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Thank you! I ran a Google search on harpcolumn before I posted, but that thread didn’t come up. I will go find it! Thanks again!
Carl, my husband has this problem. He gave up on trying to read music as a child because once he heard the piano tune through once or twice (max), he could replay it without looking. Well, my primary instrument is voice and I now live in an area where experienced accompanists are very difficult to find, so I want him to learn to play for me! I bought this set of flashcards from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Color-Coded-Beginning-Students/dp/0739015575/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314206379&sr=8-1
We spent a few minutes every day drilling his reading: first with note-names only, then note names with octave designation (C4, A3, etc.), and finally he would respond to each card by playing the appropriate note on the piano. We timed every session, so he always had a goal: beat the last time! Wrong answers were penalized simply because I didn’t stop the timer – he had to keep going until he got it right. He definitely got to a point where his time plateaued and he recognized that he had to stop counting the spaces. Once he could go through all of the provided pitches with instant recognition, we moved to a very beginner piano book and started reading a couple of new pieces per day to establish horizontal reading habits; I stood over him and beat out the time (very slowly).
The two most important pieces of this were timing each session in the early stages (really worked wonders!), and daily practice. If your student is only working on reading once a week in her lesson, he or she isn’t going to improve very readily.
Jeremy continued on his own with a self-devised plan: he found a piece he really, really likes and obtained the sheet music. It’s a long, difficult work, and he works it a section at a time. When he comes to a new section, he first tries to play through the music by reading, then works on it, asking me for help as needed and listening to the recording while reading the music if he’s still not getting it – which gives him an opportunity to associate the symbols with sound. Of course he memorizes that section quickly, but then he has another new reading challenge waiting just up ahead.
You might try something like that — find a piece that enthralls your student, and give it to her in tiny sight-reading pieces: four measures of melody, then the same four measures with all of the RH notes, then the same four measures with RH and LH, and then those measures become part of her practice assignment for the week. That way she’s reading music in order to obtain something she wants.
Best of luck! Let us know how it goes! 🙂
In case anyone is looking for help with this later. . . I couldn’t find a luthier to do the work near Essex Junction, VT, but I did find the right bit for the lever screws. It’s a T6 star bit.
Claremont, NH. I know. I’m floored every time! They either refuse the service without hearing me (so I know it’s not my playing!) or just never call me back. It’s done such things to my confidence and willingness to play that my husband has started talking about acting as a manager for me, like Troy does for Sara Groves. 🙂
But there is very, very little music here in general. People actually get married to the sound of CDs on a boom-box, and they are buried in silence. It’s extremely sad. . .
Hi Ben,
I just want to add two cents: whether they are composed on the fly or on paper, two useful techniques in both melody and harmony are repetition and sequence. In the harmony, this might mean setting up a left-hand pattern and using it for all or most of the chords in a section. In the melody, the judicious use of repetition and sequencing of motives helps to a create a line that is more comfortable for the listener, and easier to make up as you go along.
I play harp in a part of the world where apparently nobody cares to hear it; even charities won’t let me play for free! But when I’m visiting family, I find it easiest to respond to the “play for me” request with a short memorized piece that I know cold. It takes some of the pressure off. Music composed for harp therapy is very good for this – short, sweet-sounding, and easy to remember.
Funny you should ask this — my husband and I just harp-tested that car a month ago! I currently own a 2003 Jetta TDI, and my Heartland Sylvan (36 string lever harp, 52″ without case; the case adds at least 3 inches) is such a tight fit that I can’t get it in and out by myself.
The Sportwagen, however, was lovely. My harp actually fit in the back seat, which I love because I could use the seatbelts to strap it in. The back is roomy, with plenty of space for all your equipment. In the 2009 and 2010 models, the headrests on the back seats come off so that you can fold the seats down flat, but they changed this in the 2011. Surprisingly, on the outside, the Sportwagen is at most 6″ longer than our older Jetta. We parked our car right next to the test vehicle, and we’re not sure there was even that much difference. Maybe 3″? So, it will park very much like a compact car. Turning radius seems to be close or identical to the smaller Jetta as well. Another plus is that TDIs are a fun, peppy, sporty drive.
We also tried out the Golf for size. The hatchback (as opposed to the trunk of the Jetta) added enough space that I could fold down the back seats and get the harp in and out by myself, but fitting in the bench, stand, etc. would have been difficult, and the person in the passenger’s seat might be a little cramped. If the Prelude 4 is anything like the dimensions of the current Prelude 40 (http://www.lyonhealy.com/lever-prelude.htm), I’m pretty sure you couldn’t get it into a Golf.
If your harp will fit, and it’s quite possible, I’d say the Sportwagen is a good choice. And it definitely doesn’t drive like a station wagon! 🙂
clh, my first harp(s!) were all Pakistani models, way back in the early 2000s. As I grew out of each one, I upgraded to the next larger model by hanging out on mid-east.com and waiting for a refurbished one to become available, because they were half-off that way. I get that they’re not professional-quality, but even now that I have a glorious Sylvan by Heartland Harps (and the road to it was *ten* years long!), I still think those Pakistanis are good as a first and cheap option. Somebody on YouTube once sniped at me for saying that, but hey – it was what I could afford, it looked beautiful, I was able to learn all the skills I needed, and it only took me a day to adjust to the different string spacing when I got my hands on the dream harp.
