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Hello Jill 🙂 I know your harp vs horse was as an example only, but be glad your daughter wants to play the harp. It’s possible to lease or sponsor a horse while learning to ride, but should she get serious, the costs mount up very quickly and there is the fact that horseback riding is considered to be a vigorous and high risk sport. Despite what we harpists may think at times, harps don’t have a mind of their own. 😉 They do what we ask of them without much fussing.
As far as cost, both can be equally expensive depending on how high your daughter’s aspirations go.
P.S. I became a professional harpist, leased and rode horses in my 20’s till I had children, and now own a horse.Mike Lewis, the owner of HarpTech, is located in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can contact him through his website: harptech@harptech.com
When I first started out moving my harp, I used a small pickup. If you need to move your harp only occasionally, and only in good weather, you should be fine. Provide good padding underneath your harp, lay the harp down lever side up, and if possible, strap it down so that it doesn’t shift during the drive. I’d also place it as close to the cab as possible for a smoother ride.
Get a camper shell. It would protect your harp from extreme shifts in temperature and humidity, such as direct sunlight or rain. It’s the extremes that will damage your harp. A harpist friend moved her harp this way until they could purchase another vehicle. We live in the San Francisco Bay Area so we don’t experience extremes in the climate, but summers can get pretty warm. As far as the suspension goes, don’t fly across bumpy terrain. Since your harp is on the light side, it could bounce, so you’ll want to give it a smooth ride.
Finally, my husband drives a Ford Ranger with a camper shell. He regularly transports harps all over the Bay Area. With good padding (exercise
mats with dense foam) and moving pads, harps load and off load with ease. He loves it, plus got the idea from a harpist!Barbara
Thanks for your write-up. I found it very helpful.
I’ve started using my iPad too. Was using iBooks for one page pieces, but found the difference in clarity and ability to see in low light situations so much better than using paper that I bit the bullet and purchased forScore and the AirTurn. Learning to use them now.
Barbara, have you ever used forScore to write “guitar” chords above the melody line? I tried “typing” it in, but ended up scanning the piece in again with chords already written in.
There’s also been some praise for the unrealBook app so I purchased that, but PDF’s have to be downloaded from iTunes so I haven’t played with it yet. Heard anything about it?
It does seem that your tuner is not working properly. If you aren’t able to purchase locally, try musiciansfriend.com. They ship worldwide:
First, there really is no such thing as standard concert spacing, but, generally speaking, what you have discovered is true.
In other words, they all feel a little different.
Yes, you can restring to a lighter gauge. Your harp will have to be re-regulated after the restringing. I haven’t done this to a Daphne, but I think you will be pleased. You are on the right track.
My husband was doing a harp seminar, showing how to change pedal felts, and took the base off. There was a gasp in the audience. A husband and wife exclaimed, “we didn’t know the base came off! We changed the felts using forceps!” My husband, with great surprise and admiration said, “Wow, next time you do that, video tape it!” They decided in the end to have a professional do the pedal felt changing.
There really is no way to change felts without taking the base off. Camac I’m not sure of, but the material is a shrink wrap of some kind.
Sylvia, what exactly makes changing the felts so dreaded? I, myself, don’t do them, so I understand, but I know other harpists who do. One puts her harp into the car, hanging the end off the tailgate. She can sit at the harp, and even though the harp is lying on its side, she’s able to get the job done in a more comfortable position (plus get her knees under the tailgate).
Why are your pedals flying around? Are you removing the pedal springs? You can keep those attached to the pedal bar while changing the felts.
I know you don’t use hot glue, but you can cut your time in half by using this product. You would need to use those U shaped blocks to hold the felts closed. And it does take muscle to push the felted bar into the block.
And there is leather, which I have on one of my harps. It has lasted for years, and through some heavy professional playing. These must be sewn on. Just be sure the diameter of the leather is close enough to the felt so that it fits in the slots and your harp can still be regulated.
Hope this helps.
Barbara in CA
The wool fingerless gloves mentioned above is a great idea, especially the ones that go up to the elbows. Lightweight silk undergarments (tops & bottoms) work well in keeping your body warm, as well as a scarf around your neck. If you can wear a slouchy beret, popular right now, that will keep you even warmer, and won’t get in the way of the harp.
Outfits in a wool jersey will be warm, and have enough give and drape to be comfortable while playing.
If you knit, there’s lots of patterns for free on the net. I’ve made two pair, one in black and the other light pink, and they really do help when the fingers get chilled.
I like to wear wool because it’s a good insulator, but breathes and wicks moisture away from your skin so you aren’t left feeling cold and clammy.
My husband and I have tipped service people who have set rates and charge accordingly. I think a tip is appropriate under certain circumstances.
Guidelines for tipping are somewhat baffling, in my opinion.
As a harpist, I provide a service and charge competitive rates. I don’t expect tips, but sure do appreciate them when I get them. I’m sure there’s a lot of people who feel musicians are paid plenty enough so therefore won’t tip on top of our requested fee.
