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My story is pretty similar to Deb’s, above. 🙂 When i was about 12 years old, I told my mom that someday I really wanted to play the harp. She said that I could, as long as I could afford it myself, since it was so expensive (that, and my parents were already paying for lots of music lessons and sports stuff for both me and my sister…). I kind of just tucked that idea away, since I thought it would never happen, but the harp was always special to me. Fast-forward about 10 years: done with college, got married, started a new job… AND I had discovered that I really like Celtic and folk music. I started looking at some websites, and videos and stuff to find more music, and that’s when I discovered that that lever harps even existed. I could watch them for hours, playing outside by creeks and meadows and all that. I knew I had to get my hands on one! 🙂 A couple months later, my first harp came!
I didn’t mean that I put all the music I own in a single binder–it is true that that would have to be very large and cumbersome–I just organize for the type of gig it is, then I know what songs I’m taking and playing. I guess I’ve never played longer than 2.5 hours at a time, so I haven’t had to get a gigantic binder. I have a thin one, and it holds the music I need for that length of gig.
My first instrument was piano, then I picked up guitar and flute, next was west African percussion–especially djembe– and finally the harp. I still play all of these, but harp is my main love now (djembe and piano are probably next in line). I think it is lots of fun to have variety. 🙂
Yes, you can teach yourself! Go for it! Your musical background will help you with that, and there are lots of beginning books and self-teaching methods available. I also played piano and guitar before I picked up the lever harp, and I think those instruments especially are helpful background for learning harp. You tune the harp yourself, and can regulate it yourself if it is a lever. Have fun!
That is legal, and a good idea! I do it, and it works very well for me. I put it in a single black binder, so I don’t have to juggle several books.
I have had a Delight for over a year now, and I absolutely love it! It is very portable, durable, and has a full, sweet sound. It does sound a little different than a wooden harp, but I like the difference. It is very resonant and comfortable to play. I haven’t had any problems with the light weight while playing–if i need to, i hang on with my knees or put my foot on the harp’s foot. I compared it in person to a 36-string Dusty, and found I actually liked the carbon fiber sound better! The bass was cleaner, and the upper register not plinky. That surprised me at first, because I have always preferred natural material instruments in the past. Anyway, as others have said, choosing a harp is a very personal experience, and everybody has their own ideal. For me, my carbon fiber harp is the best.
It could be that there was just a glitch in the system for a bit. I was able to find the site, and they say it is May 17-19. http://www.harpgathering.com/hg_home.htm
If you are open to the idea of a carbon fiber harp, I highly recommend Heartland Harps. I have a Delight (38 strings) and I really love it. It doesn’t put any weight on the shoulder, and it’s only about 10lbs. It sounds great–though not quite the same as a wooden harp. The sound difference between wood and carbon fiber has been described as similar to that between an acoustic guitar and an electric. Their Infinity and Legend models are a little smaller, and both have 36 strings. The infinity is about the same size as most mid-size lap harps and I think it weighs around 8lb. Here is a link to the Infinity if you wanted to check it out. http://heartlandharps.com/model-infinity.html
