Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
I’d like to add that Smartwood harp, while not necessarily the prettiest of harps, can be decorated as you like if you buy it as a kit. Are you or any of your Renaissance friends artists? You can stain or paint or burn decorations in to the harp as you like before the topcoat. Of course, I would ask MusicMakers about the types of paint or stain they would recommend and the topcoat to go with it. Then it will truly be your harp, something to be proud of despite it’s humble beginnings.
Just curious why you are focusing on the Aberdeen? There are lots of lever harps that are strung with pedal gut and are more designed to be beginner pedal harps than folk harps. Is that what you are looking for, or did you want the nylon strings and lighter tension for fast, light playing?
Wow! Great information! Thanks, Biagio. I’m sure this will be very valuable option for anyone looking at building a harp from a kit.
I read somewhere that the notch out of the bottom of the soundboard for the column would weaken a spruce soundboard. What do you think of the trade-off of sound and strength?
Perhaps I’ll just have to make my way to a harp conference one of these years and try out a bunch of levers. It sounds like the only ones that would require me to make changes in the actual BUILDING of the harp would be Camacs because of the different bridge pins. If I don’t use Camacs, it sounds like I could lever it later…
Anyone out there want to share their experience with harp kits of any make or materials (any cardboard harp owners)?
Yes, my mistake about the Dusty levers. I will definitely look into Truitts, since I respect your knowledge of strings, engineering and harp manufacturing.
Thank for the input, Biagio!
Really old thread, sorry…
Pangur, did you end up getting the Voyager harp? If so, how did you like it and what levers did you go with?
I am also thinking of building a voyager, but am stuck on what kind of levers to go with. I could perhaps ask Music Makers to not drill the bridge pin holes (just mark them??) if I go with Camac levers, but don’t know if it is worth all the extra fuss. Dusty Strings has used Universal levers (correct?) for a long time without anyone complaining too much, so perhaps they are fine for a harp put together by someone who doesn’t know what she is doing. 🙂
Any new insight from the last 4 years is appreciated.
I use an “On Stage professional folding orchestral” music stand. The legs are an adjustable tripod that I only extend halfway and turn it so two legs are against the base of the harp. I haven’t seen how close I can get it to myself, but it gets very close to the strings. Alternatively, and I can try this tonight, you might be able to extend the legs out completely and slip them underneath the harp.
The stand itself is pretty heavy (not quite Manhassett heavy) and stands up to strong winds.
If by politics you mean divisive topics and us/them speak, I think some of this may have been answered on your other question about harp popularity! 🙂
I think if speaking to a mixed group of harp players, you would have to speak carefully about harp types (lever/pedal, etc) and playing styles (French/Salzedo). That’s what seems to get people flustered most quickly. You’d be much safer discussing liberal/conservative policy or religion. 🙂
I think back on my own experience with music in public schools, and it seems that most schools focus on instruments that can are commonly played in band or orchestra. There wasn’t even a piano program in our school as piano students take from a private teacher and that is the norm in American Society.
As far as lever harp goes, it is not an instrument commonly played in band or orchestra. For the same reason, we didn’t have a lute, mandolin or guitar program, either. Luckily for the guitar, there is a lot of exposure for that instrument as well as self-teaching books that make it accessible to all before moving to private instruction.
I would also like to mention that most of my early training on french horn in public school was done by people who knew little about the horn. I had a few bad habits I had to break when I moved to a private teacher, but I can’t imagine the amount of bad habits (and unhealthy ones, too) that a young student can adopt from a teacher who took a few weeks of harp training in college. For the long-term health of the body we should be glad that children can’t learn harp from public school teachers. I mean no offense to public school teachers, but some instruments are more challenging on the joints and tendons than others, and I think the harp is a doozie.
With the assumption that the most common band/orchestra instruments are going to be the ones available to young people in a public school setting, it is then OUR responsibility to expose young people to the possibility of playing the harp. Get out there. Play in public. Let children do a glissando. The schools will not be ambassadors for our instrument. There is nothing to be done about that.
