About me

It all began at the age of 7, with a true love at first sight for the harp. From music school to the conservatory, I dedicated my entire childhood to music and the stage.

However, my musical studies shifted toward increasingly demanding technical skills. When I began my higher education, I faced a heartbreaking choice: unable to balance musical performance with my new academic path, I had to, with great sadness, set the harp aside.

My studies took me on many journeys; I discovered new horizons, finding a guitar wherever I went to stay connected to music. It wasn't until 2019 that I found my way back to the harp, animated by a new spirit: I began composing songs and instrumental pieces under the artist name Haindash. Nine albums are now available on streaming platforms.

Covid marked a major artistic turning point for me; tucked away in my den, I composed song after song breathlessly. Hey You, which is my most well-known song, is part of the album *Lost in Time*, written during the Covid period.

Then in August 2020, I treated myself to a new Celtic harp—Ulysse—to accompany Athena, my concert harp. Thanks to *Ulysse*, I can perform beyond my own walls and reach out to audiences.

Today in 2025, after eighteen years in the web and tech industry—and a major burnout—I am returning to my first love and have found my true calling: the harp.
My wish? To share the joy of music in nurseries, schools, libraries, healthcare facilities, corporate settings... and wherever a few notes can make eyes shine.

Why music ?

Music is a very ancient practice. Some of the oldest objects ever made by humans are musical instruments. A bone flute attributed to Neanderthals is estimated to be around 43,000 years old. If music has accompanied humanity for so long, it is probably because it has played an essential role in human evolution.

Music is also universal: no known culture exists without it. Human beings are even born musical. From birth — and even before, in the womb — we are able to recognize rhythms, melodic contours, and variations in sound.

In the brain, music is a remarkably complete experience. There is no single “music center”: in reality it engages almost every region of the brain. Areas responsible for hearing, movement, emotions, language, and memory all work together to process what we hear and feel.

Music therefore has a true biological power. Because it activates many neural networks, it can influence non-musical functions such as language, memory, movement, and emotions.

Thanks to neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to transform and create new connections — musical experience can support development, learning, and well-being throughout life.

For this reason, music today holds an important place in the fields of health, education, and human care.

This is the spirit in which I wish to share music: as a universal language capable of connecting, soothing, and awakening.

Why the harp?

The harp fascinates through its aura, its mysteries, its myths and legends, as well as its history. Alongside the flute, it is one of the oldest known instruments. It has been known by many names: Veena in India, Lyra, Nevel, or Kinnor. The harp likely evolved from the hunting bow, originating in Africa at least 5,000 years ago, though cave paintings might trace its origins back even further (Lascaux, 13,000 BC).

Throughout history, the harp is found in the Middle East, India, Asia… In Egypt, Hathor, the goddess of music, played it. Buddha is said to have remembered being the harpist Guttila in a former life. "The Song of the Harper" is an ancient Egyptian poem, sung by Egyptian harpists—most often blind—to accompany the deceased into the Afterworld. King David played the harp for Saul to heal him from his suffering.
In Greek mythology, Hermes created the lyre from a tortoise shell (the world, a feminine symbol), stag antlers (masculine energy), and seven goat-gut strings (spiritual energy). Apollo, having obtained the lyre, gave it to Orpheus, who used it to charm the guardian of the Underworld. Celtic legends also mention harper gods, such as the Dagda. Among the Celts, druids and bards played the harp to teach, heal, and inspire (Merlin). In Ireland, Canola, the goddess of music, is considered the inventor of the harp. These harpist figures are as numerous as they are fascinating!

The harp is a unique instrument. It covers the entire spectrum of the human voice and beyond. It can resonate with the voice of a child (treble), a woman (alto/medium), or a man (bass). The strength of the harp lies in its open string, which vibrates for a long time, allowing for the resonance of several natural harmonics that intertwine to create a unique "sound aura."
There are various playing techniques that enrich its sound: plucked strings, playing with nails, playing near the soundboard, palm harmonics, percussion on the soundboard, glissandos…
It is a polyphonic instrument that calls for harmony. The harp creates a sound cradle where one can both find oneself and escape.

Harp therapy

What is it?
Harp therapy originated in the United States in 1990, where it is now a well-established practice. It is structured around professional standards defined by the National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians (NSBTM) and is promoted in Europe by the International Harp Therapy Program (IHTP).
Harp therapy is an approach based on the structured and targeted use of music played on the harp in care and supportive settings. It aims to support the listener's overall well-being by leveraging the recognized effects of sound, rhythm, and vibration on the nervous system, physiological functions, and emotional state.
This is not clinical music therapy, but rather therapeutic music: a true artistic practice dedicated to companionship and support.

How does it work?
The core of the practice lies in improvisation. I use my technical knowledge and skills to improvise in a creative and adaptive way. This tailor-made music is performed with full attention and kindness toward the listener.
Everything is based on the subtle observation of the listener's needs, allowing me to adjust the music in response to their reactions. I am in constant search of the resonant tone unique to each individual.
The goal is not to impress, entertain, or play "many notes" with virtuosity or performance in mind: the idea is to create a "harp–musician–listener" sound cradle.

What is the purpose?
Harp therapy can:
- contribute to soothing pain, stress, and anxiety
- support physiological balance (heart rate, breathing, etc.)
- accompany moments of transition or vulnerability
Harp therapy can be experienced as a true sound massage.

What I am not:
I am not a doctor, psychologist, or healer: I am an artist trained in a musical practice of support. I do not aim to actively "fix" the listener; the music acts wherever it can resonate.
Healing is not the role of the harp therapist. I am here to play for you, in the present moment—a music that is neither perfect nor superior, but authentic.

Contact

contact@anaislaharpiste.com

+33 (0)6 71 07 34 59

Bordeaux and surrounding area

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