From kinesthetic music education to ergonomics to teaching for diverse learning needs, harpist Jennifer R. Ellis is dedicated to innovative music pedagogy.
She is the harp professor at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in both their collegiate and precollege programs, in addition to teaching courses on pedagogy and community engagement. She has also served as the harp instructor at Mills College, Holy Names University PMD, and Harps Etc. She is the founding director of the SFCM Summer Harp Camp and has served as guest harp instructor at other summer programs including MPULSE and Nief Norf. Awarded an inaugural University of Michigan Engaged Pedagogy Fellowship, her pedagogy training includes earning a UM CRLT Graduate Teacher Certificate as well as training in eurhythmics pedagogy at CIM. She is an in-demand clinician; she was a featured teacher at the 2017 International Harp Festival and has presented masterclasses across the country at institutions including Interlochen, Boston University, and University of Arizona. Her students have won national awards including the AHS Young Composers Project, American Harp Society Competition, and Prodigy International Music Competition. In her performing life, she thoroughly enjoys using her instrument in new and unexpected ways, premiering over 100 works and serving as the first harpist to be a U.S. State Department One Beat Fellow. www.harpellis.com