Perhaps in the case of someone “threatening” to help (as harpists see it, “offering” as others see it ), give them the stool, the music stand, anything that would have you make a second trip and abandon the harp.
I have a folding bench and music stand that I load into my backpacking bag along with my music. That way, I have everything with me in one shot. The only problem is when I need my door stops that are now in the bottom of my pack… but that’s only happened once 🙂
I can see if you have a performance where you want your stool to be “pretty” that may not work, but I’ve seen some amazing things strapped on to hikers. Take your gear to a hiking shop and see what can be done. Army navy stores also have naked external frame packs which are out-of-vogue with the trail hikers, but some clever strapping techniques and you never know.
I think there was a thread somewhere of a sign that reads “Touch the Harp and DIE.” Might be effective 🙂
Or, perhaps a more subtle. “Please do not touch.” Depending on your personality.
I have a co worker who believes in “traditional” roles for men and women. I had my pedal harp in my office as I had to leave from work to go to a concert. He threatened all day to help me move the harp, despite me saying I had it covered. He caught me trying to sneak out, and followed me to my car. I remembered some of the comments in the “Freelance Chronicles: Episode 1” about “helpful” people. I then gave him a task that would not pose any harm to the harp – open the side door and guide the column behind the drivers seat. He wasn’t happy he didn’t get to lift it, but placated enough.
Hmmm… An apprenticeship. That’s a pretty good idea, Carl. That way, you can see the inner workings. I suppose the inexperienced harpist may also gain confidence with friends, acting out a typical service while the harpist plays, and has to time the music to the flow of the processional, etc. Of course, nerves will play a role when an actual wedding is involved and the photographer is taking pictures through your harp…
Since it is clear there is a spread of opinions on the subject, here is an idea of a compromise. Just to put the idea out there – looking for honest responses from professionals.
If the a new player in your area advertised that the first three weddings they played would receive a 50% discount on the regular rate on account that the harpist is gaining experience, how would that make you feel? The idea behind this is to give the new harpist an opportunity to land some gigs to get experience, transparency of the “risks” for the bride, and a limited amount of gigs “lost” by other harpists to undercutting. This also implies that instead of getting a cheap harpist, the bride is getting a discount on a service that has a going rate.
Also, if I am out playing for tips and am approached by an individual who on a whim thought I could play for an upcoming event, I feel that I should be able to charge whatever I want. In that case, the individual is seeking to hire me, not a harpist.
Victoria, local AHS chapter meetings? A harpist dinner round-up? I don’t know, but I would probably try to get some of the harpists together for a social event to all discuss business and get to know each other. It would feel dishonest to ask for a quote for services without explaining who you are and why, and it would feel creepy to introduce yourself out of the blue to talk about money.
I’m glad this has come up. I feel we are already veering off the intended path, but I hope others will chime in with some numbers…
I started playing the harp as an adult, almost three years now, but I think I am doing pretty well as I have a lot of musical experience. I’d say I’m a solid “intermediate.” I started playing the harp because I missed performing music and the french horn really isn’t that fun to play or listen to without other instrumentalists. That being said, I just purchased a pedal harp with the expectation that within a few years I will play with enough confidence and solidity that I can start working paying gigs. I currently play in parks for tips to help assuage (minimally) the cost of strings and regulations, not to mention lessons and the harp payment.
I do have a full time job. But my harp maintenance and costs (while perhaps less wear and tear on the instrument and strings or escape regulation a little longer) are not small. I don’t have the income to play this instrument in the long term without some help from playing the instrument.
My question is this: When the time comes, how do I begin playing for money? I will have less experience, less repetoire, less ability to quickly pick up/arrange a requested piece of music than all of the harpists in my area. How do I compete? I do not plan to or desire to undercut anyone, but I also have no idea how I plan to acquire any jobs. Traditional economics would suggest I lower my price, but in this instance, there is a morality associated. It isn’t just business, it’s ethics.
