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Here’s an update on transferring music from Finale to Dorico. On my prior post, I noted that the stem directions were not preserved in the transfer. This is an option on MusicXML input and by setting that option the stem directions are preserved.
As I’m learning Dorico, I used the first 2 pages of Tournier’s Fantasy (courtesy of Carl Swanson) to see if Dorico could be made to look the same as the published music. The answer is basically yes (see attached). There are still some minor edits I could do (nudging things a bit for identical spacing, fiddling with font sizes and styles, etc) but it generally can be made to look the same.
The one thing Dorico does well compared to Finale is how it handles harp pedal changes. One can enter a pedal diagram (or letters, as desired) at any place in the score. Notes will turn red if there is a need for a pedal change (i.e. an accidental, back to natural, etc). Enharmonic spellings are easy to enter.Sorry for the confusion. Some times the helpful “spelling checker” gets me into trouble. It should read “capital letter O” — that is, the shift key with letter O (not zero).
My thoughts echo those of Gregg. When I play piano/organ/synth, both hands are equally busy. I’ve never seen a left-handed keyboard player try to reverse their position to play upper notes with their left hand. I also play classical guitar and I agree with Gregg that the left hand is more active than the right hand (I’m right handed). Most musicians probably find themselves nearly ambidextrous. I too would encourage you to switch back to using left hand lower and right hand upper before you get too far along in your harp experience.
Lily — I use tap water. If you have hard water, the filters will clog up sooner and require replacing more often. (The encrusted wick material won’t draw up the water at some point). The one’s that we’re talking about do not heat the water as Carl explained, so there is no visible steam. I clean mine every month and replace the filter every 2-3 months (your mileage may vary). I add an anti-bacterial (made for this kind of humidifier) about once a week. If you don’t want to do that, you might choose to clean the filter more often.
The one I use is an AireCare Space Saver humidifier with a 5 gallon capacity. You can buy one at hardware stores, home supply stores (Home Depot, Lowes, etc) or online. I have it set to 40% year round. I fill it every other day in the winter months and in the dryer early summer months (I’m in Northern Arizona). These kind of humidifiers use air flow around a wick material so they don’t spew water droplets. I find that humidified air is better on my allergies.
You don’t mention which Fishman pickup you are using. Is it the SBT-HP? If so, that’s a single transducer. On a large harp sound board a single transducer will have a stronger response to the strings close to the pickup.
I had a K&K Sound Big Twin installed on my L&H 85CG at the factory. With dual transducers I get a very balanced sound with the pickup.
Several years ago I posted sound samples with the pickup and with a microphone. Search for “Microphones vs. Pickups” here in the forums.My 85CG fits nicely in a 2017 Subaru Outback without having to move the front seats. The Outback has been redesigned in the last few years, so I don’t know about the newer ones. Now I have a Subaru Ascent and there is plenty of extra room.
There are quite a few good lessons on Harp Column Academy — including some excellent ones from Park Stickney (and others too).
A few comments — get the iPad 12.9″ (which will display a page at normal full size) and get the Apple Pencil to mark up your music. ForScore lets you easily make markings on your music (non-permanent). ForScore also lets you playback a pre-recorded audio file while looking at the music and you can conveniently vary the tempo and/or pitch as you play along with. You can listen through small earbuds (AirPods). I have a FireFly foot pedal for page turns, but I almost never use it — much easier to just tap the screen with my left hand little finger (others may like the pedal). Very easy to do with no cables at all.
I agree with Charles — put the “banned” movement out on Harp Column Music along with a preface explaining why it’s not part of the Carl Fisher edition.
The L&H folks can tell you their recommended procedure for de-tuning prior to shipment and for bringing it back to pitch. They will also tell you their guidelines for minimum and maximum temperature exposure during shipping (as I recall, they limit shipping temperatures to 32F and 90F).
Regarding #2 — Don’t tell them the harp was likely made with hide glue. Even worse if the harp has a lacquer finish (made from lac bug excretions).
When threading drill rod, be sure to use the harder HSS die (not the cheaper carbon steel). You can get them at McMaster Carr online (item # 2602A134).
I bought the Firefly. It appears to be well built and works properly, but I also had a hard time finding a position that wasn’t too far away from the harp pedals. In the end, I went back to touching the screen of the tablet for page turns. On my tablet, all I have to do is tap the screen lightly with my little finger on the left hand for a page turn. If you are having problems with page turns on your tablet, try using the “performance mode” on ForScore (see the manual for a description of what it does and how to access it easily).
Having said that, I kept the Firefly and may go back and try it again some time.
