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About Jane

Jane Valencia is a bardic harper, nature teacher, herbalist, writer, and artist who enchants children of all ages with her magical tales and lively music.

She has musically adventured with the harp since 1987, performing and recording with the Pacific Coast duo Spookytree as well as solo and with other groups. Her storytelling and art celebrates the magic of the natural world and the exciting connection each one of us has with nature.

Whether in concert, or in workshops, or even out in the forest, Jane's improvisational style is imaginative, light-hearted and responsive, voicing the magical inner nature that is threaded into each one of us.

Musical Background

Musically, Jane's first love was oboe. She performed in orchestras and bands for a number of years. Next she got fired up by early music. She sang with a collegium musicum and studied medieval and Renaissance music.

Then, inspired by several children's fantasy books that featured Celtic harps, and after spending a half year in Wales studying medieval Welsh bardic poetry, Jane bought her first harp. A whole new realm opened for her of music creation - that of arranging one's own music, composing, and the magic of unearthing the music in the moment: improvisation. She and her harp have never turned back!

From there Jane has found that with her harp she can weave everything she loves into a musical or magical adventure. And that adventure with story, folklore, song, art and nature's magic finds expression here in Forest Halls.

Bardic Harp

As a 21st century bard offering Celtic harp, storytelling, poetry, and song, Jane performs 30 minute, 60 minute, and full-length concert versions of Forest and of her version of the Selkie legend, as well as performances of other stories and music. (Into The Spirit House is one such journey-tale). Please contact Jane at for more details.

Harp Teacher

A teacher of Celtic harp for nearly 20 years, Jane specializes in helping the student unearth his or her inner music while also tending to the techniques, skills, and artistry of becoming a harper. She teaches both nylon-strung and wire-strung harp techniques. Lessons include improvisation and arranging with opportunities to focus on therapeutic harping skills, bardic harp, composition, Celtic musical styles (Scottish, Irish, and Welsh), and Latin American harping styles and techniques, according to the student's interests.

Lessons are available in person, in the Puget Sound, WA area, or via Skype.

Jane also offers workshops in bardic harp, musical medicine weaving, the village harper, modal theory, wire-strung harp techniques, improvising on the harp, and quick-to-learn tunes for playing, singing, and accompaniment for the seasons (Autumn/Harvest, Winter/Christmas, May Day songs, and more). Jane teaches harp to all ages.

Magical Nature And Art

As a "magical naturalist" Jane leads nature awareness adventures for all ages woven with story and song. Jane has a decade of experience with nature mentoring, having apprenticed with Wilderness Awareness School and pursued studies the Kamana Naturalist Training program. Check the calendar for upcoming Forest Halls events.

A lover of the plant realm and continuing student of herbal medicine, Jane writes and illustrates a kids herbal comic for Plant Healer Magazine, Paloma And Wings.

As an artist Jane's whimsical illustrations and comics express the joy and wonder we feel when know ourselves to be at home in the natural world.

Community Singing & Musical Directorship

In 2006 Jane's projects included founding and directing the Forest Halls Folk Choir, leading weekly Community Singing at the local Farmers Market and biweekly Singing Circles in forest and field. Look for similar offerings wherever she makes her home.

Jane has also offered Musical Direction and music arranging for community ensembles of all ability levels for over 15 years.

"Jane Valencia's artistry was essential to manifesting my vision for BLOOD. As Musical Director, she "mapped" and scored the 90-minute dance/movement work, creating a rich textural musical landscape that explored themes as diverse as vitality, grief, longing, birth/ rebirth, and the continuum of connection/disconnection in human relationship..."