J P

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Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 62 total)
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  • in reply to: Chairs #102883
    J P
    Participant

    For the longest time I used an adjustable padded bench that was big and cumbersome and at times heavy, eventually I grew tired of it. Now I use a super lightweight stool that I spray painted black with a wooden flat top, sure it’s uncomfortable for long practice sessions but it takes up a lot less room and really makes me focus on my practice sessions so I can get off the stool!

    JP

    in reply to: Sicilienne op 78 by Faure for harp and cello #146699
    J P
    Participant

    Use the part for piano

    in reply to: Is college a requirement? #165832
    J P
    Participant

    The current economic situation is enough to make anyone second guess spending money on a degree period! While it is true that a music degree is not required for playing in a Symphony, the percentage of people holding chairs without a music degree is very small. Why not explore options for scholarships? Many orchestras now are screening resumes and only sending out invites so your resume may be tossed aside if there’s lack of experience or simply no music degree present. Getting a music degree is much more than a piece of paper. It’s the experience of performing with great students that will become your colleagues and taking classes that will enrich your understanding of music theory and history. Most importantly it’s performance experience, and depending on where you go the curriculum may very well mirror what the local symphony is playing. Depending on where you go may open doors for you in regards to being invited to auditions rather than sending in tapes for the prelims etc.

    Being a professional musician is much more than just being able to play your instrument and get all the notes it’s an all encompassing field that’s rich with theoretical and historical concepts that you should be able to speak intelligently about. If you want to be a true professional you owe it to yourself and to the field of music to learn as much as you can. Just my two cents.
    JP

    in reply to: Started playing harp at 19… can I go somewhere with it? #165926
    J P
    Participant

    Hey jer!
    Of course there are exceptions to every rule but I still firmly believe if you label yourself a professional musician and start accepting students etc that you should at the very least have *a* musical degree- not necessarily in harp but a music degree period. It’s not just a piece of paper although some will argue to a point of fervor that it’s not needed but it’s more than that, it’s the experience and the all encompassing knowledge you receive for theory, and music history. That way you truly are a music professional, you are well rounded and versed in all things musical. Someone that simply takes lessons and achieves a high level of technicality can indeed give lessons and probably do ok but there’s so much more to teaching harp or any instrument for that matter than notes and technique. It’s history and theory and everything else that goes with it, musicianship, arranging the list goes on!

    -Do you need a degree to play for your own enjoyment? of course not!
    -Do you need a degree to play in a Symphony? of course not, but the list of people playing in a professional Symphony not majoring in music is low, they are the exception not the rule.
    -Do you need a degree to play for weddings/other gigs? Of course not but at the very least study with a well respected harpist for at least 4 years and charge what the professional charge.
    -Do you need a degree to teach harp privately? Of course not, but if you do not have a degree in music you are doing a big disservice to yourself and any students you accept.
    -Do you need a degree to teach harp at the University level? Multiple

    Just my two cents. Getting ready for winter Jer?

    James

    in reply to: Started playing harp at 19… can I go somewhere with it? #165924
    J P
    Participant

    I think what you want to do with the harp dictates what path you choose. I’m sorry but I completely disagree with the person that said most harp players don’t major in it- the harp by nature is a very specialized instrument and as such always always always has a slew of degreed professionals. It is silly to switch so late in the game to a different field but there’s nothing stopping you from finding a teacher and beginning lessons etc to improve upon your playing. There’s also nothing wrong with having a day job and taking the occasional gig as long as you don’t undercut the area professionals 🙂 If you decide you want to teach harp, then at that point I would strongly consider getting a BM in music. The breadth of knowledge that you receive from a BM is crucial if you decide to teach. Just my two cents. Enjoy the harp!!

    JP

    in reply to: Salvi’s new concept soundboard #70519
    J P
    Participant

    To the personal that wanted more info regarding strings: experimentation with different brands to see what gives you the best sound that you like. Bow brand, nylon, pirastro, tarnish resistant, silver/cooper, vaderbilt classics if you can still find them. My own personal stringing preferences include: silver/copper wires, vanderbilt gut in octaves 345, and pirastro nylon in 012 octaves. I love my configuration and feels it gives my harp a bea.utiful sheen on rop

    in reply to: Salvi’s new concept soundboard #70513
    J P
    Participant

    Honestly it all boils down to personal preference. I’ve played on duds from all companies, Lyon and Healy is not exempt from this. I suggest you try as many as you possibly can before drawing conclusions and judgements. I personally was never impressed with Salvis up until now. The new soundboard design has dramatically improved the sound. I’m all for people making their own educated opinions and not simply regurgitating their teacher’s own personal bias and agendas. I was fed that BS for years and it has taken at least two years to shake off that there’s a certain way to play a certain harp to play and if you deviate then you’re somehow less of a person or harpist. It’s all a matter of personal taste and what concept of sound you want to achieve and embody. BTW, there are professionals with tenure positions that play Salvis, Patty in the DSO immediately comes to mind.

