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Love your playing, and I have thought about you several times when I heard of all the problems in Syria. I’m so glad you are safe, and that you have another harp to play. Hope you find time to wedge playing in somewhere — even though you can’t make a living doing it in Sweden. My best to you….
June
Have you looked at Zenni.com? I buy all my glasses from there. You upload a picture of your face and try on all the frames you want. You need to get the prescription from your eye doctor and the pupillary distance (which is part of your prescription). You will be amazed at the prices there — and they are quite good.
I have had my Camac Athena EX since 2006. I absolutely adore it. I used bow strings for awhile, but I went back to Camac strings a couple of years ago (except for Pirastro at the top). My harp has the most beautiful ring to it and the bass is really strong. Everyone who has ever played it or listened to it really loved the sound.
I think the busking idea is really really a good one. When I spent several weekends playing at the local Renaissance faire, I really made great strides in getting over the nerves, and I even learned to talk to people as I played some of the things. The entire experience was a really good one.
Also, I once saw a well-known, professional harpist begin and flop on a piece in front of hundreds of harpists…..at least 12 times…..started over and over and over again. Then ran off from the harp and later came back and tried again about 6 times until getting through it finally. It just happens……and maybe this was an odd way to handle it, but everyone handles these kinds of things in their own way.
No one is forcing you to do public performances — probably before you are really ready, actually. It takes a long time to feel comfortable on a harp. I know because I did it myself….flopped a couple of times…..and I realized I just wasn’t ready for what I was forcing myself to do.
Relax and do what is right for you.
Onita, I have heard you play, and you are worth SO much more than those in Lansing are willing to pay you. As for the discriminatory treatment, you are probably right, and that’s just plain sad, but I’m convinced it’s out there. It’s true in many other genres of the music world, too, in a different way. I studied voice intensely for a number of years and received a master’s degree in vocal performance. I have a voice that is considered “Italian.” I CAN sing Wagner, but it’s not the best in my voice. However, I am a 6′ tall blonde with blue eyes. NO one is going to hire me to play a little minx of an Italian in a Puccini opera…..and it was just very, very difficult for me. I began the harp 9 years ago, and I’m much more comfortable as a harpist at this height sitting behind a huge instrument. But I remember that feeling of defeat when there is nothing you can do about it. At least in my case I could see some justification. In yours I can see none. It is simply slimy and illegal and ugly. PLEASE don’t let it discourage you. You are such a wonderful, professional harpist.
Briggsie
Would you be comfortable in the heat/cold that the harp is exposed to? That’s the real question, I believe. If it’s comfortable for you, it’s okay for the harp. If it gets too cold or too hot bad things happen.
My teacher has an electric Atlantide, and I got to play with it a bunch. It is absolutely WONDERFUL.
Have you found the balance point for your harp? You tip the harp back until it will almost stay where it is on an angle, and that’s where it should be. Move your bench up to it so it is at that angle, and I also balance a lot of the weight on my thighs at times when I am not using the pedals. You shouldn’t be having so much pain.
At the Lyon & Healy 150th festival I saw Marie-Pierre Langlamet walk in to play, kick off her shoes and do absolutely AMAZING things with transcriptions. I guess she either has iron toes and feet, or she has figured out a way not to get hurt. I wear harp shoes. 🙂
Yes, I did go to her masterclass. I learned so much just listening to what she had to say. I felt the same about Susann’s masterclass. They were both very valuable to me.
She is also a harpist. We just do duo harp stuff — for lever harp. At first we were both playing our lever harps, but I am such a weak lever flipper and I just feel so much more comfortable at my pedal harp, so we are doing mostly her Webster McFall and my pedal harp…..sometimes I switch to lever though if the music calls for that sound. I’ve done a few arrangements of things for us, too, that work nicely.
