Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
I doubt very much that playing is the cause of your vision difficulties.
Do you currently wear glasses or contacts? Have you gotten your vision checked recently (adults should have their vision checked every two years).
I have found that when I ‘graduated’ from normal glasses / contacts (I used to be simply near-sighted) to varifocal lenses (many people as they get older begin to have trouble seeing / reading up close) I now sometimes have a bit of depth perception issues on the lower strings of the harp and also have trouble when lighting conditions are on the ‘too dark’ side (like at open mic nights, etc.)
Samantha, I didn’t actually know that Derek Bell was also a classical harpist, that’s good to know. However, I didn’t mean to imply that He or any folk musician who did things in an unorthodox way did so out of lack of education of the ‘correct’ way.
I’m the last person who would classify folk musicians as ignorant as I’m am folk-orientated myself and have the utmost respect for the talent and genius that many of them possess.
I had a look at the video (great tunes!), and I do think most would find it hard to play comfortably and properly with the harp that low. (I don’t know what a kneeblock is)
If it was me, I’d have sat in a lower chair or put the harp on a small pedestal or box so that it came up to my shoulder rather than my armpit as it does on Derek.
Many excellent folk musicians don’t always use proper ways of holding instruments (just look at some fiddlers who hold the fiddle to the middle of the chest rather than under the chin!) and do other things that we would consider wrong.
If you’re like most of us, we need every advantage we can get so proper posture, fingering, etc is necessary.
If you’re Derek Bell or a host of others you can get away with it based on sheer talent!
Debbie, I don’t live too far from you, I’m in Leeds. There are two shops in my area which sell harps. Hobgoblin in Leeds city centre and The Early Music Shop in Saltaire.
You may want to think about joining the Clarsach Society (I’m the secretary of the Transpennine branch). Membership means you can hire a harp from us. Google the Clarsach Society and see what your local branch is (it may be Transpennine).
If you are ever in the Leeds area you are welcome to meet up with me and try my harp, etc.
I started at age 32 or 33 with minimal music background. It’s never too late to start!!!
Thank you Patricia, I have just googled her, seems her books may be hard to track down, but worth a try.
I just found out today my little student won’t be having lessons anymore. I’m sad about it as I really enjoyed teaching her and she did really well. What I thought would be a struggle ended up being a fantastic challenge for me which stretched my teaching skills, and now if I ever get a student that young again, I won’t hesitate to take her or him on.
My little student’s dad did say he was impressed with his daughter’s achievements, but I can’t help but wonder if I could have done better. Ah well, there’s no point in negative thinking and I’ve just got to be proud of what I got out of it and of how far my little student came in just several weeks.
I’ve got a Dusty 26 string like Diana and it is indeed very good as a travel harp! I used to bring it along to Irish sessions before I took up the fiddle.
But, no I don’t really talk to my harp except for the occasional apology for not practicing / playing it enough and the occasional grateful few words when it’s gone on a long journey and come out just fine on the other end. I guess I *do* talk to it then–ha ha!
I do feel very emotionally attached to my bigger harp (not so much attached to the 26 string one)as it’s been through so much with me, from my early struggles at learning to my first few gigs and now it’s come across the Atlantic with me to my new home in England. It’s been there when I got divorced and was so depressed I didn’t play for months. It’s been there when I played at my best friend’s wedding and when I competed at the Comhaltas Fleadh a few times. It’s been there and still going strong, sounding better and better over the years!
Carol, I am so sad for you right now. I agree with everyone else here so far.
I am married and my husband is somewhat inconvenienced when I have a harp student early on a Saturday or Sunday morning, but he loves me so he puts up with it. Not only does he put up with it, but he nurtures and encourages it because he loves me, the same as I nurture and encourage his dreams and those activities which he loves.
Marriage is a partnership of equals but unfortunately your husband doesn’t see it that way.
“I couldn’t believe it when he had the gaul to say to his girlfriend ( out loud), ” It’s amazing what people will actually spend money on”! I was furious.”
What an @ss!! Sorry for the language but ???!!! I bet he’s spent money on all sorts of junk and rubbish like video / computer games, or a flashy car or who-knows-what. Shallow and stupid people, there are so many of them unfortunately.
There have been so many wonderful compliments over the years! I mentioned to a woman I knew who had heard me a play a couple times, that I was considering taking a harp music for healing course and she said, “You’re already doing that!”.
Aww, it’s just a man thing. A combination of him being chivalrous and also men thinking they know more about getting stuff to fit into cars. At least his heart was in the right place.
I once had a man comment, while I was playing a gig (just background music at a Whole Foods event) that I picked a very commercial music to play, and that I must have chosen it because it was trendy and I could make money doing it. He also seemed sort of bitter and angry about it. It was weird. I mean, I play trad Irish because I love it. I don’t see too many trad Irish musicians living the high life to be honest, not even super successful Martin Hayes (one of my faves).
Yesterday I played my heart out (with my hubby accompanying me on guitar) for 2 1/2 hours with only a 5 minute or so break and didn’t get *any* comments, except a couple nice ones from the groom, the groom’s father, and one other man. And there were loads of people milling about. Oh, well, at least my hubby and I enjoyed ourselves.
Angels were the furthest thing from my mind when I became drawn to the harp in my early 30s! For me it was more about magic, faeries, ancient bards, and all things vaguely ‘Celtic’.
