IN YOUR CAR YOU'D JUST GO SLEEP AND GO OFF THE ROAD.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE DO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHICH CD'S WE LET PEOPLE PLAY IN THE CAR.

[LAUGHTER] >> ALL RIGHT.

NOW THAT'S HARP 101 WE JUST GOT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> CAN YOU--NOW THERE'S OTHER HARPS HERE, AND I KNOW WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE HERE TO PLAY THE HARPS.

>> YES.

THE LARGE HARPS LIKE YOU SEE IN THE ORCHESTRA-- >> COME ON OUT.

YOUR NAME IS?

>> PAUL BAKER.

>> PAUL BAKER.

NOW WE'VE HAD PAUL, KIND OF, BACK IN THE--IN THE WINGS BACK HERE WAITING.

>> I WAS HIDING-- I WAS HIDING BACK THERE.

YEAH.

>> TAKE YOUR POSITION OVER HERE AND SYLVIA TELL US WHAT IS THAT PAUL IS GOING TO DEMONSTRATE FOR US.

'CAUSE NOW THE--NOW THIS IS THE KIND OF HARP THAT YOU SEE ON STAGE WHEN ORCHESTRAS ARE PERFORMING.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THIS IS CALLED A CONCERT HARP OR A PEDDLE HARP OR A GRAND HARP OR A BIG HARP AND-- >> IT LOOKS LIKE, I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE AN EXPENSIVE HARP.

>> THAT'S TRUE TOO.

>> THIS--ALL THIS GOLD AND-- >> THIS IS ACTUALLY PAUL'S OWN HARP, AND SO HE CAN TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.

PAUL'S OUR TEACHER HERE.

HE TEACHES HERE FOR US, PLUS HE PLAYS ALL OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

HE PLAYS FOR A LOT OF THE MAJOR SHOWS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> NOW IS THIS AN ANTIQUE?

>> THIS IS PRETTY OLD FOR A HARP.

THIS IS 90 YEARS, AND YOU DON'T SEE THIS PARTICULAR STYLE EITHER.

ITS ODD THAT THIS STYLE EXIST STILL, SO.

>> WHERE IS THIS FROM, IT LOOKS EUROPEAN?

>> IN CHICAGO, LYON & HEALY, WHO ALSO MAKES, THERE SOME BRAND NEW HARPS BY THEM ALSO OVER HERE.

THEY'RE STILL MAKING HARPS.

AND THIS WAS MADE ABOUT 90 YEARS AGO, AND HAS HAD A LIFE BEFORE I BOUGHT IT, BUT I'VE HAD ABOUT 10 YEARS.

>> AND YOU CARRY THIS THING AROUND?

>> OH, YEAH.

YOU GOT TO MOVE THEM.

THAT'S THE-- >> I BET YOU CARRY IT VERY CAREFULLY.

>> --YEAH.

YOU REALLY WANT TO, YOU KNOW, BUDDLE IT UP SO IT DOESN'T GET NICKED OR--OR BUMPED INTO ANYTHING.

BUT YOU--YOU HAVE TO--STILL HEFT IT TO GET SOMEPLACE.

>> AND--AND CAN YOU AS A--A CONNOISSEUR OF HARPS, CAN YOU TELL A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE SOUND YOUR HARP MAKES AND SAY THE KIND OF SOUND THAT THE HARP THAT SYLVIA JUST PLAY FOR US?

>> YEAH.

WELL THEY'RE ALL VERY INDIVIDUAL JUST LIKE ANY TWO PIANOS.

LIKE, TWO STEINWAYS ARE GOING TO SOUND DIFFERENT, TWO LYON & HEALY HARPS, EACH ONE SOUNDS A LITTLE BIT INDIVIDUAL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL LET'S--WE'RE READY.

>> OKAY.

THE MAIN DIFFERENCE WITH THIS KIND OF HARP, BESIDE THE SIZE, IS THAT IT HAS PEDDLES DOWN HERE TO MAKE THE SHARPS AND FLATS.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

WOW.

