Harp Column Blogs: Carl SwansonArchive

Here is a little idea that seems obvious but took me a long time to figure out.  I frequently travel with several harps in my van(a Dodge Grand Caravan by the way.  My third one in 15 years.).  I can and often do carry 4 pedal harps in my car  at one time.

For many years I used an assortment of old pillows, carpet scraps, movers blankets, etc. to keep the instruments separated.  Then I found a solution that works much better.  Large sheets of cardboard.  They stay in place and are much better at keeping the instruments separated and safe from damage than anything else I have tried.

Go out on garbage day and look for any large carton, like the ones used to ship appliances.  Even better are the cardboard crates the harp companies use to ship harps now.  You can cut one up into pieces the size you need to protect the instrument.  I realize that most of you are just moving one instrument.  But often you have other things in the car like music stands, other instruments, amplifying equipment, a harp cart, etc., and several well placed sheets of cardboard can keep all of these things  away from the harp.