aura Sherman
busytuning
Laura Sherman
Harpist, Teacher, Writer, Editor, Publisher
@busytuning
One of today's most versatile harpists, Laura Sherman is recognized for her expressive musicianship, gorgeous sound, and insightful teaching.
She has performed on Broadway and in concert halls around the world and with artists as diverse as Barbra Streisand, Renée Fleming, Wyclef Jean and Meredith Monk.
Laura moved to Miami in 2019 after a 34-year career in New York City (including as the original harpist of "Wicked" and the harpist on the cast recording of "Hamilton.") She has built a busy career in south Florida as a performer in all genres and settings, an in-demand teacher, recording artist, writer, editor and publisher, founding Gotham Harp Publishing in 2012 to share her critical performance editions of J.S. Bach's music on the pedal harp, as well as other harpists' transcriptions of other Baroque composers' music.
When not performing, Laura teaches one-on-one lessons through her online Sherman Harp Studio (SHS). For more information, click here or email Laura directly, laura@busytuning.com.
Explore the Collection
Bach For All Harpists
Bach For All Harpists
This new collection of six graded keyboard pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach has been transcribed for the harp and offers students, teachers, and professionals an opportunity to expand their repertoire as well as learn valuable technical and musical skills.
Using music that J.S. Bach composed as pedagogical pieces for his eldest son, Wilhelm Friedemann, and his second wife, Anna Magdalena, gives harpists of all levels an in-depth look into his music and late German Baroque style. It also offers a glimpse into what it might have been like to study with one of the world’s greatest musicians.
Three works are for beginners; one for intermediate; and two for advanced levels. All are for pedal harp and two can also be played on the lever harp. Extensive information about ornamentation, phrasing, fingerings, dynamics, and piece-specific recommendations are also included.
An article about this collection appears in the March/April 2024 issue of Harp Column magazine. Each of the six pieces are also available as individual PDFs through Harp Column Music. A print version of this collection is only available from Gotham Harp Publishing.
American Harp Society's 2023 National Competition
Colburn School of Music
Dr. Laura Sherman recently served as a judge at the American Harp Society's 2023 National Competition held at the Colburn School of Music in downtown Los Angeles. There were a total of 25 prizes awarded in five categories.
Prior to the competition, which was held between May 31 - June 4, 2023, Dr. Sherman prepared a ten-part online series for participants to help with their preparations.
Listen
Examples of Laura Sherman's Solo and Chamber Music Performances
“Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity.”
Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
Study
Teaching Philosophy
Given her diverse musical experiences, Dr. Sherman has much to offer today's students. Whether playing hip-hop music in a New York City recording studio, musical theater on Broadway, classical music with a symphony orchestra at Carnegie Hall, popular music with Barbra Streisand in Tel Aviv, early music at an historical harp conference in a castle in Italy, or solo and chamber works in halls around the country, Dr. Sherman enjoys sharing her diverse knowledge with students of all ages. As a J.S. Bach specialist, she also enjoys helping students create their own transcriptions of early music, as well as preparing their editions for performance.
She has given masterclasses on J. S. Bach's music at the American Harp Society's Conferences in New York City (2012) and Atlanta (2016) and at The World Harp Congress's Conferences in Prague, Czech Republic (1999) and Sydney, Australia (2014).
In addition to teaching privately in Miami and New York City, Dr. Sherman served as the lecturer in harp, music theory and chamber music at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami; as the assistant professor of harp and music studies at Louisiana State University and as an adjunct instructor in harp and music studies at Hunter College/City University of New York. She has also served as a judge for the American Harp Society’s 2021 and 2023 National Competitions.
If you are interested in private lessons, audition prep, or coaching assistance, Dr. Sherman teaches in person and on Zoom. She can be reached through email, Facebook or Instagram.