>> SO MAYBE I CAN TURN IT AROUND.

>> IT'S LIKE PIANO PEDDLES.

>> BUT IT'S SEVEN OF THOSE GUYS THOUGH.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

>> ONE FOR EACH NOTE OF THE SCALE.

SO ONE PEDDLE FOR "C," ONE FOR "D." >> LOOK AT ALL OF THIS AREA IN HERE THAT'S--THAT'S-- >> THAT'S WHERE THE SOUND-- THE SOUND ACTUALLY RESONATES AND COMES OUT.

>> FROM INSIDE HERE.

>> IT'S HOLLOW, RIGHT.

>> SO YOU'RE WORKING YOUR FEET A LOT TOO.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S THE OTHER THING PEOPLE BESIDE THE COLOR THAT THERE'S, ON STAGE, IF YOU SEE A HARP IN AN ORCHESTRA THERE'S SEVEN PEDDLES GOING.

>> WELL BUT THE--THE PEDDLES ARE KIND OF HIDDEN BACK THERE.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

AND SO YOU MOVE THEM DEPENDING ON THE SHARPS AND FLATS OF THE PIECE THAT YOU'RE PLAYING OR THE KEYS OF--OF A PIECE THAT YOU'RE PLAYING.

AND THEY CHANGE THE LENGTH OF THE STRINGS TO MAKE IT SHARPER OR FLATTER.

SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING-- >> BUT LOOK, YOUR STRINGS ARE COLORED JUST LIKE SYLVIA TOLD US.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE A CHEAT SHEET, ISN'T IT?

>> EXACTLY.

YOU HAVE TO FIND YOUR WAY.

SO MY "C" CAN BE, DEPENDING WHERE MY PEDAL IS, IT CAN BE "C" FLAT OR "C" NATURAL OR "C" SHARP.

>> SO WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THE PEDALS IS WHAT SYLVIA WAS DOING WITH THE FLIP THINGS AT THE TOP.

>> RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE'RE READY.

GET US IN AN EVEN MORE MELLOW MOOD.

YOU'RE PLAY SOMETHING REAL EASY AND NICE OR IS IT GOING TO BE UP?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS THE-- THE THING THAT THIS KIND OF HARP CAN DO THAT NO OTHER INSTRUMENT CAN DO, THE GLISSANDO THAT YOU HEAR IN THE ORCHESTRA.

>> OH.

>> AND BY JUST MOVING THE PEDALS, IT CHANGES A LITTLE BIT.

>> OH GOSH.

>> WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF HARP, OFTEN TIMES THAT'S--THAT'S WHAT THEY THINK OF, THAT SOUND.

>> GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF A--WELL START IT OFF WITH THAT AGAIN BECAUSE THAT'S NICE.

OH, YEAH.

[HARP MUSIC] >> AH, VERY NICE, AND YOU WERE PLAYING A CONTEMPORARY SONG.

>> RIGHT.

SO THAT'S KIND OF A JAZZ KIND OF POP THING THAT--THAT YOU DON'T HEAR THAT OFTEN ON THE HARP.

BUT IT CAN DO THAT PRETTY WELL TOO.

>> AND THAT PROBABLY HELPS YOU GET THE YOUNG PEOPLE INTERESTED IN PLAYING THE HARP.

>> YEAH.

REALLY THIS--THIS KIND OF HARP IS PRETTY MUCH ABLE TO PLAY ANYTHING, SO-- >> HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING SINCE YOU WERE A YOUNG BOY?

>> NO, I PLAYED PIANO AND ORGAN TO BEGIN WITH AND THEN I GOT INTO THIS WHEN I WAS 20 SOMETHING, SO-- >> WELL IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

CAN YOU JUST KIND OF PROVIDE US A LITTLE BACKGROUND MUSIC WHILE SYLVIA AND I CONTINUE.

