By Ava Klein
Executive Life Editor
As Mira Costa, freshman Mia Friedman sits on her mahogany bench, she slowly extends her hands toward the woven natural gut strings of her antique harp. She begins to pluck its strings gracefully, transporting herself into a difffernt, tranquil world.
Two and a half years ago, Friedman began playing the harp. Taking up the instrument has been therapeutic for Friedman in a multitude of ways. When she was a young child, Friedman was diagnosed with autism.
Following her diagnosis, doctors said it would be unlikely that she would ever be able to harmoniously combine the functions of her left and right brain, which is what reading music, mathematics and playing musical instruments requires. According to Friedman’s mother, she has defied all odds.
“We started to help her read music when she was young in kindergarten to simply practice her left-and-right-brain integration,” Mia’s mother, who wishes not to be named, said.
However, harp was not the first instrument she picked up. Friedman has been playing the piano for 10 years. According to Friedman, the skills she has learned from practicing the piano for so many years have directly translated to her ability to play her harp.
“I really love playing the piano,” Friedman said. “Because I am so good at reading music on the piano, I can easily read and follow the music on the harp.”
Despite Friedman’s musical background, she faced several challenges when she first started playing her angelic instrument.
“On the first week that I began playing the harp, it was really difficult for me to play the pieces my teacher wanted me to play,” Friedman said. “But after a couple weeks of practicing for around 45 minutes per day, playing the harp quickly came to me.”
Similar to the piano, the harp has pedals which make the notes Friedman plays either flat, sharp or natural.
“Because the pedals are very similar on the harp, I was able to become a better harp and piano player,” Friedman said. “It is surprising that she took to reading music so easily,” Mia’s mother said. “Reading music has helped her with math as well. She is used to to remembering fourth notes and eighth notes.”
Friedman plays on a Style 23 Lion and Healy harp that was built in 1921. According to Mia’s mother, the purchase of Mia’s harp was a worthwhile investment that has had a tremendous impact on her life.
“We bought the harp with money left to her by her loving grandmother Frieda,” Mia’s mother said. “The harp has given her a creative outlet that has helped her exponentially. I am so happy that she is so dedicated to playing the harp.”
Every week, Friedman takes harp lessons from University of Southern California graduate student Allison Allport. According to Friedman, Allport has been far more than just a musical mentor; she has been a close friend too.
“I love my teacher so much because she is patient, sweet and amazing,” Friedman said. “Whenever I am learning how to play new pieces, she plays the song for me on my harp first, and then I play the piece after her.”
So far, Friedman has performed in two recitals this year. Her first performance was held at Allport’s home, where Friedman played on her teacher’s harp. Her second was held at the Steinway Piano Center in Pasadena.
“I felt really nervous for both of my recitals,” Friedman said. “However, when I start playing the piece, it all starts to come back to me.”
Last year, Friedman performed her favorite piece, Pachelbel’s “Canon in D-major,” on the harp at her eighth-grade graduation from Hermosa Valley School. Friedman spent five weeks assembling her graduation piece, which she practiced every day leading up to the performance for nearly an hour each day.
“When I first walked on the stage, I went up to the stage and played the piece that I had practiced,” Friedman said. “Playing at my graduation was special.”
Even though Friedman is not a part of the Mira Costa band, her love for her instrument remains unfettered. In the future, Friedman hopes to continue progressing on the harp and learning how to play new and interesting pieces.
“I love playing the harp,” Friedman said. “I absolutely love the way it sounds. It sounds beautiful. There is magic in my house when I play my harp and piano.”
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