featured in this issue
eachers are in the business of doling out valuable lessons. Some are practical, some are philosophical. Some go in one ear and out the other, while others stay with us for a lifetime. Many lessons extend far beyond the nuts and bolts of nailing a cross-under or shaping a phrase to life beyond the harp. […]
Put a fresh twist on the old standbys. ave you ever had that déjà vu experience of teaching a student the same piece that you taught the hour or day before, except, unlike déjà vu, it’s really happening, and it becomes difficult to remember which concepts you’ve covered with which student? Sitting in my harp studio […]
he peaceful countryside of California’s Sierra foothills couldn’t be further from the bustling, electric cacophony of Tokyo, yet these are the two places jazz harpist Motoshi Kosako calls home. Motoshi grew up in Tokyo, one of the world’s most densely populated cities. Yet he always dreamed of living some place simpler. So in the late […]
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departments
Deciding whether a used harp is the right choice. ’all know Peter Wiley, right? Harp technician extraordinaire, oracle of knowledge and wisdom, the “Harp Doc.” He once said to me, “Mike, a harp is three things: a musical instrument, a mechanical device, and a work of art.” Keeping this observation in mind, let’s take a […]
Being completely consumed by the harp is a good thing. “You must be completely obsessed with music to succeed.” A teacher whom I adored and respected told me this when I was young. In order to thrive, I needed to eat, sleep, and breathe my work. Could I imagine a life without my harp playing […]
Close up, none of us really fit the stereotype of a harpist. Raise your hand if you’ve heard someone say to you at a gig, “Oh, you look just like a harpist!” It was likely uttered as you played some glissandos while donning a flowing gown. Maybe you’ve heard the opposite (ah hem, gentlemen), “Why, […]
Reviews and more
Anne Vanschothorst, harp; Saskia Laroo, trumpet; Ernst Stolz, viola da gamba; Arthur Bont, percussion; Bob van Luijt, bass; Big Round Records, 2014. 4.5 harps (Note: recording reviews prior to 2014 were based on a 5-star system.) It’s not harp, but muted trumpet that sets the mood for Anne Vanschorthorst’s minimalist, soulful album Ek is Eik. […]
Caroline Leonardelli, Naxos, 2014 4.75 harps (Note: recording reviews prior to 2014 were based on a 5-star system.) How do you become a world class harpist? Practice, practice, practice. Right, very funny, Alison. But aside from countless hours of work, there is usually a spark, an inspiration, something that grabs a young budding musician and sends […]
Lots of original compositions to add to your repertoire. There are several new original works for both pedal and lever harp that are worthwhile additions to harp repertoire. Frank Voltz has added some new pieces to his library of publications by Chiera Music for lever or pedal harp. The highlight of these recent additions is […]
Q: What is the correct amount of slack to leave when changing nylon, gut, or bass wire strings? n bass wire strings, the goal is to coil the wire three times around the tuning pin when the string is at pitch. The way I approach it is to make sure the tuning pin hole is pointing straight up […]
Tracing lessons back to one of the harp’s great pedagogues. hen you look back through your family’s genealogy, you see that you got a lot more from your roots than your last name; you find common traits and characteristics that are passed down from generation to generation. The same can be said for your harp […]