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Hey Bill!
I was wondering the same thing myself and finding infos is a bit harder than it seems. Here’s my understanding of it (bearing in mind that I play in France and copyright laws might not be the same).
I strongly encourage anyone with better knowledge to correct or qualify what I’m saying.Concerning YouTube, I understand that they used to be extremely flexible and got progressively more aggressive, disappointing professional YouTubers.
The biggest split seems to be : are you making money from your song?
Making money off it : concerts, CDs, things like crowdfunding, and monetisation through publicities online.On YouTube, if your video is demonetized (that is, you don’t allow publicities to play and don’t intend to make money off it), you should be in the clear for most problems. And if it’s not allowed, the video will be banned/removed, but that’s about it, which shouldn’t be big of a deal. If I were you, I would indeed upload the song and hope for the best.
Concerning the repertoire :
After a while, songs fall in the public domain. In France, the timeline goes this way :
→ The author/musician writes a song and copyrights it, and keeps the profits
→ At the time of their death (on the next January actually), a 70-years timer starts. The song is still copyrighted and the proceeds go to their inheritors.
→ Then, 70 years later, the song fall in the public domain and anyone can use it.So anything written before 1949 is free to use.
Edit : So, (in 2019) anything written by an author who died before 1949, should be free to use.It seems to be the same procedure for all countries belonging to the EEE (European Economic Union, so the EU Member States and a few countries like Switzerland).
For the US, here’s what I found on Wikipedia :
US copyright law traces its lineage back to the British Statute of Anne, which influenced the first US federal copyright law, the Copyright Act of 1790. The length of copyright established by the Founding Fathers was short, 14 years, plus the ability to renew it one time, for 14 more. 50 years later, it was changed to 28 years. It was not until a full 180 years after its establishment that it was significantly extended beyond that, in Copyright Act of 1976 to “Either 75 years or the life of the author plus 50 years”. and the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 (also called the “Mickey Mouse Protection Act”, because it prevented the copyright from expiring on the first commercial success of the cartoon character Mickey Mouse), which increased it even more, to 120 years, or the life of the author plus 70 years.
A lot of the Celtic harp repertoire is traditional, and is thus free of use. It generally cannot be traced back to a single author, too.
What I’m unsure about is the song adaptations written recently by a composer. For example, Kim Robertson and Sylvia Wood publish quite a lot of arrangements of traditional songs. Could one use these songs on a CD or in a concert? Is referencing the composer enough? I feel that it’s not, and yet I wonder where the line is. Why do artists publish their score if they cannot be used, then?
Furthermore, to what extent can an adaptation be a copyright infringement? If I take a traditional song, and transpose the Wood version in a different key and change the left-hand a bit, can I claim that composition as my own or not?What about the many, many adaptations of (for example) Disney songs, video game music, and movie score, both online, in concerts and on CDs? Do musicians pay every time?
What about buskers or people playing in festivals, Renaissance Fairs, etc? It might be harder to prove their copyright infringement, but they definitely make money out of it.
Should one want to make their own arrangements of traditional pieces, how difficult and expensive is it to copyright their work as a preventive measure?
I’ll be grateful for anyone who can give more info!
Thank you for the feedback Talfryn, that’s always interesting!
Could you give an estimation of the price for the whole amplifying gear? (pick ups + cables + amplifier)? Would that fetch in the 100€ range, or 300€, or more?This Yamaha mobile amplifier, does it have options other than just amplifying? For example, special effects like reverb or loop?
I absolutely agree. Although they are not music teachers, both my parents are teachers/professors and it has never gone well. There has to be a separation between the parent who raises you and the teachers who want to make you (academically or musically) better.
My mother gave private lessons to a number of my brother’s friends and it always went well, but add one of us children in there and it was a complete mess.Interestingly, it is the same with relationships : my partner is a martial arts teacher but I simply cannot study in one of his classes, however brief.
The most successful musicians I know did have parents that were into music themselves, but they didn’t play the same instrument. I know of an organ-maker with a violinist son, or a violin teacher with a harpist kid, and the child is thus encouraged to play music but there is no mix-up.
Harpist Lisa Lynne also produced a CD specifically aimed at newborns, since she felt that most music, even when meant to be for children, were too harsh for tiny infants.
You might find inspiration there as well!
On which topic, I have just noticed my main instrument’s replacement as new valuation divided by how long I have owned it has fallen below £1000 a year.
Interesting! How do you do the maths on that?
It may seem surprising to us, but for many people still today, seeing a harp up close and personal is a new experience. Especially if they have only seen one tucked to the side in an orchestra; or the clarsach on the Guiness bottle haha.
They’re curious, most of the time. If it were a guitar or violin, I’d bet we would not get that question. A double like yours, Evolene, is even more novel.Absolutely, and I’m really happy to talk about the harp. Most people aren’t quite sure what to call my instrument. I then explain the differences between harps and others harps (they are actually a family of instruments, like the violin-viola-cello.)