BOY, THIS IS SO WONDERFUL.

>> I'M SO GLAD YOU COULD COME TODAY.

WE LOVE SHOWING HARPS TO PEOPLE.

>> I GUESS YOU DO.

NOW, YOU TEACH LESSONS HERE.

>> YES, PAUL IS OUR TEACHER PLUS WE HAVE TEACHERS ALL OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, IN FACT, ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT WE REFER PEOPLE OUT TO BECAUSE MOST OF OUR CUSTOMERS ARE ACTUALLY FROM ALL OVER.

WE'VE BEEN A MAIL ORDER BUSINESS FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS.

SO MOST OF OUR BUSINESS IS NOT ACTUALLY IN THE STORE, IT'S THROUGH THE MAIL AND THE INTERNET.

>> NOW THERE NOT THAT MANY HARP STORES AROUND ARE THERE?

>> NO, THERE'S ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE THAT--STORES IN THE U.S. THAT ARE ONLY HARPS.

>> IN THE U.S.?

>> YES.

>> WHAT ABOUT IN LOS ANGELES?

>> OH, WE'RE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> AND--AND WE ARE PRETTY MUCH PROBABLY THE BIGGEST IN THE WORLD.

WE'RE DEFINITELY THE BIGGEST IN THE COUNTRY.

>> REALLY.

WOW.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT JUST GREW AND GREW AND GREW.

>> YES.

AS MY FATHER SAID, I--I WROTE A BOOK ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO AND THEN SINCE THEN, I'VE BEEN WRITING MORE BOOKS AND THEN PEOPLE WANTED OTHER INSTRUMENTS AND THEY WANTED RECORDINGS, SO WITH THE--THE BUSINESS JUST GREW ONE PRODUCT AT A TIME.

>> BOY, THAT SOUNDS SO GOOD, PAUL.

THAT'S WONDERFUL.

NOW, WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE TO PLAY FOR US TOO.

>> YES.

WE LOVE OUR CUSTOMERS, WE HAVE WONDERFUL CUSTOMERS AND ACTUALLY MOST PEOPLE THINK OF STARTING A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT AS A SMALL CHILD.

BUT MOST OF OUR CUSTOMERS ARE WOMEN IN THEIR 30'S, 40'S, 50'S, A LOT OF THEM HAVE NEVER PLAYED ANY INSTRUMENTS BEFORE.

>> WOMEN.

NOT WOMEN AND MEN?

>> MOSTLY WOMEN, WE DO HAVE SOME MEN, PAUL IS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE, BUT MOST OF OUR STUDENTS AND MOST OF OUR CUSTOMERS ARE WOMEN.

IT IS DEFINITELY MUCH MORE PREDOMINATELY WOMEN THAT START.

BUT THEY--THEY DON'T START NECESSARY WHEN THEY'RE KIDS, AND SO WE LOVE IT WHEN WE GET PEOPLE, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE IN THEIR 90'S THAT HAVE NEVER PLAYED ANYTHING BEFORE THAT COME IN AND START THE HARP.

>> WELL NOW THIS LADY IS DEFINITELY NOT IN HER 90'S-- >> NO.

>> --COME ON OUT, COME ON OUT.

YOUR NAME IS?

>> MY NAME IS LISA LYNN.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> AND YOU ARE-- YOU STARTED THE HARP WHEN?

>> OH GOSH, ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO AND YEARS BACK I USED TO TUNE ALL THE HARPS HERE, WHICH IS QUITE A LOT OF STRINGS TO TUNE.

BUT NOW I'M A RECORDING ARTIST AND I TRAVEL ALL AROUND-- ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY PLAYING AT DIFFERENT FESTIVALS.

AND I LOVE TO INVITE PEOPLE, KIDS, EVERYONE CAN COME UP AND PLAY ON MY HARP DURING THE FESTIVALS I PLAY AT.

