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Really, a suit is too small through the shoulder if you can’t lift your arms comfortably to play. Go up a size and then have it tailored in to fit. When I performed harp publicly I had no problems in a suit/tux and I regularly perform on flute. Flute has a MUCH more awkward position for the left arm and I still have no issues of tightness or binding. It’s all in the fit of the jacket.
My favorite thing to perform in during dressy/casual gigs is khaki dress pants, red turtleneck and a brown blazer. Its dressy but comfy, casual but sleek. This look however I don’t think works for people without a narrow/thin profile. I once saw something similar involving an orange turtleneck but they came out looking like a giant pumpkin.
In the end, clothing is all about proportion and fit. If you’re really skinny, avoid baggy clothing and large apparel. It just makes you look skeletal and shrimpy. If you’re bigger, don’t go too tight, or wear things that are too small (like skinny ties and small wrist watches). It just increases the perception of body size. If you’re small, wear tailored, tapered clothing. If you’re bigger, wear clothing that floats out from the body.
Actually… just go watch What Not to Wear. Great advice on that show regardless of gender. Haha!
I recently made a very similar move (KY to TX) except that we drove the truck ourselves. What I did is that I put it in its case (soft case), then built a crate for it (wood frame and walls). I took off the tension from the strings (gradually) the week before moving. I put the harp in the crate, then filled the crate with foam, blankets and pillows. I nailed it shut and then surrounded the harp in the truck with very large but steady pieces of furniture that were strapped to the truck. When we got to TX the harp had to stay in the truck for 3 days. Once we got to it in the truck, one of the slats had caved in but it had so much padding that the harp was unscathed. I then let my harp sit in the apartment for a week before gradually bringing it up to pitch.
I hope this gives you some ideas! The harp I moved was a 38 string LH prelude.
When I used to play wedding gigs on my lever harp I arranged my music as prelude, ceremony, postlude, extra background music. I had the ceremony music in the order specified by the bride. The other music was organized by key signature to minimize the amount of time I spent flipping levers. When it came to dividing my music into halves I generally put more reverent music in prelude and more upbeat music for after the ceremony.
For other things I would just have it by key signature and I try to have a variety of music in the mix. But I don’t really play harp publicly anymore for a number of reasons (making my living as a flutist once again is more than full time work, and I prefer to refer requests to other more qualified harpists in the area who rely on gigging for their income whereas harping is just a passion of mine).
I stopped playing weddings a couple of years ago because I got sick and tired of wedding planners. The last wedding I played I was at the rehearsal and literally the Father of the Bride, Minister, and Planner were in a big argument at the altar. I had spoken with the bride right before the rehearsal and she confirmed my play list earlier.
I walked over there and amidst the yelling I had to simply shut down the ‘my horse is bigger than yours’ contest. I just said that I was hired by the Bride and I’ve had a list of repertoire for over a month. I’m ultimately the person who keeps the show going until the officiant takes over and I can handle most problems very smoothly. This is how it’s going to go or I pack up, return your money, and leave.
That settled that.
As for auditions for gigs, I don’t do it unless it’s for symphony work. I make my living as a musician and if providing my resume, demo CD, and network contacts aren’t good enough, then I’m not interested. The only exceptions to that are if I’m arranging something special I’ll send recordings ahead of time or will make last minute changes in rehearsal. I know it seems harsh this way, but if I ran around auditioning for every little gig I would eat up all of my income in gas/transportation or I would sacrifice students lessons.
About a year ago I was at L&H west and tried out the 85s and Chicago extended and to be honest, I was a bit disappointed in the Chicago model. The sound was very stiff and lacked resonance compared to the 85. (Maybe resonance isn’t the word, but tone color… I’m not sure how to describe it, but to me it seemed ‘off.’)
But that being said, they were both brand new and hadn’t been played in. I’m sure with the right touch and a break in period, both would be lovely.
