Harp Strings and Healing

Buckingham, PA — The soft strum of a harp may not be the first thing you expect to hear in a rehabilitation center, but for patients and staff at Buckingham Valley, it’s quickly becoming a welcome part of the healing process—thanks to Edie Elkan.

Elkan, a professional harpist and founder of Bedside Harp®, visits the center regularly to offer live harp therapy sessions to patients. As she settles next to the fireplace in a space that feels like a home’s living room today she brings gentle melodies to those undergoing physical and occupational therapy. On other visits you can find her gracing the dining room during the lunch hour, or roaming room to room as she provides therapy at the bedside.

“Harp therapy isn’t just about the music,” Elkan explains. “It’s about creating a calm, uplifting atmosphere where patients can feel relaxed, engaged, and even a little joyful during what is often a very challenging time.”

The impact is subtle but powerful. Staff members report that patients often seem more at ease during and after the sessions. Some close their eyes and take in the moment. Others request familiar tunes or simply chat with Edie, who is always happy to improvise and connect.

“This isn’t a performance—it’s a conversation, with music,” she says.

Founded in 2002, Bedside Harp has brought therapeutic harp programs to hospitals and facilities across the region. The organization’s mission is to promote healing and well-being through the therapeutic use of live harp music, meditation, and harp education.

At Buckingham Valley, Elkan’s sessions are met with smiles, curiosity, and in some cases, visible relief. “It breaks up the routine,” one patient shared. “It reminds me there’s life outside of rehab.”
Facility staff agree. “There’s a noticeable shift in the energy when Edie is here,” said the Director of Nursing. “Patients relax. Even the team feels it.”

With healthcare environments often dominated by beeping monitors and clinical noise, Elkan’s harp brings something entirely different: a sense of calm, beauty, and human connection.
And judging by the growing number of facilities requesting her visits, it’s clear the healing power of harp therapy is striking a chord.