SO I--I LIKE TO STEER A LOT OF PEOPLE TOWARDS HERE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN PLAYING.

>> SO YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL HARP PLAYER NOW AFTER HAVING TUNED THEM HERE.

YOU GAVE HER HER START DOWN IN THE TRENCHES TUNING THE HARP.

>> AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF HER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NOW WHERE IS YOUR HARP, WHERE ARE YOU GOING-- >> I'M GOING TO PLAY THIS ONE OVER HERE IT'S LIKE THE ONE I HAVE AT HOME.

>> OKAY.

RIGHT HERE AND-- NOW THIS ONE STILL GOT THE TAG ON IT.

YOU BETTER TAKE THE TAG OFF.

IS IT FOR SALE?

>> THEY'RE ALL FOR SALE.

>> OKAY.

AND WHAT ARE GOING TO PLAY FOR US?

>> I'M GONG TO PLAY SOMETHING I WROTE.

I--I WRITE MY OWN SONGS AND RECORD THEM ON THE WINDHAM HILL RECORD LABEL AND I'M GOING TO PLAY THIS KIND OF HARP.

I HAVE A COLLECTION OF THESE TRIPLET HARPS AT HOME.

>> WHAT ARE THEY CALLED?

>> THIS HARP WAS MADE BY A COMPANY CALLED TRIPLET OUT HERE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND I LOVE THEIR HARPS.

[HARP MUSIC] >> OH GOSH, I'VE GOT TO SIT DOWN AFTER THAT.

THAT WAS WONDERFUL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NOW DO YOU FIND YOURSELF JUST SITTING AT HOME FOR HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS PLAYING LIKE THAT?

>> YES, YES, I DO.

IT'S RELAXING TO ME, IT'S RELAXING TO EVERYONE THAT HEARS IT.

>> YEAH.

YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR NEIGHBORS.

>> YEAH.

I HAVE--IN THE HARP THAT I TRAVEL WITH I PUT ELECTRONICS INSIDE, AND I HAVE A PA SO I CAN TURN IT UP REALLY LOUD AT THESE FESTIVALS AND PLAY SUCH A SOFT AND DREAMY THING AMONGST ALL THIS CHAOS THAT IT DRAWS IN WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT JUST LOVE IT.

>> WOW.

I WOULD LOVE TO BE YOUR NEIGHBOR.

AND HERE I AM TALKING MORE SOFTLY, MORE EASY GOING, JUST KIND OF RELAXED HERE.

>> IT'S REALLY EASY TO COMPOSE YOUR OWN MUSIC ON THIS INSTRUMENT.

IT'S FRIENDLY-- >> IT KIND OF FLOWS, DOESN'T IT.

>> --JUST WHEN YOU'RE BEGINNING YOU CAN MAKE IT SOUND REALLY PRETTY AND YOU'D BE SURPRISED ON HOW SIMPLE IT IS TO MAKE A VERY PLEASANT SOUND.

SO MANY INSTRUMENTS DON'T SOUND GOOD WHEN YOU START THEM AS A BEGINNER, BUT THIS IS THE ONE INSTRUMENT WELL RIGHT AWAY YOU'LL BE MAKING PLEASING MUSIC THAT NOBODY WILL MIND HEARING YOU.

>> IT ALMOST DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IF IT'S A SONG, DOESN'T IT?

JUST TO STRUM IT LIKE-- CAN YOU JUST STRUM IT THE WAY THAT PAUL DID?

>> YOU CAN PUT IT IN ONE KEY WHERE THERE'S LITERALLY NO WRONG NOTES, AND YOU CAN MAKE ANY ONE OF-- >> LOOK AT THE WAY YOUR HANDS-- LOOK AT THIS, LUIS.

JUST RUN YOUR HANDS ACROSS HERE SO LUIS CAN SEE IT 'CAUSE YOU'RE JUST BARELY TOUCHING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

MY PLEASURE.

