My first pedal harp!!

[Flutori]

I have been playing the lever harp for around 12 years, I started on a rented Clarsach then bought myself a L&H Prelude 40 in 2015. This year is a big birthday for me, and the stars have aligned and I am now able to buy my first pedal harp!! I am so excited, I ordered it a couple of weeks ago and it should be here by about July. I have ordered a walnut Salvi Daphne 47EX.
I do sort of have a teacher, but she suffers from MES and so find it difficult to listen to any music. But I’m hoping she will be able to get me started with the pedals enough before I look for online lessons going forward.
I should add, for those about to jump in and say I can’t possibly do this on my own, well so far, I have, so please don’t criticise my set up!! I have a degree in music and have been teaching woodwind and piano for over 20 years! All I want here is to share my excitement because it doesn’t feel quite real yet…

[balfour-knight]

Hello Flutori!

We share your excitement about getting your first pedal harp–congratulations! That is a very big step, and a “big birthday” seems the perfect time for you to realize this dream.

Yes, it is possible for you to do this on your own, and online lessons could be a very nice thing for you to do. Some harp teachers will let you choose how often you take a lesson, rather than having to do it every week, every two weeks, etc. Your knowledge and degree in music can be transferred to the harp, especially from your experience with piano.

The pedals will appear to be a challenge at first. The order of them is DCB EFGA. Think “Did Columbus Bring Enough Food Going to America.” They are in a good order, despite looking complicated, ha, ha! The left foot has BCD in order from the middle outward, while the right foot has EFGA in order from the middle outward. Notice where these notes are on the piano keyboard, and it will make perfect sense. B is before the two black keys, while E is before the three black keys. It is very easy to put the pedals down for the Key of B Major–B C# D#—E F# G# A#. You will get used to this very quickly, really!

It is good that you have played the lever harp, especially a L&H Prelude, for this many years before going to a pedal harp. I have played several Salvi Daphnes that were very fine harps, and it should not be a problem going from the Prelude to the Daphne. Since pedal harps are taller, be sure you have a comfortable bench that can be adjusted to just the right height for the Daphne.

Wishing you the very best on this journey!
Balfour (and Carol Lynn)

[Flutori]

Thank you! I am going to make myself some flash cards for going into different keys and see how I get on with that. It is the thing I am worried about most! I tried an Aurora at the Edinburgh Harp festival in April but kept moving my hand for lever changes even though I knew which pedal to move!! It’s just the instinct that I’ll need to get over I think! I do want to sell my Prelude later this year to put towards the cost of the Daphne so I will be solely a pedal harpist going forward.
I have an adjustable piano stool currently, and don’t really want to be tripping over piano stools, so hoping I can use one for both piano and harp.

[balfour-knight]

Glad to hear all of that, Flutori! A book that might prove helpful to you is PEDAL EXERCISES FOR HARP, by Jaqueline Pollauf. The Sylvia Woods Harp Center sells this as a pdf for $10.00 US. The item number is #p7905. Hope this helps.
Harp Hugs,
Balfour and Carol Lynn

[Flutori]

Thanks! I have seen this book on Amazon I think and wondered if I should get it. I have been watching the pedal exercises from Lauren Scott on YouTube, I fancy giving those a try too.

[balfour-knight]

That sounds good, Flutori. Your idea of making and using the flash cards is also wonderful. I just ran across another source, PEDAL DRILL, by Denise Grupp-Verbon, which is excellent. I believe that Sylvia Woods still sells this one, too.
Best wishes for enjoying your preparations for learning the pedal harp!

Harp Hugs for a wonderful day,
Balfour (and Carol Lynn)

[balfour-knight]

Hello Flutori!

We just realized that July was when you were expecting your pedal harp to arrive. Hope it is now in your possession and that you are pleased with it and enjoying the journey! A Salve Daphne is a sweet harp, so we wish you all the best.

Happy Harping,
Balfour (and Carol Lynn)

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