I remember when getting my music degree that my Theory professor brought in a study for all of us to look at. I don’t remember who it was from or where it was from, but it was basically the top 5 things that post-graduates wished they had changed about their musical education.
The top answer was: more music theory instruction, and the second was: more music history instruction. I don’t particularly remember the rest of it, but what really struck me were those two things. It was because of this study that I really beefed up on those areas and doing so has served me well as a professional.
I agree. I may be in my early twenties still but I’m always thinking forward. This economy has been really rough and it’s been almost impossible to carve out a living as an emerging adult (and musician no less). In a year I’ve over quadrupled my income (from minimum wage part time retail to full time salaried position with a music company while gigging on the side). I don’t expect any favors, nor do I expect any retirement funding other than what I can save up myself.
My wife and I live very modestly so that we will be able to retire with dignity. Sure we indulge in music goodies (both of us being musicians), but we are also knocking out our student loans and credit card debt (a bad decision) as fast as possible.
If you are unfortunately receiving a severance I would strongly recommend investing it in something that will bring you happiness and sustenance long term. Maybe set aside money as an emergency fund and clear out some debts along the way. I’m not saying to formally ‘invest’ but rather… harp lessons with the intent of gigging in the next 2-3 years sounds like a great idea to me.
All that has been said is good and true, but ultimately I feel that musicianship is something that can’t be taught. You either have the creative spark or you don’t, but a spark is all that it takes. With nurturing that spark can easily turn into a wildfire. A musician is different than a harpist in my opinion.
I was once playing a masterclass (I’m a flutist primarily), and the guest artist said that ‘some people play the flute, and some people play music. You play music.’ Technique and skill in my opinion are the foundations of quality music, but true music, true musicianship is the ability to connect to an audience. It’s the ability and willingness to dig deep within, pour it all into your product and share it with everyone without caring what others think of it. A true musician doesn’t play an instrument. They play music. Music is not what is on paper because what is on paper is nothing more than blobs of ink that sketch out a map or an idea. Music is what we make and share with others. A performer that recognizes that is a musician.
Furthermore I feel that musicianship is marked by a certain amount of independence and rebellion. True musicianship respects the composer but also invests the performer in the performance in an integral and unique way that changes the piece. Some of these things are done consciously and others are not. This is one of the things that I feel separate soloists from orchestral players. Orchestral players follow the leader whereas soloists do whatever they please. I’m not trying to portray anyone negatively in that light by any means but rather that it takes a different mindset and that those who show more musicianship generally stand out more.
We are moving from Kentucky (it’s always rather humid here) and we’re moving to Dallas Texas specifically.
We’re driving in May, but we won’t be able to bring the harp and piano with us this time around. We’re going to have to move them separately. We’ll barely make the move in May as it is. But once I’m settled in my new job there it won’t be a problem to get them moved shortly thereafter. I’m just thinking about doing it in late september/early october because that will be before it gets too cold in Kentucky and the heat will have backed off in Texas a bit.
I put it away and for the past 6 months it has sat on its shelf in my bookcase of music. My harp has been silent too. Music just became… too much.
But the flute has made its way out in the past week or two and my harp is getting its voice back as I bring it back up to tension.
At the moment I play for my enjoyment only. But… I already have some competition literature on my music stand. This time however, it will be for fun and not for professional attainment. My career goals have shifted. I don’t want to be a full time performer ever again. A recital here and there and a gig on the weekends is all I want (and a day job that is related to the Arts).
That doesn’t sound terribly far from what I did except flute is my main instrument. I went from struggling through easy-mid level pieces to playing incredibly difficult repertoire and winning spots and scholarships in nationally/internationally competitive summer programs and competitions in 2 years.
That being said however… I burned out two years later. I have pursued other career interests since then, but I find myself now wanting to be in music again but in a different way: as a teacher and as an instrument maker/repairman. I love to perform but I can’t take the pressure any longer.