>> BOY, YOU'VE OUTDONE YOURSELF TODAY.

AND WE HAVE EVEN MORE.

>> WE DO.

EVEN-- >> BECAUSE YOU REPRESENT THE 30- AND 40-YEAR-OLD LADY CATEGORY-- >> YEAH.

SOMEWHERE IN THERE.

>> --AND WE HAVE ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE HERE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

WE LOVE IT WHEN WE HAVE KIDS THAT COME AND PLAY.

AND WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF GELSEY BECAUSE SHE'S ACTUALLY WRITTEN A BOOK OF HER OWN COMPOSITIONS.

>> NOW THAT'S THE WAY YOU GOT STARTED, WRITING A BOOK.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

BUT I WASN'T THIS AGE.

[LAUGHER] >> YOUR NAME IS?

>> GELSEY HUGHES, I'M 12 YEARS OLD AND I'VE BEEN PLAYING HARP SINCE I WAS EIGHT.

>> OH MY GOSH.

IS THE--WHEN YOU WERE EIGHT DID YOU FEEL LIKE THE HARP WAS BIGGER THAN YOU, AND, I MEAN, IT WAS BIGGER THAN YOU?

>> I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER HOW I FELT ABOUT THAT ACTUALLY.

>> YOU WEREN'T AFRAID OF IT?

>> NO.

>> OKAY.

WELL, LET'S GET YOU OVER HERE.

NOW, WHERE IS YOUR HARP GOING TO BE?

>> I THINK I'LL PLAY THIS-- THIS ONE.

>> THIS ONE RIGHT HERE?

HERE, LET'S MOVE THIS ONE OUT OF THE WAY, SYLVIA, SO LUIS CAN GET A-- >> MOVE HER UP A LITTLE?

>> YEAH.

THIS IS GREAT.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> NOW WHAT ARE WE GOING TO-- WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE PLAYING TODAY?

>> I THOUGHT I PLAY A PART OF ONE OF MY OWN COMPOSITIONS, ONE OF THE PIECES IN MY BOOK.

>> REALLY?

SO YOU MADE THIS--YOU--YOU COMPOSED THIS YOURSELF?

>> UH-HUH.

PART OF THE PIECE.

>> WHAT'S IT CALLED?

>> LITTLE SEASHELL.

>> LITTLE SEASHELL.

[HARP MUSIC] >> OH WOW, VERY NICE.

NOW HOW MANY OF THESE SONGS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?

HOW BIG IS YOUR SONGBOOK?

>> I THINK I'VE WRITTEN--I DON'T--I DON'T KNOW, ABOUT 30 PIECES OR SOMETHING.

>> REALLY, ALREADY?

>> WELL SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN 20 AND 30 PIECES, I THINK.

>> NOW IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PURSUE THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

DO YOU WANT TO BE A PROFESSIONAL HARPIST?

>> I THINK SO, YES.

I REALLY ENJOY PLAYING THE HARP.

>> SO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE A MEMBER OF AN ORCHESTRA SOMEDAY, OR ARE YOU GOING TO JUST PERFORM ON YOUR OWN AND MAKE CD'S?

WHAT--WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH THIS?

>> I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

I'M STILL IN THE PROCESS OF SETTING MY GOALS.

>> WELL, AT 12 YOU STILL HAVE A FEW YEARS LEFT TO COME TO SOME KIND OF FINAL DECISION, DOESN'T SHE, SYLVIA?

>> YES.

I THINK SHE GOING TO GO FAR.

>> WOW.

WHEN YOU SEE A YOUNG PERSON LIKE THIS COMING INTO YOUR STORE, DO YOU KIND OF KNOW RIGHT AWAY IF THEY'VE GOT THE SPARK AND THE INCLINATION TO TAKE TO THE HARP, OR IS IT THE KIND OF THING YOU SEE EVOLVE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME?

