Performing after a long holiday

[Victoria Herpsbun]

If you have to do a big performance a few days after a long (1 month) holiday, how would you prepare for it? Please share practice tips during holidays when you don’t have access to a harp. Most importantly, how do you maintain your calluses? Thank you.

[Gregg Bailey]

Hi, Victoria,

I’m so delighted that you’ve asked this question, as this is something that I have been researching quite a bit. I continue to be baffled by the fact that none of the three big pedal harp companies (L&H, Salvi, Camac) offer any travel harps in pedal tension for this purpose. L&H doesn’t even currently offer anything smaller than the Ogden of 34 strings, weighing 28 pounds. Salvi and Camac do offer smaller harps, but the string tension is lower than that of their pedal or pre-pedal harps. I’ve actually ordered a Salvi Gaia which, despite having a whopping 38 strings down to 6A, actually weighs LESS than the L&H Ogden, as the Gaia only weighs about 24 pounds! However, this is still obviously not a true travel-size harp, though it’s the lightest-weight harp in pedal tension that any of those three companies currently offer.

Awhile back, I saw a video posted by Chiara Pedrazzetti on YouTube about this very topic called “Maintaining your harp technique on holiday!”, in which she and a harpist friend of hers (Klara Woskowiak) demonstrate two harps–Chiara’s Camac Bardic (no longer made and which had lower string tension anyway) and Klara’s 14-string “Troubadour Travel Harp” made by Niebisch and Tree in England. The 14-string by Niebisch and Tree is shaped like a simple right-triangle and uses pedal nylon for the strings, and there’s no actual soundbox as it’s just a wooden frame. The resulting sound is soft and is meant purely for one-handed technique practice. The note range is from 1B down to 3C, so the lowest string is the C above middle-C. I actually ordered one earlier this year, though they may not be offering this model right now as they’ve been busy just doing harp repairs, though it wouldn’t hurt to contact them to ask. One interesting thing about the N&T travel harp is that it can fold up, although the string tails would have to be kept annoyingly long in order to have enough length to work with when reassembling the harp, and the tuning and stretching would have to start over each time. Therefore, I’ve chosen to just keep mine assembled and the strings clipped close to the tuning pins as normal. It’s so small even in the assembled state that I don’t see the need to fold it up.

The great thing about the N&T travel harp (if you can convince them to make you one) is that it can theoretically be kept in a very hot car on a summer road trip when going into restaurants, etc, as there aren’t any glued joints. That’s actually one thing that’s great about the fact that it’s made to fold up (even if you never fold it up), as it uses a hinge at the bottom instead of glue, and then it partly relies on the string tension to keep the top of the column secured to the neck (along with little dowels at the top of the column that insert into the underside of the neck), and it also has a lock mechanism to secure that joint, as well. The main drawback of this model is that it’s difficult to do any two-hand work, both because of the extremely limited range and because N&T doesn’t provide any way to play it with a strap. It can be held between the knees/thighs, though that is somewhat uncomfortable, so I mainly just put it on my right knee and hold it with one hand while exercising the other hand on the strings. N&T told me I COULD add guitar straps to it in order to play it with a strap, though I haven’t done this yet.

In that video, Chiara and Klara also mention the cheaper alternative of tennis rackets, in which you cut either the horizontal strings out or cut the vertical ones out, depending on how you would rather hold the racket. I actually experimented with this a few months ago, though you have to make sure to get the type of racket which has one string for the horizontal direction (“crosses”) and a SEPARATE string for the vertical direction (“mains”), as the cheaper rackets only use one string for the entire racket, which doesn’t work for this application. I bought two such rackets and cut the horizontal strings out on one and cut out the verticals on the other. On both of them, the only usable strings were the 5 or so on the outer edges, as the ones closer to the middle end up buzzing annoyingly. I also found a purpose-modified tennis racket for harpists modified by Maruka Music in England which are configured in such a way as to eliminate the buzzing in the middle strings; I ordered two of these from her earlier this year. The strings for plucking in this model are the horizontal ones (“crosses,” which become vertical once the racket handle is positioned under the armpit). She has used two methods for eliminating the buzzing–the cheaper method of keeping one vertical (“main”) string on each edge (which is the type she sent me), and the more elaborate method of weaving ribbon through the middle strings on one edge. She said she would make me a couple of the type with the ribbon woven through the strings, though she’s been so busy that she hasn’t had time. Unfortunately, she said I would be the last customer to whom she would sell these. Of course, any sort of tennis racket solution is a little annoying to listen to, as there’s no way to pitch the strings, and the ones modified by Maruka Music don’t have much actual pitch anyway, though the stringing actually uses a Bow Brand nylon string whose gauge is apparently close to that of 4D on pedal harps.

