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The thing I don’t like about character shoes is that there is a strap and you either have to unbuckle it or scrunch your foot into it with the strap hooked. A pain to me. I needed some slip-on shoes so that I would put them on when I practice. It’s so tempting to play with bare feet, and I have to admit that I cheat all the time and do this. I hate playing with my harp shoes, but I’m making myself do it. My teacher told me to get some with a slight heel (like what’s on a character shoe) and with a fairly pointed toe so that you can get around on the pedals without banging into those you don’t want. I have some good shoes. I just need to use them. I think for me, at 6′ tall and with long legs, loafers might actually work better. I think part of the reason I don’t like the harp shoes is that the heel is actually too high for my long legs.
June
Well don’t be equally guilty of thinking Steinway is the be-all and end-all of pianos either. Each piano is individual as each harp is. I would rather have a Pleyel or Boesendorfer than a Steinway, and as I’m sure there are wonderful Steinway pianos, there are also some real bombs. I’ve never played a Pleyel that didn’t sound fabulous.
I’ve played good and bad L&H harps, good and bad Camac harps, good and bad Salvi harps. (Sorry never played a Venus.) But my point is that I don’t think ANY brand should become the standard. It makes people think they are all — every single harp — wonderful, and that just isn’t true.
June
Not yet. It’s sitting in the curve of the piano and I use it with my private voice students, but we need to contact the woodworking guy my husband knows, and this is a busy time right now in our lives. We’ll get to it. Thanks for asking. 🙂
Hi Gina,
Oh wow!!! Congratulations on your new harp. What model/brand did you buy? I remember waiting for my harp — just last year around this time. It came on February 16th. It is a very exciting time for you.
June
Thanks Kay….I’m not sure I understand this. I have to go home and look at it. We’ve been pondering this whole thing. Last night we decided we will take it to a master woodworker we know and he will figure something out so that it will work.
I look forward to talking to you about pedal harps. I absolutely LOVE my harp. My teacher played Automne by Grandjany
Thanks Ken. It is a lovely instrument. I have to give up on the music stand though. I’m finding myself craning my neck because those legs are too tall. My husband said he will cut them down for me.
I like your new Ravenna too. You must be very excited about it. 🙂 I like the shot where you’re looking through the strings. This idea for a thread is fun. Isn’t Victor’s Camac pretty too? Heck ALL the harp pics are pretty!!
June
Lauren, you could try contacting Lynn Aspnes at the University of Michigan. I know she is involved with a really wonderful summer harp retreat.
June
I sang the role of ‘Zita’ in that opera in grad school a few years back. It was an entirely WONDERFUL role and so much fun to perform.
June
Okay, Pat. Dequindre and 12 Mile it is then. Bad practice before a performance is supposed to be a good thing, I have heard. You’ll be fine.
June
Everyone is “all that much to listen to” Pat. I’ll try to make it by. Shall I introduce myself? I know where that mall is. On the other side of the Tech Center. Like 12 Mile and Van Dyke or something like that? I’m not ready for real gigs yet. My first gig on the pedal harp was night before last at the funeral home where my auntie was laid out in Lincoln Park. And I will play Christmas Eve at my mom’s assisted living facility.