>> WE SEE IT EVOLVE, BUT IT'S ALWAYS FUN WHEN PEOPLE, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR AGES, COME IN, BECAUSE THEY JUST BECOME SO MEMORIZED IMMEDIATELY EVEN IF THEY'VE NEVER PLAYED BEFORE, BECAUSE IT IS, AS LISA WAS SAYING, SO NICE TO JUST SIT AND RUN YOUR FINGERS OVER THE STRINGS.

>> SO REALLY YOU CAN ALMOST START PLAYING THE HARP RIGHT AWAY?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

YES, LESSON ONE YOU START LEARNING PIECES RIGHT AWAY, AND IT SOUNDS GOOD AS OPPOSED TO PLAYING SOME OF THE OTHER INSTRUMENTS LIKE VIOLIN, WHERE IT DOESN'T SOUND-- >> KIND OF SQUEAKY AND ALL.

>> --SO WONDERFUL FOR A WHILE.

BUT THE HARP SOUNDS WONDERFUL EVEN AS A BEGINNER.

>> NOW WHAT DO YOU PREDICT FOR THIS YOUNG LADY RIGHT HERE.

ARE WE GOING TO KNOW HER NAME?

>> WE WILL KNOW HER NAME, DEFINITELY.

DEFINITELY, AS A COMPOSER AND A PERFORMER.

>> WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

AND YOUR NAME AGAIN?

>> GELSEY HUGHES.

>> NOW YOUR FATHER IS HERE.

COULD HE COME OVER HERE A MINUTE?

BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE GOT TO BE VERY PROUD-- >> YES.

>> --OF YOUR DAUGHTER.

DID SHE PICK UP ANY OF THIS FROM YOU OR HER MOTHER OR?

>> SHE'S VERY INDEPENDENT ON THIS, VERY INDEPENDENT.

>> YOU'D NEVER PLAYED AN INSTRUMENT?

>> TRUMPET, BUT THAT DOESN'T COUNT.

>> THAT'S NOT CLOSE.

[LAUGHTER] >> SO HOW DID YOU REACT TO HER-- DID SHE JUST COME HOME ONE DAY AND SAY, "DAD, I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY THE HARP?"

>> PRETTY MUCH, PRETTY MUCH.

SHE WANTED TO TRY, SHE SAW SOMEONE AT SCHOOL, AT HER ELEMENTARY PLAY THE HARP, AND SHE SAID, "I'D--I'D LIKE TO TRY THAT.

CAN I DO THAT?"

SHE'S DONE A GOOD JOB WITH IT.

>> AND SHE HAS A HARP AT HOME?

>> YES.

SHE HAS A CELTIC HARP LIKE ONE OF THESE HERE AT HOME.

>> AND SHE PRACTICING A LOT.

>> YES.

VIRTUALLY EVERYDAY.

>> WHICH HAS TO SOUND GOOD AT HOME WHEN YOU GET HOME FROM WORK.

>> IT'S SO RELAXING TO COME HOME AND LISTEN TO HER PLAY.

I ALWAYS ASK HER TO PLAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SHE JUST SLID YOU THIS PIECE OF MUSIC HERE.

>> THIS IS GELSEY'S BOOK.

>> OH, GOOD!

RELATIVELY EASY MUSIC FOR THE HARP.

MIDNIGHT FARIES.

OH, THAT'S WONDERFUL.

HERE, HOLD YOUR BOOK AND YOU'RE ALREADY SELLING MILLIONS OF COPY OF THIS BOOK, AREN'T YOU?

[LAUGHTER] >> YOU'VE GOT YOUR--YOU'VE GOT YOUR COLLEGE FUND ALREADY STARTED.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NOW WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

>> WELL WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY THE HARP?

>> I WOULD LOVE TO--TO TRY TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY THE HARP.

WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING ABOUT?

>> NOTHING.

NOTHING.

>> YOUR LAUGHING ALL OVER THE STORE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, YOU THINK I'M GONG TO BE ABLE TO?

