Introducing Karen Jones
The Harp Lady & Children’s Music Specialist in Hutt Valley
Karen Jones is a highly experienced and respected music educator, harpist, and guitarist based in the Hutt Valley, Wellington, New Zealand. With over three decades of professional teaching experience, Karen is respected for her expertise in Scottish and traditional music, as well as her warm, creative teaching approach.
A Rich Musical Journey
Originally from New Zealand, Karen spent 14 years in Edinburgh, Scotland, deeply immersing herself in Scottish traditional music. She studied the clarsach (harp) under the esteemed Isobel Mieras, founded a music school, played in professional ceilidh bands, and led popular folk and traditional music sessions. This international experience shapes her unique blend of performance and teaching style.
Innovative Teaching Recognized Internationally
Karen’s innovative teaching methods have attracted attention from Edinburgh University and the BBC. Her approach to music education—especially in the realm of Scottish traditional music and her creative appriach—was featured on BBC TV, showcasing her as a notable figure in the field and underscores her impact on music education and performance.
Founder of the Children’s Music Centre
Back in New Zealand, Karen established the Children’s Music Centre in Wellington, where she offers group and individual lessons for children in harp, guitar, keyboard and musicality. Her teaching philosophy focuses on nurturing creativity, confidence, and a connection to musical heritage in every child.
Professional Qualifications and Recognition
Karen is a registered primary and secondary teacher (since 1989) with extensive experience in both public and private music education sectors. She has successfully guided many students in New Zealand and Scotland, and her work has been highly regarded by educators and performers alike.
Performer & Collaborator
Known affectionately as “The Harp Lady,” Karen performs Celtic harp music at weddings, corporate events, and festivals, enchanting audiences with the gentle, ancient sounds of the harp. She is also a member of the folk fusion trio Across the Great Divide, blending Celtic, Americana, and Scandinavian traditions.
Why Choose Karen as Your Child’s Music Teacher?
With decades of teaching experience and a passion for music education, Karen offers a professional, supportive, and inspiring environment for children to learn and grow. When your child studies at the Children’s Music Centre, you can be confident they’re in expert hands.
Location: Hutt Valley / Wellington, New Zealand
Instruments: Harp, Guitar, Keyboard, trad song
Ceol is a project which is about learning and change.
Ceol aims to create and inspire music education programs that focus on intellectual and creative balance.
Supporting people to connect to their whakapapa through music, with a focus on Scottish traditional music.
Promote Scottish traditional music and encourage engagement in one’s own musical whakapapa.
Provide creative and intellectually balanced music education for the takariki of New Zealand.
Aims and Values
Foster Inclusive Communities and Celebrate Whakapapa
Ceol aims to foster inclusive communities of musically literate and self-confident individuals.
By creating spaces that embrace diversity and encourage participation, we strive to make music education empowering for our tamariki, now and for their future.
How can you know where you are now if you do not know where you have come from? We seek to offer opportunities for individuals to connect with their cultural heritage through music.
By exploring and celebrating our whakapapa, we aim to create a stronger sense of identity and continuity within our communities.
Balance Intellectual and Creative Education
Our goal is to provide well-balanced music education programs that include intellectual and creative cognitivity.
We believe that learning and understanding music with the two hemispheres of the brain enriches individuals and enhances their overall development.
Balanced whole-brain learning is the way forward, and promoting a positive self-image through the freedom of creative expression, promotes a healthier lifestyle, both now and in all future personal endeavours.Promote Personal and Community Growth
Ceol is committed to fostering personal growth and development, as well as contributing positively to the community.
We believe that by nurturing self-discipline, openness, and creativity, we can drive both individual and collective awareness.
Uphold Core Values:
We are dedicated to upholding the values of peace, freedom, integrity, commitment, and respect in all aspects of our work.
These principles shape our work, ensuring that our initiatives are grounded in generosity, curiosity, compassion, and collaboration.
Build a Supportive and Respectful Environment
At Ceol, we prioritize creating a supportive environment where kindness, courtesy, and inclusion are at the forefront.
We are committed to cultivating a culture of gratitude and humility, ensuring that everyone feels valued and respected.
“Ceol is the Gaelic word for music.
Underneath all my projects is the aim to inspire people to access intellectual/creative balance and to connect to their own whakapapa through music, with our focus being on Celtic and Scottish traditional music.”
– Karen Jones -