I don’t go into explaining the double-strung thing, though : my partner used to proudly talk about my one-of-a-kind harp here in France, but I’m just happy when they don’t confuse it with a cello.
I’m more than happy to talk about harp differences, techniques, and, yes, prices, with other harpists and harpers. But I’m trying to find sweet responses to people dismissively asking : “What on earth is that thing?”, followed, of course, by “And how much does such a thing cost?”
I like your stock answer, Biagio, because it stays matter-of-fact while staying vague.I used to be coy about saying what a harp costs, but depending on who/how the question is presented, I am happy to say more than $30k. Then people don’t take my harp and me for granted.
A very good point. It teaches people to be careful about a pedal harp and the skill that goes with it. I’m reluctant to go that way because I bring my small lever harp outside and don’t want it to become an instant target for thieves and ill-advised people.
Oooh, I like that answer, Carl! I guess, like Biagio said, the best way is to answer this kind of question by another one of the same kind.
@ Emma, I really know how you feel! Why, oh, why do people ask questions they don’t want the answer to?
I’m awakening this post that is old by several years, because I’ve encountered the same problem. Perhaps people have new tips to give!
I really that this issue must come up often for pedal harp players. Saying “it’s a professional tool” is a great answer when one is a professional musician. But what about amateurs that don’t intend to make it their profession?
My Celtic harp fetches in the average prices, not expensive as lever harps go. That still seem to shock people, since a lever harp is in the 1000€ – 5000€ ballpark, and probably the same in US$.People here in France can get quite uncomfortable about money (so why are they asking for the price then?! 🙁 ) The latest disagreeable remark came from someone who has a whole room of their house dedicated to a 1970’s pop-rock band, and this illustrates the fact that different people have different tastes and are willing to save and spend money for different items. (I would never tell them how to live their life or rearrange their house…)
I personally saved up for two years for my harp. But I get really uncomfortable answering this question, especially if I’m in public where someone could act irrationally. Any tips? Is it better to be vague? To tell them “none of your business” even though some people might be genuinely interested for themselves? Even simply putting the price “in the thousands” seems to set some people off…
Okay, I’m relieved to see more people for whom it is a firm “no”. I too think that instruments are not toys and are too valuable (both monetary and sentimentally) to risk damage. I can go on and refuse without feeling like a grinch.
Sometimes I do say yes when I feel like it but I’ll stay seated at the harp and let them do a glissando or two.
Yup, that seems like the way to go.
I once played at a school though and wouldn’t let anyone touch because if one person gets to, then I have to let everyone!
A very good point. But I found that some parents looked shocked when saying “no” to their bundle of joys : and the more intrusive kids tend to be the ones with parents that supervise them the less… I would be willing to let well-behaved kids with watchful parents try out the harp, but they’re not the ones I need to worry about so much.
I’m not really confortable with kids and have trouble judging what to expect of them in accordance to their age.I have experienced many parents who say their child can play, and it turns out that they can only beat on the piano or glissando on the harp, usually with dirty, greasy little fingers. I totally agree about the hand-wipes in any event!
Hand wipes are the deal, then! Do you use alcohol-based ones (that might damage the finish?), or “soapy” baby wipes (that could leave gunk)?
@ Jackie : great story! Easy money, and when someone is willing to pay, you can expect them to be more careful, right?
so it’s only while the string is vibrating at maximum flux.
I know that sometimes, when you pluck the strings too strongly for the built, it causes some buzzing. I have the same problem with my lower C on the left-hand side (I play a double-strung harp) and after troubleshooting, it’s the only plausible reason : I get way too enthusiastic!
Here’s another link from Rees Harp
Rees Harp – Buzz in your lever harp
Sometimes It Really Is You 🙁
One final note: occasionally, the problem is not the harp but the harper. A harp which is being overplayed will buzz like a hive of honeybees. Pedal harpists must have a firm technique in order to properly voice their large, heavy, gut-strung instruments. However, transferring this same touch to any more lightly strung harp is not appropriate and can often damage the lighter instrument. Harpists must adjust between instruments just as a violinist adjusts when changing to the viola or cello.Thank you all so much for your answers!
@ Biagio and Saul, good thinking about washing their hands and keeping wipes for that purpose. I didn’t think of that in particular, since my strings are nylon and can be changed inexpensively.
@ Gretchen, fun experience! It’s always lovely to see the enthusiasm in other people. But I’m guessing that this minister is an adult that you can trust to be careful around your harp.
It’s clear for everyone that you must still be standing by, though. Was there ever a case when somebody just wouldn’t let go of the harp? How did you -firmly but diplomatically – get them away from your instrument?
I suppose having a spare, cheaper harp would be the way to go, but I personally won’t invest in another harp use for this purpose. Even a cheap cardboard harp means spending a few hundred bucks to have the parts shipped.
Explaining all about the history, tuning etc does seem to be the way to go!
I’m assuming that you’ve already gone through the flowchart proposed by Dusty Strings?