    in reply to: Salvi’s new concept soundboard #70506
    J P
    Participant

    I visited the Salvi showroom the other day and tried out all of the harps that were available. The Iris in Natural was quite impressive btw. The new soundboard design makes a world of difference. Up until yesterday my only experience with Salvi was very old auroras or dianas which were very heavy and just did not sound all that great. The new harps however are vastly improved. For one thing for the majority of the harps the weight issue is gone and no longer feels heavy on the shoulder which I found very surprising. The new soundboard really opens up the harp and makes it sing and adds such depth to it which is really quite nice. It still has the typical Salvi warm rich sound however and none of the overzealous bright tones of a LH. You can also experiment with different strings to see what gives you the best sound, what the factory puts on isn’t necessarily what’s best for your individual sound preference etc. I was impressed with the new boards and would consider purchasing a Salvi. Just my two cents

    JP

    in reply to: Harp learning with Straight versus Extended soundboard #146975
    J P
    Participant

    Why hasn’t anyone here chimed in with the Lyon and Healy bounty program?? This is exactly what it is used for. My suggestion, forget the clio and go with the 85GP…in 5 years time you can trade it in towards a concert grand and the full purchase price you paid for the GP at that time will be applied to a larger concert grand. The bounty program takes the hassle out of selling the harp yourself and losing your shirt on it.

    JP

    J P
    Participant

    If you plan on majoring in harp the school you’re attending should have a pedal harp available for you to take lessons and practice on- if not find another school. Someone mentioned finding a pedal harp rental that’s just as good, Carl Swanson rents lovely harps at reasonable prices. Aside from that there’s really nothing else to do aside from trying to finance a pedal harp from Allegro Financing which carries extremely high rates at least 13% so by the time you’ve paid it off you could’ve bought two harps for the price that you paid for one!

    The truth is a lot of harp majors in college don’t own their own pedal harp until they’ve graduated or get to their senior year. I’m afraid you’re not alone when it comes to finding a way to obtaining a pedal harp. One final thought, if you do purchase a harp I would look into getting a harp from Lyon and Healy that’s part of their bounty program so that you can trade it in within 5 years towards a larger pedal harp. Just my .02

    JP

    in reply to: Harp/Instrument Purchase Scholarships? #105399
    J P
    Participant

    I’m confused slightly. Are you planning on majoring in harp or are you majoring in something else and playing harp on the side in addition to your studies? I gather from your posts that it’s the latter.

    If you’re not majoring in harp and the school you’re going to does not have a harp department they should not be expected to purchase a pedal harp for you to use- it’s expensive for them too. Even harp majors go through their program without actually owning an instrument until the very end. You do have options however until you own.

    Renting: Any harp retailer most likely rents harps at an affordable price. My personal favorite that I used until I purchased my harps however was Carl Swanson. He has fantastic harps at great prices, give him a call before schools resume in fall, he gets booked solid by then. Another option would be to contact elderly harpists in the area that may own a harp but don’t play on it regularly and offer to rent it from them. Or better yet if they’re trying to sell a harp offer to rent it from them until they find a buyer.

    Every pedal harpist that does not live off of a silver spoon faces the situation of how to fund the purchase of their first pedal harp, so you’re not alone I assure you.

    My advice, find a rental and start saving now. By the time you’re done with your degree you should have enough money in the bank to even purchase an 85GP which you can then trade in 5 years time with their bounty program towards something larger.

    JP

    in reply to: pedal marks and horizontal placement #147647
    J P
    Participant

    I would prefer to see nothing at all.

    in reply to: The Career of a Professional Harpist #144825
    J P
    Participant

    It takes a tremendous amount of dedication and self discipline to become a professional harpist. Everyone’s route is different that they take, but I know a handful of harpists that make a comfortable living playing in regional orchestras and teaching at the university level in addition to private teaching, it can be done. Nothing is set in stone though until you get tenure.

    Having said that, it takes a lot of work to get to that point. Yes there are hardly any orchestral openings, so when a position opens up you may get over 100 applicants but remember- people drop out, people can’t make it, people change their mind etc so that applicant pool of 100+ suddenly becomes 60 or 70. Learn the excerpts long before you need them and polish the standard rep to a tee. If you’re not taking lessons already find the best teacher you possibly can and begin studying. Age is another factor..most people that start in their late teens seem to do ok but anything later than that- late 20s you better work harder than the rest of everyone else that started at age 8.

    Last final word of thought: make sure it’s your dream you’re chasing and not someone else’s.

    JP

    in reply to: What would you do if anything? Priceing? #147741
    J P
    Participant

    The silver lining…be thankful she’s only doing it for $195 and not $75!

    Brides etc have always price shopped and unfortunately due to the economy they seem to be driven even more by the bottom line. The problem with hiring simply by dollar signs is the average joe usually can’t tell the difference between a so-so harpist and a great one. When customers contact me regarding my services I always am sure to list my qualifications etc and encourage them to compare my prices to other harpist with the SAME qualifications. apples to apples not apples to oranges.

    I find that if I can get the client to agree to meet me asap then I have a better chance of having them sign a contract then and there. You really have to be your best salesperson there’s no other way around it. You could give a laundry list of things as to why your price is what it is but at the end of the day sometimes when I just don’t care my response to “your fee is higher by $50” I simply reply…Good work isn’t cheap and cheap work isn’t good.

    I wouldn’t flex on your prices, stand firm because what happens when word gets around that susie trillalot will do a wedding for $150…do you really want to be know as the “blue light special” harpist? A cheap reputation is hard to shake. Keep your chin up, sell yourself and your qualities that make you stand apart and people will come around.

    JP

    in reply to: getting more reliable students #83399
    J P
    Participant

    I agree with the other poster about requiring payment in full for the month.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 62 total)