Listen to Harp Column Podcast Episode 4.
“Be All You Can Be”: The Army Field Band and my 7 stages of grief
I have experienced the full gamut of the grief experience as this blog post has been brewing inside of me for the past month. I can remember the first time I saw the posting: U.S. Army Field Band - Harp/Piano My heart sank. Not because I dream of being a military...
Teachers corner #1: Stepping up your studio
Are you happy with the size of your studio, or would you like more students? I think most of us would say that we would love to have more students; because more students means more steady income. As musicians its not always easy to find secure, reliable income....
Freelance Chronicles Episode 8 – A Lesson Learned
In general I am a fairly optimistic person. Call me naive, but I prefer to see the world through rose-colored glasses and find that if you put positivity into the world it will always come back to you. But in the past two years, since leaving my many years of...
Recital review: Princeton Harp Festival – Sylvain Blassel
To be honest, before learning about the Princeton Harp Festival I had only heard the name Sylvain Blassel in passing. I didn't know much more about him other than that he had recorded the entire Goldberg Variations and that he teaches at the Lyon Conservatoire...
Recital review: Princeton Harp Festival – Addi & Jacq
Let me begin by saying that I am a HUGE Addi & Jacq fan... I came across their music before the 2015 Battle of the Boroughs win (click the link to see their award winning performance!) and have been musically obsessed with them since that time. I was so excited...
Recital review: Princeton Harp Festival – François Pernel
Day 1 of the Princeton Harp Festival is done... and boy did they end the first day with a BANG! The 8pm recital by François Pernel was unlike any recital I have ever attended. I think it is in the nature of lever/celtic harp for the atmosphere to be more intimate......
Harp Bits #5 – Camac Memory Harp
In the past Bi-Weekly harp bits we have spoken a lot about French Harp makers and the importance of France in the development of the instrument. It is certainly true that without the influence of Marie Antoinette and the harpists/harp makers of the harp would likely...
Freelance Chronicles Episode 7 – Biting off more than you can chew
Imagine the most delicious looking cookie. You know it is slightly too big for your mouth... but you just can't help yourself, and you pop it in! Now, instead of enjoying the cookie you're more focused on simply keeping things together inside your mouth. Now that...
Harp Bits #4 – The crazy lives of harpists
I am incredibly stubborn when it comes to my instrument. I think that as harpists we have to be... there are certain things that we require as musicians (an appropriate bench, safe set-up location, suitable pay for work, respect from employers and colleagues, just to...
Harp Bits #3 – When 7 pedals just aren’t enough Part 3
After a little time away from our bi-weekly schedule (2 weeks off) I am happy to be back with more harp history knowledge for you! This weeks discussion will be the end of "When 7 pedals just aren't enough," and I really think that I saved the best for last! First...
Q&A with Princeton Harp Festival organizer Diana Dunnavant
Be inspired, freshen your perspective and shatter your limits. This tagline has really stuck with me in the weeks since learning about the upcoming Princeton harp festival. I was so excited when I first visited the website and read all about the amazing artists, and...
IV International Mexican Harp Competition and Festival 2016
The competition, being held in Mexico City between January 18-24, is open to harpists of all nationalities that have not passed their 35th birthday before January 1, 2016. For those who hope to compete, send the following items to ihcfmex@gmail.com on or before...
Technical Harpist #2 – Online music sharing
In todays fast moving world it has become extremely important to be able to get information to people as quickly as possible to ensure a booking. Sending a client a CD of potential musical choices is no longer a practical option as: 1. shipping takes too long, and 2....
Harp Bits #2 – When 7 pedals just aren’t enough Part 2
This week we will be continuing our discussion of the development of extra pedals (beyond the standard 7) on the concert grand double action pedal harp. Just when you felt like you could wrap your brain around 8 pedals... we come to the rarely discussed and little...
Freelance Chronicles Episode 6 – Handy Harpist Handbag
Here's the situation: You arrive at your gig with plenty of time, park your car at a reasonable distance and make your way to the venue without issue. While setting up and situating yourself suddenly you realize... uh oh... you have forgotten something. Whether it's...
Recital review: Kathleen Bride
Imagine that you have spent 7 years studying with one of the greatest living harpists and haven't ever had the opportunity to hear them play a full recital. I have had the honor of hearing Kathleen Bride play many times, especially while I was a student at Eastman....
Harp Bits #1 – When 7 pedals just aren’t enough
Welcome to Bi-Weekly Harp Bits; a blog series of practical history for practical harpists. Why is history important? According to historian Peter N. Stearns the importance of studying history can be broken into 5 different headings: History helps us understand people...
Fit Harp #2: Middle-Out Fitness – Core
I often joke about how clumsy I am. I say how I am well practiced at falling with my face, in an effort to protect my harp-playing appendages. Legs and arms are a harpists bread and butter and are arguably the parts of my body that I protecte most. Break your leg...
Freelance Chronicles Episode 5 – Stepping up your glamour game
I have always had a soft spot in my heart for a pretty dress. The line in my bio that says "gown addict" should be taken seriously... I really do have a problem. That being said, it was only a little over a year ago that I decided to move away from my standard...
about the author
Miami based Dr. of harp, gown-addict, lover of bulldogs, and fitness enthusiast.