Beginner with New Harp (Problems)

[wil-weten]

Congratulations, Fiona. I’m so glad for you that the return has been received in good condition. Now, I hope they are fast with returning your money to your banking account.
So nice to hear you have already bonded with your Ravenna.
If you’ve got questions about MuseScore, feel free to ask them. I’m a great fan of MuseScore myself.

[balfour-knight]

We are so glad for you, Fiona. Hi Wil!

Harp Hugs,
Balfour (and Carol Lynn)

[Fiona Kidd]

And the good news is my money was refunded on Friday so I can’t fault G4M. Not sure what happened with the lady I spoke to but the young man I spoke with got things moving there and then. I’ve left them a good review on Trustpilot and thanked Pablo for his assistance. It was a shame the harp had a manufacturing defect and I definitely think I’m not the only one who’s returned a harp to them.

That said, I’ve got a much better harp now and I’m practicing a few pieces – two Christmas Carols – In the Bleak Midwinter/First Noel – they’re a set, one of Anne Crosby Gaudet’s arrangement and Carol of the Bells which I ended up rewriting myself on Musescore. Learning another of Anne’s arrangments/compositions which is Just for You. That’s starting to sound reasonably good.

Also learning the first page of Feed the Birds. Not happy with the score on that one as there’s no fingering guide. The arranger is Cynthia Boener. Strikes me that there’s an element of laziness there. I’ve used both Musescore and Sibelius and fingering can easily be put in with both. Also she plays rolled chords in her video but that is not reflected in the sheet music. I know you can put in the wiggly line on Musescore so, again sloppy work. That is also the most expensive piece of music I’ve bought for a long time, cost £7.99. I played her video last night and read the music along with it. She doesn’t quite play what she’s written and plays a major chord where there should be a minor chord. I’ll work out my own fingering and this one has a few lever changes which are easy with Desi. No way could I have done the lever changes on the G4M harp.

Tonight was the first time I’ve had to tune Desi since I got her. Didn’t take long. Temps and humidity have been up and down here, mainly on the cold, damp side. It’s such a pleasure to play a harp that sounds lovely. Been playing 2 – 3 hours every night. Time flies when I’m playing her and what a lovely way to spend these long, cold, dark winter evenings.

Wil. I did have some problems with Musescore. When I played back what I had written, it played in the wrong key. I had to shut down the programme and restart it. It worked after that. I’m using the latest version.

In other news, I had a piano lesson last Monday. My music teacher is starting up his Saturday piano workshops again in the New Year. They’re good fun where we all come together and play various pieces. He’s asked me to bring the harp along so it looks like I’ll have to get a carry bag for Desi – and do a lot of practicing. There is a duet I’m interested in that can be played with either two harps or a harp and a piano. Fun times ahead I think 🙂

[balfour-knight]

That is wonderful news, Fiona! Just one “tip” about harp scores–rolled chords are very seldom indicated. In other words, a harpist rolls a chord UNLESS it is indicated NOT TO ROLL. As you know, this is not true in piano music. We are thrilled that you are enjoying Desi so much!

Warm Harp Hugs,
Balfour (and Carol Lynn)

[Fiona Kidd]

Hi Balfour and Carol Lynn

Rolled chords. No problem on the piano. On the harp, not so easy but time and practice I’ll get there.

I’m going to phone Clive Morley Harps sometime this week to see if they know a harpist more advanced than me who would be willing to give me a few lessons in the New Year, particularly in finger placement. We used to have a harp teacher here but that was a long time ago and I think she’s retired now.

I still can’t believe my luck in finding Desi. I think we were meant to be together.

Happy Harp Hugs

Fiona and Desi

[balfour-knight]

Hi Fiona,

So glad to hear how much you and Desi are enjoying each other! I feel the same way about my Cherie and Angelica.

I remember many years ago, having a problem learning how to roll chords on the harp, too. Start with the bottom two notes of the chord, playing from bottom up. Do it slowly, one note at a time and gradually build up your speed. Do this many times, with each hand separately, then try putting them together. Use different fingers, like 2 & 1, then 3 & 1, 3 & 2, etc. The next practice session, try this same thing, then add a note so that you are playing three-note chords (triads are pretty!). Once you can play the notes of triads from bottom up pretty fast and solid, fingering 3-2-1, add the top note of a 4-note chord, like C6–CEGA. Play from bottom up slowly, 4-3-2-1 fingering, gradually gaining speed until your 4th fingers are working just as well as your other, stronger fingers. Then try C7, CEGB for a while, and finally C, CEGC. This takes loads of practice, but like you said, you will get there.

