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MUSIC
HOSPITAL
Harp to Heart
 Since the fall of 1997 Betty-Ashton and her harp have been a unique presence at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. While a student at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music, Betty-Ashton volunteered through the hospital’s Cultural Enrichment Program, playing the harp in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Upon graduating, the department helped create a position that would enable Betty-Ashton to be have a consistent presence in the hospital. In 2001 she became the Musician in Residence. Since then, she has been playing throughout the hospital on a regular basis in units including the Ingram Cancer Center, Paige Campbell Heart Institute, Pediatric Critical Care Unit, Surgery waiting areas, and of course the NICU. After years of consistency, the hospital staff has gotten used to seeing Betty-Ashton, affectionately known as “The Harp Lady”, wheeling her harp through the many wards of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Children’s Hospital.
Two great ways you can contribute to the comfort and healing of those you know who are grieving:
Inspired by her years of playing the harp in the hospital, Betty-Ashton wrote and recorded a CD of songs that provide comfort and relaxation that will encourage healing. The CD is called “Home”. She has also recorded a CD of hymns for the same purpose.
Or, if you are in the Nashville area, instead of sending flowers to the hospital, or to your friend’s home, why don’t you send Betty-Ashton to play the harp for them? Betty-Ashton has a very genuine bedside manor and has learned how to custom choose the songs that will bring joy to each particular patient. You’d be amazed at the response receiving a live harpist can evoke. Go to the booking section for more information.
RECORDED MUSIC
Available on CD:
(click an album to purchase or for more information)
"Rest" (2008)
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"Love Songs On The Harp"
(2006)
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"Home" (2005)
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"Silent Night" (2003)
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"Behind the Strings" (1999)
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Betty-Ashton also appears on:
"All
the Joy in the World" by Jump5
"Veggie Tales: Junior's Bedtime Songs"
Daywind Series: Country Inspirations, Irish, Love Songs
Jonathan Dunn
Steve Lee
Food Network
Tawny Cox
ELECTRIC HARP
 While pursuing an obvious calling to use her music to provide comfort and healing to those in hospitals, Betty-Ashton has discovered another way that using her instrument is life-breathing: collaboration.
Vanderbilt University is what brought Betty-Ashton to Nashville, but the wealth of creative musicians and the consistent opportunity to collaborate with said musicians is what has kept her here. She says her favorite thing to do, as a musician, is to create with other musicians. “I love being able to hear what another musician is doing and add something to that. The harp on it’s own is an amazing thing, but it’s even better when I have the opportunity to play with musicians I respect. I love it when a friend starts out on the guitar or piano, singing a song of their own and I get to figure out a way to accent that. Or when I’m playing with a group and the drummer’s keeping the beat and I’ve got the bass resonating behind me and I get to come up with little riffs like a lead guitarist would. Talk about feeling alive!” Figuring out this passion is what made Betty-Ashton purchase a rare, but amazing instrument, an electric harp. She had it painted blue, her favorite color. While still a pedal harp, it is slightly smaller and easier to get around, but since each string has it’s own pick up it is easily heard when she plugs it into her Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, an amplifier meant for an electric guitar. Having the electric harp has enabled Betty-Ashton to be creative on a whole new level. She uses loops and pedals meant for a guitar and is able to make her harp sound like an entire fleet of harps. Not to mention, it looks pretty cool to see a harp on stage with a rock band. |
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