I recently learned of two or three more travel harp models which are great for pedal harpists to keep their fingers in shape. One is a “Sprite” model made by John Pratt of Pratt Harps in Utah, which has 22 strings from 1C down to 4C (middle-C), and it features pedal gut strings for the bottom 10 strings (through the top of octave 3) and then pedal nylon for the top 12 strings (octave 2 on up). I’ve actually been in touch with him about making me one. It apparently weighs around 13-14 pounds (depending on wood choice) and is supplied with a guitar strap and lap bar.

The other is the “Saul” model by Aoyama of Japan, which is available in 25 and 29 strings and apparently weighs less than 9 pounds! However, while it is apparently of higher tension than most folk harps, I get the impression that it’s still not up to pedal or pre-pedal tension. It uses some sort of nylon stringing for the entire range, and Morley Harps in the UK (one of the Aoyama dealers) shows “lever nylon” in the string chart for the entire range, even though Morley Harps also indicates that the tension is “medium-high,” so I’m confused as to what the actual tension is. The spacing, however, is apparently on the wider side in order to more closely match the string spacing of pedal harps. There are Aoyama dealers in both the US and Canada; I contacted the US dealer, but I was told that he isn’t importing new Aoyama harps right now due to considerable shipping difficulty from Japan. I emailed the Canadian dealer but haven’t heard back.

I asked Dusty Strings awhile back if they would ever consider making a 26-string version of the pedal-tension Boulevard model, just like how they offer a 26-string version of the Ravenna model. While DS isn’t particularly interested in the idea, I did learn from them about a harp technician by the name of Mike Lewis who apparently makes a high-tension 23-string travel harp, but I haven’t had any luck with Mike in actually making any this year, and he is presently moving his shop.

For now, I’m mainly intrigued by the Pratt “Sprite” model, as it’s the ONLY non-floor travel harp model I’ve found which uses true pedal-tension stringing, including pedal gut up through the 3rd octave. John Pratt also says he’s been designing a 26-string version down to 4F, but he hasn’t made any prototypes yet. All of his harp models use pedal harp stringing, though he doesn’t currently offer anything between the tiny Sprite and the 36-string models.

I’m sure Balfour Knight will contribute suggestions for maintaining calluses which don’t involve any sort of string-plucking, such as emery boards and aloe vera gel, though I’m not sure if that would allow you to KEEP the calluses while not playing. Maybe he can clarify that for us.

Please keep us updated on whether you decide to pursue any of the above options (or if you learn of yet something else!). I’ll be happy to provide a review of the Pratt “Sprite” if I end up ordering one. John Pratt estimated roughly 3 months to make one.

-Gregg Bailey

[balfour-knight]

Thanks Gregg! That post was very thorough. I usually travel with a harp, either my pedal harp or my lever harp. Of course, the Dusty FH36S is easier to travel with, and we can pack more traveling supplies into the car when taking the Dusty. I would not enjoy having to practice on any smaller harp than my Dusty, or any harp-shaped object while on vacation. I have to have a REAL harp to play on–that is the whole point of enjoying the instrument. Even though the tension on the Dusty is not quite as firm as the pedal harp, I can maintain my calluses very well by just playing it. If I do not travel with a harp, I do like Gregg said and file my calluses every day with an emery board. This mimics the friction and roughness of actually plucking harp strings, and maintains the calluses. Aloe Vera gel soothes the irritation and helps the healing, and keeps the calluses from becoming too hard.

I would not give up the large, ringing tone of the Dusty FH36S for a pedal-harp-tension small harp. This harp pleases me much more than the Dusty Boulevard, even though it is preferred by some pedal harpists. Since the weight of this Dusty is only about 26 lbs., I find it very easy to carry and transport. I still keep myself in good shape, so 26 lbs. is very light, ha, ha! Even the 77 lbs. of my Camac Atlantide Prestige is not actually very heavy to move, compared to other concert grands made by L&H, Salvi, and Venus, to name a few.

Hope you all are having a great day!
Harp Hugs,
Balfour

[Victoria Herpsbun]

Wow, thank you so much Gregg and Balfour for such a thorough and detailed answer. I will probably try the tennis racquet option as buying a travel harp is not economically viable for me, especially since I don’t travel that often.