I think finding a teacher is an excellent idea. Even if you could take just one lesson a month, this would give you a goal and correct any “bad” habits before you get too far.

Wishing you the best, and more harp hugs,
Balfour (and Carol Lynn)

[wil-weten]

Hi Fiona, I’d like to advise you to try Heather Downie’s How to Harp program. It will start next January and that first month will be free if you participate in her Christmas Collaboration (no need to actually send in a video). Early birds can get a monthly subscription at 25 British pounds per month. You can subscribe from 5th December onwards (and then get access in January).

I myself am a member of her current Harp Scotland Program (which from January goes on as How to harp) and I’m deeply impressed by her Technique Bank.

[balfour-knight]

I’ll add a brief note to my post above, ha, ha! For all you music theorists out there, I know that CEGB is a Major 7th chord, and a C7 is actually CEGBflat. For clarity, I just called those C6, C7 and C. The “theory police” have not come knocking on my door yet, ha, ha!

Happy Harping,
Balfour

[Fiona Kidd]

Hi Wil. I’ve watched a couple of Heather Downie’s videos. I’m Scottish myself. Originally come from Aberdeen. I’ve lived in SW England for the past 26 years. Oddly enough, I’m not keen on Celtic music. Same with the piano. I don’t like Baroque and avoid it like the plague. At least the piano exams have a much wider choice now, including one piece of your own choice. They also cater now for older, returning students so my line up for Grade 8 is:

Black & White Rag
Laura (from 1940s film)
You Don’t Bring Me Flowers

Not fully decided on own choice yet but I like The Moon Represents My Heart, an arrangement by Matthias Dobler who is on YT. It’s a lovely piece of music but parts of it are really quite difficult. My teacher puts it at Diploma level. I’ve got a few other pieces of music to work on before I finally decide to settle on one.

If I pass my Grade 8, I’m looking at Diplomas next but then it reverts back to Classical but still allows you an own choice piece. Will be doing the Performance Diploma so I have to choose pieces of music that altogether will last for 45 minutes.

At least with the harp I won’t be doing any exams but I intend to learn it to the best of my ability. The good thing is, being older I have a lot more patience to work things out than I did when I was younger.

Balfour. Unfortunately, there are no harp teachers anywhere near me. The nearest being in London which would mean an almost 200 mile round trip, paying the London congestion charge and I’ve noticed the prices teachers there charge are astronomical. Some are charging £60 an hour or more. I did take a few lessons from a teacher we used to have here but that was some 15 years ago when I first got interested in the harp. She gave up teaching to concentrate on playing at functions. She no longer teaches and I don’t even know if she is still with us because she would have been in her 50s back then.

I was quite surprised to see there are no harp teachers in the Bristol area either which is only 40 miles from where I live. It’s not really surprising because of this that the harp is an underrated instrument. Just glad we’ve got the internet and some really good online teachers.

Happy Harping
Fiona and Desi

[wil-weten]

Hi Fiona, I mentioned Heather Downie’s site primarily because of her great Technique Bank. If you sign up for her (free) Christmas Collab project, (no need to send in a recording) you will get the month of January for free instead of for 25 British Pounds. From January on, she will be providing all kinds of arrangements, also classical, pop, movies etc. etc. I really like the thorough way in which she teaches technique.

[Fiona Kidd]

Hi Wil. I will have a look at her Christmas collab. Just managed to do some reasonable sounding broken chords with my right hand so feeling pleased with myself. Now have to teach my left hand to do the same. Two of the Christmas Carols I’m learning are starting to sound not too bad. The third one – O Holy Night, has arpergios in the left, 1-5-8. I’m sure I should be using fingers 4, 2 and 1 but find it easier with 3, 2 and 1 (long middle finger and has a wide span). Would you say that makes a difference as despite having very small hands, I have a fairly good span – can span a 9th on the piano.

It’s all down to practice but playing the harp is so nice, practice really is a pleasure.

Must give my piano some love – I think it must be feeling neglected and I have a lesson on Tuesday.

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