NEW HARPIST SEEKS ADVICE! PRETTY PLEASE!

[unknown-user]

Hello everyone…I’ve played clarinet, flute, alto saxophone and my voice for about 10 years…And now I’ve decided to take up harp. This has been something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time. Being a musician and a performer, I’m trying to seek some of the best buying/playing advice about the harp from people who actually are experienced with harps.

I recently went to a Hauer’s music store (my local place for anything music-related) to seek advice. A lady there suggested Dusty Strings, http://www.dustystrings.com

She recommended that I look into the Ravenna 26 or 34.

http://www.dustystrings.com/instrumentbuilding/harps/models/Ravenna26/tabid/268/Default.aspx

I know there was another thread on harp buying advice for newbies, but I didn’t see this model mentioned and I really want some advice asap. Anything from personal experience in playing, buying or anythign when it comes to musical instruments would be wonderful to hear. Any tips on taking care of your harp would be wonderful as well…Thank you all so much.

[Julie Koenig]

Hi Julie (great name!),

Hauer’s is a wonderful store and they won’t steer you wrong, but you might also check out a couple places relatively close by…

http://www.traditionalharps.com – Wm. Rees in Rising Sun, Indiana – SW of Cincinnati

http://www.vanderbiltmusic.com – Vanderbilt Music in Bloomington, Indiana

Btw, I’ve heard nothing but good things about Dusty Strings but I don’t know enough about the Ravenna to comment. I’m sure someone will chime in and post something to help.

I’d also be happy to recommend a couple local harpists if you’d like and they could give you some advice and possibly some leads. Let me know; my email is harp@mindspring.com

Julie in Atlanta (who grew up in Dayton)

[Janice Hunter]

Julie,

I don’t know how interested you might be but I have a 34 string harp which I have up for sale.

Please check this link for more information and pictures.

http://www.harpfolk.com/used-harps.html

[jennifer-buehler]

It depends on what direction you plan to go with harp.

[holly-kemble]

Hi Julie~

My situation is a lot like yours……I played the piano for decades, and viola, and sang. Then I wandered in to Harps on Main in Rising Sun, Indiana and fell in love with the harp. These are the harps by William Rees mentioned in a post above. I splurged and bought an Aberdeen Meadows, their 36 string concert harp. It has a full, rich sound that seems to get better every week.

I play on a Troubador at my teachers house, and although it is tall and imposing, I prefer my Aberdeen. I’m biased for sure…lol. The Troubador is very nice.

This Saturday (11/14/09) at the Kenton County Library in Covington, KY

[Pat Eisenberger]

Hi Julie –

To echo Jennifer, I would find a teacher first. I bought my harp first and the teacher I found taught a method it was not suited for. I ended up buying another harp within months.

[Karen Johns]

Welcome Julie! I see you play a few other instruments. There are quite a few of us on these forums that do.

[Karen Johns]

Oof- I think I invented a new word – “oiked”! I meant picked. This will teach me to preview before I post. LOL

[unknown-user]

Thank you for your offer Miss Janice! I’ll keep your harp in mind, though ones I was looking at were in the $1,000-$2,000 range as I am a college student and that kind of thing seems to drain all the money out of us, haha…But again, thank you!

[unknown-user]

hm, I do not have a teacher yet and this seems to be a good idea. I don’t know of any teachers in my area so I’ll have to do some research, I’m familiar with music lessons though, seven years on Clarinet haha! The lady I spoke with at my local music store actually recommended I stay with levers to begin with. Thanks for your advice!

[unknown-user]

wow, great advice. and haha, yep I definitely know about loosing the feeling in my hands – I forgot to list I also play the cajon aka box drum! I also scoop ice cream as my part time job so I can say I’ve got some tough hands haha! Thank goodness for being able to bandage my hands when I play my cajon as well…

Thanks for the advice and websites everyone! Every little piece is great. I’d love anything else anyone has to say. Thanks for welcoming me here!

[unknown-user]

oh wonderful, alright I will be sending you an email soon!

[jennifer-buehler]

The Ogden and Troubador are lever harps but they have tension and spacing similar to a pedal harp.

[Michaela Braveman]

Hi Julie,
I strongly agree with everything Karen stated above. When I read about your long-term musical background, my first reaction was that you may find a 26 string harp very limiting, so I too would encourage you to buy as many strings as you can possibly afford! I started out on a 27 string lapharp with hardly any musical background. About 1 year later I added a 36 string floorharp and it is just amazing how much more music you can play on a full size harp. I still absolutely love my lapharp, but I have to make a lot of adjustments to the music in order to be able to play it with 27 strings.

Heartland makes lovely harps and their trade-in program is definitely worth considering if you want to start with a budget harp. You also might want to check out Thormahlen Harps (http://www.thorharp.com) and their 36 string Serenade beginner model. It’s a wonderful sounding harp. There are many fabulous independent harp makers out there, who will sell directly to you (rather than through a retailer).

Also, don’t be afraid to look at used harps. There are tons of them out there and you may find a professional quality harp in great condiiton that is in your budget.

Michaela

[kay-lister]

Hi Julie,

Welcome to the harp world!

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