Interesting that filing your calluses can actually maintain them? I should give that a try, thank you so much again 🙂

[Gregg Bailey]

If this will allow me to post a link, here is the link to Maruka Music’s “harp racket” version with the threaded ribbon which dampens the sound of the middle strings which would otherwise buzz. She’s not offering it anymore, but this will give you an idea:

http://www.marukamusic.com/harp-racket.html

-Gregg

[Gregg Bailey]

I can’t tell if that link went through successfully or not, as I can only see it if I sign in. If it didn’t go through, simply Google “harp racket” and click on the result that is on the Maruka Music website. I don’t believe she’s still offering these, but it can give you an idea of one way to dampen the middle strings that would otherwise buzz.

On the other version she sent, the tension is highest near the handle, and it’s honestly rather floppy/loose in the middle. On the ones I made myself, the strings have paint on them for the logo, which feels weird on my fingers.

-Gregg

[balfour-knight]

Gregg, your link works for me! I would rather use my emery board than a tennis racket, ha, ha!

Harp Hugs,
Balfour

[Philippa mcauliffe]

Madame de Genlis (1746-1830) wrote in her method book about a “travel” practice harp type object
that fitted in a muff…to exercise the fingers on whilst travelling in ones horse-drawn carriage around Paris…Does anyone have a surviving model? I haven’t ever seen one.

[Victoria Herpsbun]

Yes the link does work, Gregg..thank you very much

[balfour-knight]

Philippa, I have never heard of that or seen one, but it sounds interesting! Great pianists such as Franz Liszt traveled with silent keyboards, which were small like a suitcase, with weighted keys for exercising their fingers. A small clavichord would work well, too, but the action is very light compared to a modern grand piano! At least, it would make soft music when you practiced, so you could enjoy it more. A small electronic keyboard would take the place of that now, I’m sure.

Harp Hugs,
Balfour

[Gregg Bailey]

Victoria, if you can’t get Maruka Music (really harpist Skaila Kanga) to send you a harp racket, and you try to fashion one yourself, just be sure to get a racket which has four knots rather than two, as the four knots indicate that there is one string for the vertical mains and a separate string for the horizontal crosses, as opposed to just one string for the entire racket which only has two knots. If you try to cut, say, the mains out of a racket that only has one total string, the cross strings will start to come undone, as well (I had to learn that the hard way!). The model of racket Skaila uses for the harp racket is a modified Slazenger Smash, though I can’t seem to find one online without paint on the strings. The ones Skaila has used don’t have paint on the strings.

Keep me posted!

-Gregg

[Molly]

Thanks to all the contributors on this thread!! I just arrived home from a 3 day trip and was surprised that my fingers were pretty sore after my usual 45-minute practice session. What a difference even a small break makes on your calluses!

Thanks for all the travel harp suggestions as I will need to look into getting one for an upcoming week-long trip out of the country next month. I reeeeally want a harpsicle, but can’t justify the cost right now 🙁 I had no idea the harp racket existed, so I might get one to take on my trip, or loan a harpsicle out from my teacher if she is willing.

Are there any more cost-effective options than harpsicle that has at least a medium tension? I’ve looked into triplett harps which are a similar cost, but I don’t think they’re very high tension.

[Gregg Bailey]

Hi, Mocam,

What kind of harp(s) do you normally play, regarding the tension? Pedal, pre-pedal, folk? As for the smaller Harpsicles, unless you were to focus on the higher strings, I wouldn’t think the small Harpsicles would be much help for keeping calluses due to the low string tension in the main playing range. The higher strings, however, might help some since higher strings have more tension.

If you’re wanting something that can make actual music rather than a tennis racket and which has good tension (much stiffer than Harpsicles) but costs less than a Harpsicle, the only thing I know of is the Niebisch and Tree 14-string Troubadour Travel Harp in the UK, which isn’t really a true harp since there’s no soundbox but is really just a simple right-triangle frame, though it definitely has strong string tension; see my first reply above. However, I’m not sure if they will make any more right now, but it wouldn’t hurt to email Nigel Tree to ask; the email address is ntharps (at) outlook (dot) com. For mine, they charged 350 pounds sterling, which was around $480 USD at the time I ordered it earlier this year, plus about $63 in shipping.

Let us know what you end up getting!

-Gregg

[Gregg Bailey]

For a demonstration of the Niebisch and Tree 14-string travel harp, see the YouTube video uploaded by Chiara Pedrazzetti titled “Maintaining your harp technique on holiday!”

-Gregg

[balfour-knight]

I recommend the Dusty 26-string Ravenna. The 34 is my favorite, but the little 26 model is great to take on a trip and has medium tension to nicely maintain your calluses and finger strength. I have a harpist friend who owns one, and she never fails to take it with her.

Harp Hugs,
Balfour

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