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Michelle,
I use Musescore quite a bit. I’ve been using the free version for years. I’m an “amateur” writer/arranger, but have used Musescore for writing harp trios, among other things. I’ve never used finale, so I can’t compare the two. But this far, I have found Musescore to meet my notation needs. It took a minute or two to figure out the program, but it’s pretty intuitive, and if there’s something I run into that I can’t remember how to do, I can usually find directions pretty easily on the website.
What features are you most curious about?
Do you have any other questions?
I haven’t heard the 34 string Rees harp, but two of my students (sisters) recently bought 30 string harps from Rees. I thought the sound was warm, full, and beautiful. They seemed to get good volume for their size. And the overall quality seemed really good to me. I haven’t spent a lot of time with these harps, but I was impressed by them. I would definitely consider buying one, if in the market for a smaller harp.
I know it’s not the harp you specifically asked about but since they are similar, and by the same maker, I hope it is helpful.
There is a new platform I have heard about, but never used, called rock out loud live. It is made for musicians, and claims to have better audio quality, and allow two people to play at the same time. You might want to look into it.
https://rockoutloud.live or just search “Rock out loud.” I bet there are youtube videos about it too. Hope this helps.
I know I am a little late in posting this, but I personally prefer bright white light over the more yellow tones. Natural daylight is my very favorite.
Yes, it is the prelude in C I am referring to.
Thank you, Emily, for the mini history lesson. I had no idea! And I’ve heard this song many times. I have now at least 3 versions, one for piano and two notated for harp (perhaps I’d find another if I loooked through all my books, haha!).
As for the extra measure, I’ve always heard it with it included, as far as I can remember. So leaving it out sounds off to me. And my son, who plays violin, will hopefully play the ave Maria with me someday. I’ve always loved the two parts together.
I’m trying to decide which enharmonic notes are ‘easier’ (in quotations because multiple pedal changes aren’t easy for me yet, As I’m relatively new to pedals). I can rewrite the accidentals, but don’t want to take the time to do so if it’s unnecessary. I am hoping to get some input from those who have more experience with the pedals, which note they prefer, and why. :). In this particular piece, do you find the flats to be easier? Or does it not make that much difference?
I Had a hard time, at first, knowing if I was playing it right. I listened to the recordings of others playing it, and also audio recorded myself playing that part, to know for sure if I was doing it right. Going verrrrry slowly and practicing tapping on my knees are other things that helped me get it. You can draw vertical lines in the music to show exactly where each RH note should land, whether along with, or in between, each LH note. I hope that makes sense; it’s hard to describe. Good luck! It’s one of my favorites!
- Just for some perspective, it took me years, not months, to get really good at sight reading. Make sure your expectations for yourself are reasonable. :). It’s ok if it doesn’t come quickly and easily to you. It’s pretty normal!
I also use musescore. For the fingering brackets, someone posted that question a few months ago and there is an answer on that thread. I haven’t figured out how to indicate lever changes. It depends somewhat on how you want that to look. You can add F# in between the staves by adding text (click “add” select “text” in drop down menu, then staff text) but if you want a diamond shaped note in the staff itself, I haven’t figured that out. I have been writing them in. Someday I might experiment with using a separate part, but then you run into placing issues. Perhaps we can bring this problem up to musescore creators and they will create a solution. 🙂
good luck! Hope this helps.
I don’t have a pedal harp, so not the same problem, but sometimes I do get lost in the music! Glad I’m not the only one. There are some songs that actually make me cry when I play them.
I don’t have any advice, just sympathy, I guess! I think with more practice it will come. 🙂 Not the worst problem to have, overall. 🙂
Susanne,
To your question about two voices–in my opinion, this is a good way to describe what you have done. It may not be the only way, and perhaps there is a slightly more accurate description (although nothing comes to mind right away), but personally, I really like it.
I also want to say that I would love to see a tutorial on how to record yourself in two tracks. If you do make a tutorial, please post about it here so I can watch it. 😉
Is it just me, or has his technique improved some since the last video you posted? To me it looks like his hand position is better than it was a few months ago. 🙂
As a mom of an 8 year old who plays an instrument, I say bravo! He is amazing for his age. It’s a lot of work, being the “practice parent” but so worth it. :). Your son is doing well. He has a very good sense of rhythm and timing. Thanks for sharing this video!
I am coming from much the same place as you are; looking for a pedal harp and wondering many of the same things. Here are some of my own thoughts.
I think it depends on a lot of things. What are her goals? When you say “older harp” how old are we talking? Think also about what will fit in your vehicle. Also, will she be able to move it herself? How advanced is she now, and how much difference will those 4-5 extra strings make for her at this point? As a tall 11 year old, a bigger harp may be too big for her…subtle differences in size and balance can make a big difference. What does she want? I think she is old enough to have a say, maybe not the final say, but she’s the one playing it.
An older harp is not necessarily bad, but I personally don’t want to buy a 15 year old harp just to have to put a few thousand into repairs a few years down the road. my cutoff isn’t set in stone, but if it was more than 10-15 years old, it would have to be a pretty special harp for me to seriously consider…unless I had a harp tech standing next to me saying it will most likely be another 20 years before it needs a new neck or re-riveting (Which he couldn’t guarantee anyway) or if it had already had those repairs beautifully done. It really depends on the individual harp, how much it was used, if it was kept regulated and in good order, how well it was cared for, etc.
on the other hand, I’m really picky about how it sounds. A LOT depends on that for me. In some ways I’d rather buy a harp that’s 3-5 years old over ordering from the factory, because then you knew exactly what you’re getting.
Have you seen the salvi Arion? It has 47 strings I believe, and it’s not as expensive as the traditional concert grand harps. I can’t remember the exact price, but you csn look it up. I haven’t ever seen one but I’m super curious about them. (Maybe someone else can chime in on this.) I don’t know if it will fit your bed get, but I that I’d throw it out there anyway.
I know a high school girl who plays on a 40 string harp and, last I heard, she was doing just fine with it. I’ve also heard of harpists “getting by” with an older harp until the time they can afford to buy new. I don’t see it as a definite “right or wrong” choice here.
My best advice is to let her sit behind as many harps as you can, and see how she feels playing them. You can do as much research online as you want, but going hands on will be far more helpful in knowing what’s best for her.
Sometimes what it comes down to it, you have to follow your gut. Sometimes you have to trust that the future will work itself out, and do what is best for you right now. Harps which are well cared for hold their value quite well, so selling/upgrading in her future is not necessarily out if the question. Especially if she decided to save her own money for a harp, when she eventually is able to earn money.
well, I’m done rambling now. Hope this is helpful for you. :). Good luck! Let us know what you eventually decide to do. 🙂
I don’t know the arrangements, I suspect she arranged them herself. Just wanted to say thanks for sharing this video! It’s absolutely beautiful. 🙂
I know this thread is super old but I am so happy I found a better way to make brackets for fingering on musescore. I Just had to come back and share it. 🙂
In the palette, go to lines, and add the line that has the vertical “sides”. Put it where you want it. Then go to inspector (tab on bottom of palette, you toggle back and forth), select the bracket, then click “allow diagonal” and then you can tilt the bracket as you want. Before I was adding a straight line, going back in and adding hooks on either end…this way is much quicker.
hope this is helpful to someone. 🙂