Troubleshooting Buzzing Harp Strings – Dusty Strings
It helps to pinpoint the issue more accurately. Otherwise, a harp repair shop could help.
Piggybacking on my own answer here, since the forum is quiet during the holidays.
So I guessed that nothing would be better than try out my question out in the open. I took the harp to a family gathering with younger cousins : long hours and a lot of people, so I could play in the background and chat.
The kids are around 6 and 9 years old, the perfect age to be very interested in a new instrument and to be a bit careless. (Again, no adult seemed interested in playing). They had a blast glissandi-ing around, plucking wildly and trying out nursery tunes.
Funnily enough, their favourite thing about the harp was the levers, pushing them all up or down etc. Never though about that!After about a full hour of having them play, with me holding the harp, I could see that it could last a loooong time. So I tuned it to a pentatonic scale (so that they could play around without deafening everyone) and settled the eldest behind the harp. I padded the floor with a thick towel and sat a few steps aways.
Well, as was foreseeable, after a while she stood up, and… gave the harp a push. It clanckered to the ground, on the towel. Luckily, there was only a very small dent in the wood and no damage, but the harp was whisked away right then and there, at the request of the parents themselves.
In conclusion…
– Kids are able to play with the harp for literally hours
– Kids will be kids and harps will be damaged
– So if one agrees to have kids play with their harp, it must only be for a few minutes and there should be someone behind the harp at all times. I might have to come up with a short and sweet sentence to convey that to the parents…I would still love to hear your experiences!
Great to see that you’re getting where you want to be!
And happy to be of assistance 🙂 I’m not very far along too, and it’s very frustrating wanting to play something but being just not quite there. With patience though, we improve!
@Tacye : I, too, don’t really understand what you mean. What do you mean by “grace note” in this context?
@Biagio, I absolutely agree with you about the price of a harp. This is really an instrument where you get what you pay for!
However, I know quite a lot of people that just want to fool around with a cheap(er) instrument : I always advise the guitar… You can easily find a cheap second-hand guitar around $100 and don’t need to learn music theory if you want to strum 2-3 songs.
The harp, though, is far more magical… And worth every second of playing!Coming back a bit to the discussion to see a lot of interesting things!
Speaking of the lack of teachers, that’s just something one has to deal with. I personally found my harp teacher immensely useful when starting for a year and a half, and will start taking leçons again when I have the financial means.
However, when there simply are no harp teachers around, one must make do…————-
Concerning the need for etudes and such : it really comes down to a lot of things! Many people only want a relatively inexpensive instrument, that they can learn quickly since they don’t necessarily want to play at high level.
Others are looking at classical music and must have the best practicing habits right away, like people in professional sports league. And I believe you can’t go wrong by training that way.For me, the benefits of having a good hand position (as demonstrated by a good teacher) comes down to two things :
– The first : not hurting yourself. Repeating the same movement badly is a high risk for injury and one must do everything to prevent that (you only have two hands for the whole lifetime!)
– The second : like Carl said, being able to play what you want : fast pieces, slow pieces, technical pieces, loudly, softly… And learning bad habits can hinder that.————-
@ Stardust, I can’t vouch for theses books but there is quite a bit of help online if you want to practice without the means for a teacher.
Tiffany Shaeffer did a YouTube video listing free harp teaching resources. They don’t replace an actual teacher that places your hand and fingers correctly but still useful!
I also second Biagio : many teachers offer skype lessons. You can try one out, and see if that works for you!
———–
Coming back to your specific problem of the delay in the melody :
perhaps theses videos could help?Coordinating two hands while playing the harp – Harp Tuesday ep. 79
Dealing with tricky rhythms – Harp Tuesday eps. 37
Good luck!
Edit : do make sure that the video appearing corresponds to the name I put above → HarpColumn seems to have trouble showing the right video although the YouTube link is the correct one! Very strange
Hello Stardust,
I’m not a harp teacher, but I can try to share what I found worked for me.
(@ Carl-Swanson : not everyone nor every teacher uses etudes for training, especially when adults start and stay on the lever harp).First thing is to practice the same thing at the same time in both hands. (On double-strung : on the same octave, otherwise one octave apart).
Then decorrelate your hands : only play the right-hand part (chords) then left hand (melody).Then analyse by putting both hands together : what is your main difficulty?
– Is it that you fumble in your left hand, while the right hand is easy?
– Is it easy to play the left hand, but you can’t get the right hand to be smooth?
– Are you having trouble putting both together? (Like not knowing which note to play when)If you can self-diagnose the issue, I find that it makes it much, much easier to solve the problem.
For me, the problem wit this pattern is that the right hand, being stronger and more agile since I’m right-handed, will sound much louder than the left and thus overpower the melody, when it’s supposed to accompany it. It takes a bit of practice to make it smooth and soft, but it’s good training.
I found that some of Josh Laynes’ videos on finger placements and patterns helped me : perhaps it was the mere act of spending 30mn doing one or two notes/patterns that was enough to do the trick, maybe somethings “clicked” when he explained, I don’t know.Good luck anyway!
