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Sarah, sorry to hear you have had to struggle with your shoulders. I am always looking for new things to help with my wrist pain and a couple of weeks ago I stumbled across this website talking about the work of Dr John Sarno. http://podolsky.everybody.org/rsi/
It rang so many bells with me that bought the book “The mindbody prescription” It was quite cheap on Amazon. I’m beginning to apply his theories and for the first time in a year and a half my pain has reduced. It’s early days but it might be worth a look.
Good luck.
Kay I’m so sorry to hear you have joined this dreadful club. I’ve been suffering for over a year and a half. Constant visits to every person you can think of, splints, cortisone, physio, massage, etc etc but nothing has helped…..yet. I am not giving up. One thing I have realised is that this type of thing can be self-perpetuating. We feel a tiny twinge and panic sets in… what if I am doing permanent damage, what if I never play again etc. It adds to the tension which adds to the problem.
If you are anything like me you will be looking for all sorts of reasons it has happened. Is it my new harp? have I suddenly changed the way I play/ sit/ drive/ drink my coffee? Try to be calm. Relax. When people suggest you should not play, it can set up a chain of mental stresses – guilt, fear of pain/doing damage etc. if you try to play. You end up micro analysing every tiny move you make. It’s really hard but just have faith in your body – it WILL heal itself. This is a tiny problem that could just as easily have started because you lifted a shopping bag akwardly! Of course we all leap to blame the harp but it’s not necessarily the culprit. Please try not to worry. I have turned this into a life encompassing mountain instead of the annoying little mole-hill that it started out as. I really hope you don’t have the same problem.
Listen to your body. If it feels OK to play, then play. You will be playing normally again in no time.
Good luck.
You might enjoy this little programme from way back when:
Found some of the programme on youtube, where you can hear a bit of the music
The Prince of Wales commissioned Patrick Hawes to compose a work for harp an orchestra celebrating his home at Highgrove. It is called The Highgrove Suite and was performed by Claire Jones in a special concert there. A TV programme captured some glimpses of the rehearsal but she seemed to be playing her own Salvi and not the Royal harp. It is a really beautiful piece of music available on CD or downloadable from itunes. I highly recommend it.
There is a useful video of the hemson here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53SgIitRJRA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
It is a perfectly good student harp at a reasonable price. Several if my pupils have started on a rented one but most go for the better sound of a slightly more pricey harp when it comes to buying. The dusty strings Ravenna 34 is a popular choice as is the pilgrim clarsach.
The Ravenna can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGCtSoeTw08&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Try contacting Geraldine at http://www.affairsoftheharp.com Scroll to the bottom of the harps for sale section and it gives some rental options. I am pretty sure she would have a short term rental option avaiable.
Did you buy the harp new or used. If it is new then surely it has some kind of warranty? You say the double sounding notes were there right from the beginning so did you mention it at the showroom when you picked up the harp? I’m pretty sure that you will have rights to get any faults fixed under the warranty so I would advise checking it. If the harp is second hand then contact Gerald Fentler at http://www.gfharpworkshop.co.uk He is a brilliant harp technician and is trained specifically to work on Aoyamas. In the mean time, try tuning in naturals rather than flats – it’s a trick that has worked for me in the past when any of my harps have been crying out for a service.
Good Luck.
Any chance the programme will be sold to the U.K.? It looks so brilliant I REALLY want to see it. PBS don’t ship over here. Amazon might but it’s not available ’till August. Grrrr!
If you scroll down the professional harpists posts, there is one from a Paris based harpist looking to exchange homes. Maybe you should contact her and see if she could help you. Good luck.
I picked up a second hand copy of Renie’s 2nd ballade a few years ago in Lyon and Healy/ Salvi’s London showroom. I bought it just because I love her music but I haven’t had a chance to learn it yet. Your post made me dig it out and here is the first page on my Twitter stream in case you are interested: http://twitpic.com/1uk7zr
Anyone else on twitter by the way?
I picked up a second hand copy of Renie’s 2nd ballade a few years ago in Lyon and Healy/ Salvi’s London showroom. I bought it just because I love her music but I haven’t had a chance to learn it yet. Your post made me dig it out and here is the first page on my Twitter stream in case you are interested: http://twitpic.com/1uk7zr
Anyone else on twitter by the way?
I picked up a second hand copy of Renie’s 2nd ballade a few years ago in Lyon and Healy/ Salvi’s London showroom. I bought it just because I love her music but I haven’t had a chance to learn it yet. Your post made me dig it out and here is the first page on my Twitter stream in case you are interested: http://twitpic.com/1uk7zr
Anyone else on twitter by the way?
I once played for a wedding on a boat and it was fine. Just make sure you double check your boarding route. I got on board down a shallow gang-plank from the quayside – no problem. BUT 3 hours later when it was time to disembark the tide had gone out and the gangplank was near vertical and had been replaced by a 6ft long ladder! I just had to put my faith in the crew and hope for the best. They were brilliant and my harp (concert grand by the way) made it up totally unscathed.
