Minimum Temperature for Playing Outside

[jennifer-buehler]

Yay!

[Dessye Dee Clark]

I live in rural Montana, where it can get to 20-30 BELOW zero, Fahrenheit. 2 years ago I played my lever-action Dustry Strings Celtic harp for a traditional Christmas Eve service in a small country church.

[Sarah Mullen]

The coldest event I ever played was in the neighborhood of

[eliza-morrison]

I really don’t play outside at all anymore. Even if the temperature is not a problem, there are always issues—-uneven ground, wind (even the slightest breeze can be a problem), hard to hear, etc. It’s just too much misery.
Of course, you never know—I played a wedding reception in January years ago, in an historic little stone church which turned out to be unheated. It never occured to me to ask whether the building would have heat!
As far as heaters go, I agree with Carl–you don’t want hot air being blasted at any part of your harp.

[Jerusha Amado]

Update on the wedding–off topic:

I normally play background music for special events other than weddings, so this was the first wedding I’ve ever played.

[patricia-jaeger]

Candied ginger lumps, available at many groceries such as Whole Foods, seem to help circulation, without interfering with any medicines you may be taking.

[Maria Myers]

Why is it that people think that a folk harp isn’t as legitimate as a pedal harp?

[unknown-user]

I think lack of knowledge causes people to look down on the folk harp. If going by looks a pedal harp is bigger and more intricately carved and it has all the metal plating. It must look more impressive to some.

But a lever harp can be made out of unique woods and finishes, I simply LOVE how they look!

It’s just a matter of opinion, I’m a pedal harpist and my dream is to save up for a Dusty FH36H.

— Natalie

[Jerusha Amado]

I remember reading a post on this site a long while ago from a poster who had no interest in playing a lever harp because he said that it looked like a toy harp.

[andee-craig]

If it’s cheaply made I guess it could look less than bonafide.

[Sylvia]

This really should be its own thread!

[Jerusha Amado]

I play a Dusty Strings 36.

[Sylvia]

I mean….even in the pedal harp world, there are those who look down their noses (both players and audience) on the smaller pedal harps…so it’s not just the lever harp players who get flak.

[Jerusha Amado]

So, it looks like there is prejudice against pros who play lever harp and small pedal harp. If anyone on harpcolumn is reading this
thread and has experienced this problem, how do you handle it?

Jerusha

[onita-sanders]

On rare occassions I have been asked, what kind of harp will I be playing.I have even volunteered the information when being asked what I will charge.

[Author]

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