Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
I have some low back problems which affect my hips rather badly. However, it doesn’t get in the way of my pedaling at the pipe organ, and working the pedals on my harp is nothing compared to that. Be sure you are sitting in a position that doesn’t stress your back, and taking breaks after 30 minutes is a really good thing….so is the chiropractor. I have found that stretching my hamstrings after practicing is the most excellent move for relieving low back and hip pain. It works wonders for me. I am very fortunate that my harp instructor is also a yoga instructor and is very aware of proper position and proper use of the body while playing. She has stressed the importance of stretching and relaxing between practice sessions, and it has made a world of difference in my comfort at the harp. I am not young either, so it is very important to be careful.
Briggsie
If you price a really good piano, you will see that they don’t sell for that when they are 50 years old. A really good old Steinway costs a pretty penny. Our new Pleyel sold for about $55,000 in 1990. My inlaws bought it and not us. It was a gift to us when my fil got too old to play it anymore. There are TONS of old student pianos — but not that many well cared for, really beautiful (inside and out) old pianos, but the ones there are cannot be had cheaply.
Briggsie
Thanks Sherry, that’s really good to know!
Today I loaded my harp on it’s column in the Element. It worked very well…..I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before.
Briggsie
It’s hard to get the harp in the Element and have another person ride along. Today, however, I column loaded with the crown on padding between the front seats. It worked really well. It’s going to be my new MO for loading.
I bought my Troubadour I from a friend for $300 and had the levers and oversized tuning pegs put on so that it would stay in tune, and strung with gut. I paid $1500 for that job. The harp is WONDERFUL. This particular one always did have a beautiful voice. It was just not cared for, had those clunky old levers on it, and needed some tlc. I love that harp and use it in church often when I want to do something special — and am getting a break from the organ. 🙂
Briggsie
I am using a Camac Athena extended cover made expressly for that harp. I love how it’s made…..It has slits for slipping your hand in along the column, and you can reach in and grab the base on the base cover, but……you are right about the storage problem. It’s big and bulky. I can sort of roll it up and push it into a box which takes up 3/4 of the floor of the closet. It’s a big pain in that regard. I also like though that it has a sort of built-in column cover on it, and I like that it is semi-protected from moisture outside. I’d be interested in seeing yours on your website. Do you have them shown there? Maybe I should go look.
Briggsie
First 3 movements of Ceremony of Carols
La Source, Hasselmans
And going through some old stuff for fun……YAY.
Briggsie
I used to haul my concert grand in a Subaru Outback, and it worked pretty well. Now I’m driving an Element, and it works, but it’s not my car of choice…..just what I could afford at the time when I quickly needed a new car. My teacher drives a Taurus X. It’s no longer produced, and it’s an exquisite harp car…..harp slides straight in with plenty of room to spare. I think it’s kind of hard these days finding an affordable harpmobile. I think my next car will be a Dodge Grand Caravan.
