An curved arrow pointing right. Pedal harps can cost $70,000 — far more than lever harps, which cost $2,000 to $9,000. At first glance, a pedal harp looks like a simple frame with a row of strings.

The baby harps were provided to the students for free by Detroit Harmony, and when it is time to move to the full-sized pedal harp, Crutcher said Detroit Harmony will sort them out, too.

The modern concert pedal harp is very different to the stringed instrument used to accompany Irish folk music, or the first versions of it found in 2500 BC. It is more powerful and richer in tone, ...