>> OH, I THINK YOU CAN.

>> YOU THINK ANYBODY I CAN.

>> I GUESS, YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO LET'S TRY THIS.

>> HAVE A SEAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LUIS, WE CAN ALWAYS CUT THIS OUT IF DOESN'T WORK RIGHT.

>> HERE, I'LL HOLD YOUR MICROPHONE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> OKAY.

SO IT COMES BACK AGAINST YOUR RIGHT SHOULDER, THERE YOU GO.

OKAY.

NOW, JUST TAKE YOUR SECOND FINGER AND GO UP AND GO DOWN WITH YOUR THUMB.

YOU CAN DO IT WITH BOTH HANDS.

>> THAT'S AMAZING.

THAT IS--SEE THAT GIVES YOU SUCH A WONDERFUL FEELING ALREADY.

>> ANOTHER THING THAT YOU CAN DO THAT WILL SOUND GOOD IS IF YOU TAKE YOUR TWO FINGERS LIKE THIS AND ALWAYS SKIP A STRING BETWEEN THEM.

BUT ANYWHERE YOU GO-- THERE YOU GO.

YOU'RE PLAYING LITTLE CHORDS.

>> THAT IS AMAZING.

WHERE IS PAUL?

I'M GIVEN HIM A RUN FOR HIS MONEY NOW.

>> YOU CAN PLAY DUET.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

>> BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO PLAY A TUNE-- >> HOW DO YOU MAKE QUIT-- >> YOU USUALLY JUST LET IT RING OR JUST EXACTLY LIKE THAT.

YOU CAN DAMP WITH YOUR HANDS.

>> THIS IS, KIND OF, ADDICTIVE.

>> PUT YOUR THUMB HERE.

>> YEAH.

>> AND YOUR SECOND FINGER ON THE NEXT RING AND THE THIRD ON THE NEXT AND YOUR FOURTH ON THE NEXT.

>> YEAH.

>> GOOD.

PUT YOUR THUMB UP A LITTLE BIT.

OKAY.

PLAY YOUR THUMB TWICE LIKE THAT AND THEN TAKE IT OFF.

GOOD.

THEN SECOND TWICE.

THIRD TWICE, ONCE.

GOOD TRY-- >> OKAY, OKAY.

>> --THAT AGAIN.

GOOD.

I'M GOING TO PLAY THE FIRST LINE.

[TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR] [LAUGHTER] >> ALL RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

RECORDING CONTRACTS ON THE WAY.

>> THAT'S IT.

>> TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR.

LET'S DO THAT ONE MORE TIME IN CASE THEY DIDN'T GET THE-- OF COURSE, I NEED YOU TO PLAY THE FIRST PART.

WELL, LET'S DO IT.

>> OKAY.

READY?

[TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR] >> WELL DONE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND WE QUIT WHILE WE'RE AHEAD.

>> OKAY.

>> NOW HERE'S THE LADY WHO WROTE US THE LETTER AND INVITED US TO COME HERE.

YOUR NAME IS?

>> I'M PATTY STROUT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE LETTER.

>> OH, I'M GLAD YOU CAME.

>> WHAT WAS IT YOU WROTE US IN THE LETTER THAT GOT US HERE?

>> I SAID, "HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO PLAY THE HARP?

AND YOU OUGHT TO COME AND SEE ALL THESE HARPS IN ONE PLACE BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE CITY OF ANGELS."

>> NOW WHAT WAS YOUR CONNECTION TO THIS PLACE?

>> SYLVIA AND I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR PROBABLY 30 YEARS.

AND I'VE JUST REALLY BEEN PROUD OF HER THE WAY SHE'S TAKING THIS ON AND-- AND BUILT THIS STORE AND BUILT AN EMPIRE OF HARPS.

AND I THOUGHT--I, YOU KNOW, I WATCH YOUR SHOW AND I THINK SOMEBODY OUGHT TO TELL HIM ABOUT SYLVIA'S STORE.