Harp has always been and will always be my escape. 🙂
Thanks. I’m definitely struggling with the whole ‘identity’ thing. When I ask myself ‘Who am I?’ I always answer ‘ A flutist.’ It’s hard. It’s really hard when people I know joke about how I’m a quitter or when I start to think that I couldn’t make it even if I tried. Those things just aren’t true. I know I could make it if I wanted to, but I’m choosing not to carve out a little niche for myself that will barely pay the bills. I just feel that a dream becomes a nightmare when the pressure pushes you into calculating how many milligrams of beta blockers you need every two hours to stay on your toes at a weekend long audition process and makes you so upset that you can’t eat. It’s not worth it. I’ve seen this sort of behavior in myself and in other people. It’s madness to me.
I’m spending time thinking about what I enjoy and what I’m good at, then looking at the jobs in fields related to those things. These things range from being a flute maker to a web designer, to an elementary school teacher (LOVE kids!) or a lawyer. Who knows? But in the mean time it’s hard.
Thank you for sharing your story. I know that I’ll find my calling in life. I just need the time to step back from everything and rediscover my self worth.
I will chime in though my thoughts and opinions are not that of a pro harpist but rather as a flutist who was going to go the ‘pro’ route but floundered just at the end of my degree in music performance.
I just graduated with a degree in flute performance (I harp as a stress reliever and as an occasional source of income). As I stood on the brink of entering music as a full time professional I realized that the single minded dedication stripped me of everything else that made me happy. In fact, it brought me to dark emotional places. Places of fear, hunger and loneliness. So I left. I haven’t regularly practiced in months.
In many ways I am much happier. In others I’m unhappier. Now that I am no longer a student that is dependent on my family I work 60 hours a week as a chef at a restaurant and as a copy and print specialist at my local office supply store (I love cooking and graphic design). It’s hard work, and it doesn’t pay well. I enjoy each job individually, but I don’t see myself doing this kind of routine for much longer. To top it off I’m getting married in less than a month. So I’ll admit it… I’m floundering.
I have spent a huge part of my life preparing for a career in music and now that I have changed course I don’t know what to do with myself. I’m very moody and it’s largely because I’ve never been without a plan in life. I know I will get on my feet however. It’s just a matter of time to do some soul searching. Every day I have regrets for leaving music but then I think about how it made me feel when I was still on that path. So… who knows where I’ll end up?
I know that this was just a bunch of word vomit, but I just wanted to share because this type of situation is certainly possible. What if she goes through with a career in music, then flounders before she lands a job? What if she realizes that she has missed out on so many wonderful things because she was so focused? Please don’t think that I’m trying to imply that you should worry about or perhaps impress these things upon her but rather that this is a concern that should be taken into consideration in my opinion. It’s just a bit of food for thought.
For the first time in my ENTIRE life… my music stand is empty. It has been empty for a few weeks actually…
After taking a really hard look at my priorities and the music industry as a whole, I decided to leave the music profession as a full-time pursuit. Why struggle and deny myself things that make me happy to pursue music full time when I can make money at the other things I enjoy more easily and still be a musician on a smaller scale? I don’t see why that’s a bad thing.
So I’m taking a break. I have a job doing what I like to do. I decided that if I wasn’t going to be a full time pro, that I would like to be a chef. Somehow I skipped culinary school and got a job as a chef at a restaurant that just opened. Sure… I’m at the bottom of the food chain there and I do dishes during the peak times, but 5/8 hours a day I’m at the chopping board or kneading bread, or something else. And I see advancement opportunities presenting themselves in the next 6 months because some people are only temporary (hired because they were family), so I’m happy where I am.
So at the moment… my music stand is empty. My flute sits in its case and my harp is in the corner sitting quietly. I’m starting to feel that yearning to play, but I’m enjoying my break for a moment. It’s nice to have the ability to say NO to a gig. I like it. 🙂
