“Valley Christian School is pleased to announce that they have become harp-friendly. The vision of creating a preparatory conservatory of music program at Valley Christian School was launched in 2006 with the help of professional violinist and teachers, Scott Homer and Lily Koh Homer. This new conservatory has a mission,''To discover and develop the extraordinary God-given talent of young artists and to reclaim the arts as an expression of God's love among the varied cultures of the world''.

In the spring of 2008, with the success of this growing music program, the idea was introduced to provide opportunities for the harp. With the help of Kristal Schwartz, a recent graduate in harp performance from San Francisco Conservatory, Troy Gunter (the director of performing and visual arts) was approached with the vision of a harp-friendly environment where young harpist have the same opportunities to participate in ensembles, lessons, and performances as other instrumentalists.

With Gunter's support the idea rapidly took root when Tamara Mead, a harpist and a mother of an enrolled harp student, provided the school with a Dusty Stings and a Lyon and Healy 85p model harp. Kirsten (student of Karen Thielen), Brooke, and Kiana Lei (students of Lynne Rovin), are the first harp students to participate in Valley Christian School's new harp-friendly conservatory.

One of the opportunities for harpist enrolled at the school is the chance to participate in a strings class which introduces them to the skills necessary for performing in ensembles, orchestras and chamber groups. The program hopes to continue to create as many opportunities for harpists as there are for string, percussion, winds and other instruments. These opportunities may include: harp enable class, solo performances, ensembles with other instruments, workshops, master classes, and an introduction to harp for non-harpists who have the desire to explore the world of harp. Moreover, by introducing the harp at the school, it provides aspiring musicians an opportunity to learn more about the mysterious harp and become familiar with its particular role.”

San Jose Studio

Kristal has been teaching at Angelic Harp  studio for many years.  It is a private location perfect for lessons and group classes.  It is located between off of the Alameda between 880 and 87