AND ONE DAY I THOUGHT THAT SOMEBODY REALLY SHOULD BE ME.

>> NOW DO YOU PLAY THE HARP?

>> I STARTED PLAYING PROBABLY 10 YEARS AGO OR SO, AND I DROPPED IT AND MY DAUGHTER STARTED PLAYING AND A FEW MONTHS AGO I WAS DUSTING HER HARP AND THINKING, YOU KNOW, I REALLY OUGHT TO TAKE IT UP AGAIN, AND I'VE--I'VE JUST RECENTLY STARTED PLAYING AGAIN.

>> SEE, YOU WERE PROBABLY WERE DUSTING AND YOUR HAND JUST KIND OF CAME DOWN ACROSS THE CHORDS.

>> YEP, YES.

AND IT SOUNDED BEAUTIFUL, I SHOULD DO THIS AGAIN.

>> START OVER AGAIN.

>> AND I LOVE IT.

>> WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GETTING US HERE.

SYLVIA, THIS HAS BEEN JUST WONDERFUL.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> AND NOW THAT WE'VE GOT THIS ON TELEVISION, YOU'RE GONNA PROBABLY JUST HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE JUST STOPPING BY HERE TO GET IN A MELLOW MOOD WHETHER THEY PLAY THE HARP OR NOT.

>> THAT'S FINE.

WE LOVE PEOPLE THAT LOVE THE HARP.

>> IT'S ALL RIGHT TO COME IN HERE AND LOITER AND JUST KIND OF GET IN AN EASY GOING MOOD?

>> SURE, EXCEPT WE'LL MAKE YOU PLAY JUST LIKE WE MADE YOU PLAY.

EVERYBODY HAS TO PLAY.

>> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IT'S EASIER, WELL ACTUALLY, OF COURSE, IT'S MUCH HARDER THAN IT LOOKS.

BUT IT CERTAINLY IS SOMETHING EASY TO START PLAYING.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> YOU FEEL--YOU BUILD A CONFIDENCE LEVEL UP VERY QUICKLY, DON'T YOU?

>> YES.

IT'S A VERY FORGIVING INSTRUMENT FOR A BEGINNER.

>> OKAY.

WELL IT CERTAINLY WAS FOR ME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY.

THIS IS A THE SYLVIA WOODS HARP CENTER.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> IN GLENDALE.

YOU'VE GOT A WEB SITE, YOU'VE GOT A CATALOG, YOU'VE GOT A STORE.

THIS IS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PLACE TO VISIT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE HARP HAS BEEN AROUND FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND ITS STILL GOING STRONG HERE IN GLENDALE.

AND AS YOUR FRIEND SAYS, YOU HAVE BUILT AN HARP EMPIRE HERE.

>> THAT'S IT.

THIS IS HARP MECCA.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO END WITH YOU ALL DOING WHAT?

WE'VE GOT WHOLE--WE'VE GOT ALL THE EMPLOYEES, WE'VE BROUGHT IN PEOPLE FROM THE STREET, WE'VE GOT EVERYBODY HERE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A HARP EXTRAVAGANZA.

>> PLAYING GREENSLEEVES, THE MOST RECOM--THE MOST REQUESTED-- THE MOST REQUESTED HARP SONG EVER.

>> YOUR KIDDING?

>> IF YOU EVER PLAY THE HARP, THE ONE SONG THAT PEOPLE ALWAYS REQUEST IS GREENSLEEVES.

>> WHY IS THAT?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA, BUT THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THEY EVER REQUEST.

THAT AND STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

HERE WE GO.

WHAT A GREAT WAY TO END WITH GREENSLEEVES.

[HARP MUSIC] CAPTIONING EQUIPMENT DONATED BY LLOYD RIGLER AND CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY RAPIDTEXT, NEWPORT BEACH, CA.

>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.