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All great advice here. I charge cartage for delivering and picking up the harp (union rate is $85 per move) plus the monthly rental fee.
Great advice, Gretchen! Why not accompany your student to a free gig. Have them play for their parent’s business holiday party or a cousin’s wedding. Also request your student come with you to one of your paid gigs. This way they see what is expected of them before they go out there on their own.
Oh Politics… unfortunately they are everywhere especially in the music world. I don’t think any professional harpist can escape the wrath of harp politics. Think about how you get a gig or concert referral – its all based on knowing someone and having them refer you. If someone isn’t a big fan of yours for whatever reason, they’re not going to ask you to play even if you are the perfect harpist for that event. Also think about all the harpists with orchestral jobs – 99% of the time they choose their subs and 2nd harpists themselves. Same ideas along with teaching jobs. I think dealing with politics is just part of being a human in our society. You can let these things get to you and make you mad or let it go and be the best person you can be. It’s just part of navigating this ever changing complicated world!
Vanderbilt, harp.com, harpcolumn music!, imslp (tons of traditional harp rep here) If I need to transcribe a pop score I use musicnotes.com
I always get, “Oh you look just like a harpist! Do you all have long blonde hair?” I think the common perception is that we are super feminine in big gowns and sit around and play glissandi! And of course the Can’t count, can’t play in tune thing is unfortunate…. We can count and we can play in tune!
3 piece transport case is a must in the snow here in Chicago! Get a reliable dolly you feel comfortable with. I personally use the German Horngacher Dolly – I’ve had mine over 12 years and is just now starting to show signs of wear. I love the dolly and wouldn’t use any other dolly to move my harp in the snow. Do be sure to carry a snow shovel with you to shovel a path when you get to the gig/concert location! http://www.horngacher-harps.de/allgemein/accessories.htm
Hi Lyle! I have 2 students with the Concertino and also have one at one of the schools I teach at. These are great harps for beginning – intermediate harp students, but I cannot recommend for a professional harpist. The price is incredible and makes it possible for a lot of students to own a pedal harp.
Thanks Gretchen! I would also have to add – be in touch with the local harp chapter. Let them know you are new/out of school/looking to freelance and they might even have a harpist directory on their website. Get involved with those harpists. Learn from harpists that have been playing the gigs long before you came along. I have a very close harpist friend here in Chicago who has taught me EVERYTHING I know about freelance harping in the city. If there is a particular harpist giving you a lot of work consider sending lots of thank you notes and definitely a nice Christmas/Holiday gift.
Most Played – Danny Boy, Moon River, What a Wonderful World, Blue Danube Waltz, Claire de Lune, Happy Birthday, Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Most Requested – Stairway to Heaven, Cannon in D, Wind Beneath my Wings (always happens that someone hears me playing this one, comes over and asks me to play it again!)
Good question! These would be the ones in my repertoire that I would pull out –
Debussy’s The Little Shepard from Children’s Corner Suite
Francisque Pavane from Courante, Pavane and Bransles
Britten Ceremony of Carols Interlude
McDonald’s arrangement of GreensleevesHi Katie! My favorite “show off” piece right now is Premiere Valse, Op. 83 by Marie-Auguste Durand / Transcribed for harp by Susann McDonald and Linda Wood Rollo.
I charge $425 for a wedding ceremony in Chicago add $100 for outdoor or difficult load in/out. I think most harpists in my area charge right around $350.
Gretchen, Thanks for sharing this! I’m so glad both you and Andelin enjoyed it. Seriously life changing! I hope more harpists watch this and are able to share with more and more. I would also love to hear from you about your favorite inspirations: books, podcasts, videos, etc!
Hi Julia!
How exciting! 2 of these below have been mentioned but I’ve included a little more info. Let me know if you have any more questions about any of this repertoire!
Paul Patterson’s Avian Arabesques
Great piece but the 3rd movement is extremely difficult to get together.Margurite Lynn William’s Musings – really fun but still challenging to line up all the 16ths end of the first movement.
We have videos of the Patterson and Musings up on youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/user/ChicagoHarpQuartet/videos
Also check out Hariete Adie’s Elemntal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVNjjcOQynM
Bruce Broughton’s Dancing for love, Dancing for the Gods http://www.brucebroughton.com/news_events/news_events.html
