David Herring

My name is David Herring and I am a Carpenter & Joiner by Trade. for 15 years before my retirement in 2021, I was a TasTAFE Construction and Cabinetmaking teacher in Launceston.

I got into instrument making as the result of hosting an exchange student from Germany several years ago. The student is a very talented flutist, but did not bring a music stand with her when she came to Australia. As a gift for her 17th birthday whilst staying with us I made a collapsible music stand out of Tasmanian Myrtle. As a joke she asked if I could make her a traditional Irish style wooden flute. I parked that thought in the back of my mind for a couple of years, before I decided to have a go. Then, after a lot of research and lots of prototypes, I made a Prattens Perfected "D" keyless flute with tunning slide out of Australian Red Gum with Huon Pine, Blackwood and Sassafras Inlays. The flute was finished in time for her 21" birthday.

Prior to sending the flute to Germany I showed a number of friends who had also hosted the student. One of those friends said that she had always wanted to play the harp and asked if I could make her one. Being up for a challenge, I did some research on line and came across a harp that is used for music therapy. I thought it would be the ideal instrument, light weight, easily transported and even easier to play. I showed my friend but she had set her heart on a traditional style of Harp. So, I found some plans on line and built a traditional Lap harp out of Tasmanian Blackwood and Huon Pine.

In the back of my mind I thought that the music therapy harps had a lot of potential. I spoke with the Clinical Manager at the Ainsley, Low Head Retirement Complex about the harps. As the result of this conversation I built three (3) therapy harps of my design as part of a project for my local Rotary Club.

These harps have been a huge success with the residents and visitors alike, as well as others who saw them. As a result I have had many requests for me make therapy harps.

Given the interest I am now making Therapy Harps in my spare time in my workshop at home. I enjoy the creative process of working with quality Tasmanian timbers to produce these instruments and as no two pieces of timber are exactly the same, every instrument made as it's own individual visual character, but all have the same warm and rich sound. 

In 2019 I was awarded the best working exhibit at Tasmanian Craft Fair which is the largest working craft fair in Southern Hemisphere with over 300 working exhibitors.