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Jan teaches both lever and pedal harp and attracts students from the entire southeast as well as Central Florida. Students travel on a regular basis from Gainesville, Merritt Island, Rockledge, Lakeland, Clearwater, Ormond Beach, Port Orange, Deland, and throughout Florida to study with Jan. She requires all students to learn standard classical harp repertoire and theory, but she also teaches arranging and improvisation.

Several of Jan’s students have been finalists in the national competition of the American Harp Society. Unlike talent contests, pageants, or local music evaluations, the AHS competition is judged by harpists who are considered at the top of their field. The repertoire is demanding and the standards are extremely high. Only a handful of contestants are accepted to compete after submitting audition tapes.

One of Jan’s students, Haley Rhodeside, tied for first place in the International Young Artist’s Harp Competition in Rabun Gap, Georgia, in 2008. She also won first prize in the seventh annual Space Coast Pops Young Performing Artist Competition in June 2003. She won second prize in the statewide Mt. Dora Young Artist Competition in 2005, and was a concerto contest winner with the Brevard Symphony Youth Orchestra in 2007 and 2009. She has been accepted as a harp major at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University to study with the renowned harpist and teacher, Susann McDonald.

Haley, and three other students, Lillian Langford, Emmy Rathgeber, and Emily Toelcke, have been prize winners in harp in the Young Artist Competition at Rollins College, Winter Park, FL.

Jan Jennings studied harp for seven years with Marie Mellman Naugle in Harrisburg, PA. Mrs. Naugle was a student of Marcel Grandjany. The technique that Jennings teaches is the French method. Although classically trained, Jan also excels at playing “pop” and improvising. Her solid technique and improvisational skills led her to win first prize in the Lyon & Healy International Pop & Jazz harp competition in 1988.

Students' Comments:

“I am so grateful for the suggestions you gave me at the recent private lesson [at the Beginning in the Middle Seminar] on how to improve my harp technique. I can already see and hear a difference!”
Julia Dobson
Culpeper, Va.

“I can’t even begin to thank you for everything you’ve done for me these past four years. You really turned me around as a musician. Had it not been for your constant effort and encouragement, I doubt that I’d still be playing today."
Lillian Langford
Lakeland, Fla.

“Thank you, as always, for your tremendous impact on Lillian. I can’t imagine her accomplishing what she has without your marvelous skills as a teacher and mentor.”
Mary Kay Langford (mother of Lillian Langford)
Lakeland, Fla.

“I feel so fortunate to study with you. You are the best musician I have ever known and a great teacher! You are patient, but demand excellence.”
Vicki Garcia
Clearwater, Fla.

“Thank you for all that you have done to help me play the harp better. I really like having you as my teacher because you make me feel like I am always playing for a performance. Thanks again for your thoroughness, enthusiasm, and willingness to give of yourself to benefit others.”
Elizabeth White,
Rockledge, Fla.

“I am very grateful to have a teacher like you.”
Deborah Wendt
Altamonte Springs, Fla.

“…you were my first real inspiration on the harp. Thank you for all that you taught me through high school and for the foundation you provided…had it not been for you and your teaching me, I probably wouldn’t be here.”
Emily Toelcke
Graduate, master’s program at Florida State University

“I never would have gotten this far without you. Thanks!”
Haley Rhodeside
Merritt Island, Fla.

“After only a few months with you, my joy playing the harp has increased tenfold…you have a special talent for teaching and sensing how to encourage me without overwhelming.”
Jacqueline Ersin
Daytona Beach, Fla.

"Thank you again for all that you taught Alyssa. I have truly seen her grow in her music and she will always think of you fondly and as the teacher that everyone else must compare to. We both know that is a high standard."Denise Steichen,
Mother of Alyssa

School Programs:

In addtion to private lessons Jan presents programs at elementary schools.

Here are samples of the students' artwork:

National Harp Events:

Jan is also sought after as a teacher for national harp events. She is quoted as a harp teacher in a new book, “SIGN ME UP! The Parents' Complete Guide to Sports, Activities, Music Lessons, Dance Classes and Other Extracurriculars,” by Stacy DeBroff, published by Simon and Schuster.

Jan has presented workshops, master classes, concerts, and private lessons at the following events:

Florida Summer Harp Seminar, Winter Park, FL (1994)

Harpfiesta, American Harp Society Southwestern Regional Conference, Houston, TX (1997)

Lyon & Healy International Jazz & Pop Harpfest, Pacific Grove, CA (1997)

Beginning in the Middle harp seminar, Williamsburg, VA (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006)

International Society of Folk Harpers & Craftsmen national conference, Galveston, TX (1998)

Beginning in the Middle West harp seminar, Santa Rosa, CA (1998)

Professional Perspectives harp seminar, Orlando, FL (1999)

Florida Harpers and Friends Workshop 2000, Ormond Beach, FL (2000)

Harp in Sacred Liturgy conference, Huntington, NY (2000)

Somerset Folk Harp Festival, Somerset, NJ (2001, 2004)

American Harp Society national conference, St. Paul, MN (2002)

Lyon & Healy International Jazz & Pop Harpfest, Salt Lake City, UT (2004)

June Harp Escape regional mini-conference, Ft. Myers, FL (2005)

Eastman School of Music, Practical Harpist seminar, Rochester, NY (2005)

Lyon & Healy Teacher’s Conference, Chicago, IL (2006)

Harp Feste at St. Gregory's, Boca Raton, FL (2007)

Lever Harp Teacher's Symposium, Boiling Springs, PA (2007)

Midwest Harp Festival, Tulsa, OK (2007, 2008, 2009)

Harper's Ferry Getaway Weekend 2007, Harper's Ferry, WV

State Street Academy, one day seminar, Harrisburg, PA (2008)

San Jacinto Chapter/AHS, one day seminar, Houston, TX (2008)

Jan Jennings led a panel discussion with other nationally recognized harpists (left to right) Louise Trotter, Barbara Brundage, Jan Jennings, and Ray Pool at the 2002 American Harp Society national conference.

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