In fact, I was just remarking to myself again today that one of those Pakistani harps actually held its tune much better than the Sylvan, and at a time in my life when I couldn’t afford to keep it in a climate-controlled environment!
So best of luck with your little harp. Not all of us are looking down on it. 🙂 If you’ve outgrown 22 strings, try looking online for used or refurbished harps. Believe it or not, I found my Sylvan on Craigslist!!
Shelby, that looks like fun! Thanks for the tip!
It takes us about 25 minutes to get to West Leb; I don’t usually go into Lebanon itself, so you could be right about that distance. If you ever feel like getting together for some harping, feel free to let me know! The possibility makes me giddy. Claremont is a lonely place, musically speaking. 🙂
(I know, I’m a total stranger. I’m not habit of putting myself out there like this either. If you want, you can find out more about me at angelabiggs.com. If not, that’s TOTALLY okay. 🙂 )
Shelby, what part of NE do you live in?? I’m self-taught and in Claremont, NH; most teachers are about that far away from me. . . it would be awesome if you live near western NH and maybe we could get together for some harping!
Wow, thanks for all of the tips!
For right now, I only play “in”. I just picked up some of the music to start studying for certification as a harp therapist, so eventually I will want an “out” bench. I play a lever harp, not a pedal, so my feet stay on the floor and there’s very little shifting involved. 🙂
The “dream bench” is here: http://www.bbrwoodworks.com/harp.html — in figured cherry to match my harp, and with a navy micro-suede fabric for the cushion, to match the painting on the soundboard.
I ended up finding a cushion that *might* work for the stool, so I ordered it and we’ll see what happens. If it doesn’t work, you can bet I’ll be right back here working through your suggestions!
😀
I tend to name my harps. First of all, they’re easier to live with that way, and easier to communicate about. For the same reason, I name my cars, and occasionally household appliances. 🙂
Harps really are special, though. I’ve played many instruments in my life, and I’ve never been in love with any but my harps. My current harp is my first professional-quality instrument, an exquisite Sylvan by Heartland Harps. Naming her was important to me because God started weaving her into my life twelve years before I ever met her; I feel that I need to develop a very deep understanding of her, and even what you might call a relationship if she were alive.
Her name is Áine, which I believe is Irish Gaelic for “praise” or “joy”. She is my magnificent miracle.
Misty, I only play (do not teach) harp – but I do teach voice. A very clear studio policy, and the willingness to stand your ground, really help with your problem.
Common practice in a voice studio is to require a month (or sometimes two weeks) paid in advance, due at the first lesson of the period. People are much less likely to skip if they’ve already paid. Set a firm grace period in your head (not in your written studio policy) – you might let the student be one week late with payment twice a year, for example – and really stick to it. Say “no” if you must. “Mr. X, I have placed your lessons on hold until I receive payment. Your lesson for 3 PM tomorrow has been canceled. Once I receive a check, I would be happy to resume.”
In fact, this is a perfect time of year to send out an email to all of your students with a PDF or Word doc clearly outlining your policies. For example: in a voice studio, a certain amount of notice is required if a student is going to miss a lesson and wants to reschedule it. If that student doesn’t give the minimum notice (such as 24 hours), he forfeits the fee he paid – at the beginning of the month – for that lesson. That way, the teacher is at least minimally compensated for the annoyance. And if the student wants to keep skipping and forfeiting, well, that’s his choice! Of course there are exceptions for emergencies, but “emergency” means emergency: it needs to involve an illness including fever, hospitalization of self or family member, or death in the family. I once had a student show up and my door and explain that her husband’s daughter stopped by and they were all going to go to the park! Not an emergency! lol
Make sure to address your pet peeves. For example, since you don’t like it when students just drop in a few times a year, describe the level of commitment you require.
If you have many students who are problems (and it sounds like you might), I would recommend that you ask everyone to sign the document to indicate understanding and acceptance, and get it back to you _before_ their next lesson. Settle on a grace period in your own head (such as one lesson), and stick to it. That’s the most important part. You need to stand firmly behind the policies you set. Keep some hard copies on your music stand for those who “forget” to bring it to that second lesson. As in, “Oh, don’t worry about it. I have some right here. Have you read it yet? No? Well, this is what it says. . .” Even read it to them word-for-word if you must, and then hand them the paper and a pen.
Whether or not you need the income, you’re running a business. Don’t be afraid to act like a business-owner! 🙂 It can be hard, but just remember: friendly but firm.
Best of luck!
Angela
Thank you for posting! I’ve been wanting a CF harp by Heartland since I learned about them, but I was very fortunate to purchase an exquisite second-hand Sylvan a few months ago. I love the harp so much, and have daydreamed about getting Heartland’s lap harp model someday. I am a little sad that’s not going to happen!
On the other hand, the Infinity will be much more versatile, with all the benefits of a lap harp (size, weight, ability to play standing). Plus it would fit in my car. Guess I’ll just have to set my sights a little higher. 🙂
