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This past Harp Column magazine talked about how when the temperature is under 20 degrees the finish can start to be adversely affected within one minute, even if the harp has a transport cover. It is caused by the finish expanding and contracting at a different rate than the wood. I would imagine that bringing a harp from a cool environment (outside) into a warm environment (as I find many churches to be very warm) has the same effect. What kinds of things do you freelance harpists to to help ensure the safety of your instrument? Is the opposite true in the summer, particularly in the south?
I bet your doctor is being vague because he honestly has no idea how quickly you will recover. Your current fitness level and dedication to physical therapy will probably determine how well you recover more than anything else.
I am not in the medical profession, but my father and uncle both had knee replacement surgery at virtually the same time. Both in their 60s. My father bounced back much quicker than my uncle, so maybe there’s no real way of comparing your body to someone else’s, even if they have the same surgery.
Which shoulder is it? If it is the left shoulder, can you continue to play right-handed while you recover? If the right, you will probably have to wait to put the harp on it until the physical therapist clears it.
That being said, if people can walk again after knee replacement surgery, I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to play the harp again. My uncle, although he recovered slower, is now doing great!
Just stick with your physical therapy and try to be patient with the healing.
I didn’t notice either!
I think the video might be flipped, because it looks like the strings are on the viewer’s side of the neck. Does L&H make lefty Preludes?
Usually, when changing levers, there is a pause built into the left hand while you change the lever. Pedal harp allows you to do more complex changes quickly, and also gives you access to the full chromatic scale, but I’m not sure I would necessarily classify it as “easier.” With either method you have to know the change is coming up and remember to do it at the right time.
I am not a teacher, but I would be cautious about playing too much complicated stuff without lessons. The habits you make at the beginning are hardest to break. If you haven’t already, there are some very useful YouTube videos (Josh Layne, Ray Pool, Hannah White, Chris Caswell and many others) that go into detail about how to hold your hands. There are slight variations in each of these techniques, but there are some universal ideas such as fully closing the hand and thumbs above the rest of the fingers that seems to be almost universal. Again, though, if you are going to take lessons, you should work with the technique that your teacher is most experienced with, so that he/she can help you as much as she can. If you don’t like the technique he/she is teaching, find another instructor.
That being said, you appear to have a natural knack for the harp, once you get your technique down so that you won’t be limited as music becomes more complicated, you’ll probably progress quickly!
Congrats on the new harp and embarking on this new adventure. Let us know how it is going!
Ha! I bet she gets rave reviews. Have you ever noticed the number of random marriage requests on harp YouTube videos? What makes these guys think that being married to a harpist would be particularly enjoyable? Sure, if he wanted to listen to the same run over and over and over and help schlep stuff around, and listen to his wife gripe about humidity – then maybe he’d be a happy harp husband! 🙂
Way off topic, but I think it’s funny. I’ve only gotten one proposal in person, but I bet lots of ladies here get it almost daily. Gents? Do you get proposals from women who want you to be their personal harpists for life?
I don’t think she’s using her pinky. I think she just holds it that way.
This is exactly why I hope I never end up on YouTube someday. The “guess what’s wrong with it” isn’t going to result in a self-esteem boost for this young lady.
The March/April 2015 Harp Column issue has some information about the kinds of things you should put on a website, and Kristina Finch’s blog covers some of the ways to get recording samples to potential clients.
I also wanted to see if this tread could be revived, as I am looking into making a website myself!
Wait… You’re not supposed to use the handle? You’re supposed to use the holes?
I also tend to lever the body over my thigh if lifting the harp briefly, as in removing it from the car, or taking off the base cover. I shuffle a pace or two with one hand on the column, one on the “handle” and it fulcrumed over my thigh. If I switch to the sound holes is this safe for lifting the harp?
Prajna,
Your comment about being shy about telling peope about the harp because of the expense rang true for me. Be prepared for people to ask how much your instrument costs. They always do, and then say, “Whaaaa?”
I usually respond by telling them “it is the most stupid, fiscally irresponsible, wonderful and fulfilling decision I have ever made.”
I started when I was 33, and have been playing for 3 years now. I do have considerable music background, but I played a wind instrument, so the mechanics were way different.
I think the benefit for starting later in life is it is YOUR choice how much time or money you want to spend on your new hobby(/obsession). You aren’t influenced by what your parents (who would be paying for your childhood lessons) want. Also, we have the benefit of knowing how to learn, and knowing our bodies. Sure, we may be a little slower, we may have to spend a little more time memorizing, but we are doing it for all the right reasons.
As for the harp selection, as long as you get one that sounds nice to you, I wouldn’t worry about it being your “forever harp.” Any of those models will have a great resale value. Once you know yourself and the kind of music and the kind of portability you want, you can sell it and get the one that fits you best.
Tacye, I swear my community orchestra changes tempo whenever I start playing. All of them change tempo together…it’s uncanny. 🙂
I just had to take a month off to learn to relax while I play. All of my fingers that were placed and ready tended to grip the strings while the others were plucking. It must have felt more stable when I started playing or something. However, now that my fingers are placed loosely on the strings, the stiffness of the fingers that happens when you tense your hand up is gone. I am able to play so much faster now.
If it is a memory issue – the hesitating, then you just don’t know it well enough yet. My memory isn’t what it used to be, and I have to take a long time to get to know a piece so I know it with muscle memory and head memory to play it at any spirited tempo. I also had to get used to the sensation of thinking ahead to the next thing before finishing what I am playing now.
The velcro is a great idea! You can anchor anything to a velcro band you can wrap around the column with no damage. If you wanted to go full kitch, a garland with some battery powered led lights wrapped around the column could be safely anchored on both ends with the velcro band. What fun new possibilities open up with this.
