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Misty, contact the editor-I think his name is Lovelace-because he surely keeps all back issues, and can answer your question. Each issue should have his contact information.
Fiona, you have had so much piano, you will not be truly satisfied with a harp without levers. It would be like only using the white keys of the piano. Also, if you contact United Kingdom Harpists Association, they can probably give you the name of your nearest harp teacher. If that teacher is still too far, he or she may have a student advanced enough on the harp to teach lessons, who is even nearer. Some people moved away from London into the countryside, after the tragic subway bombing.
Phoebe, those all sound like good ideas. Also, I understand that Heartland harps (made by Pamela Bruner’s husband) do not require leaning back, because of their “banana shape” of the whole sound chamber, based on the way Tyrolean harps have been made for decades. Also, look at two good beginner harp books, available from all harp music dealers:”
I agree completely, Carl. When finances or great distances limit an otherwise student passionate about harp from direct contact, this technology would be better than nothing. In the Australian outback, for example, there might be lurking a potential virtuoso player! We just cannot foretell who will develop, using this visual aid. To uncover those bright lights, who some day might astound us with their brilliance, not only in music, but perhaps in medicine, the great expense could be lessened somewhat by this new technology, later by scholarships when appropriate progress was made, to study with a live teacher. Let’s wait and see.
In the U.S., one can obtain certification from The Harp School in Burns, Tennessee, http://www.carolmcclure.com/harpschool.html. This is given by taking appropriate exams at various levels given by adjudicators who are either themselves trained by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, or judges traveling directly from Britain, as noted by Saul, above, to many countries around the world. Anyone can request syllabi containing lists of music choices for the various levels, for harp,
Brandon, go to http://www.youtube.com and put the name of Benjamin Creighton Griffiths into the search box.. You will see videos of him at 6 years of age playing New Blues, a jazz piece, or Cantina Band, from Star Wars, and La Source, an advanced classical piece, at 12 years old. Don’t wait any longer to find a teacher and learn harp; Benjamin is such an inspiration..
Diane, Por Una Cabeza, a tango composition composed by Carlos Gardel of Argentina, is published for violin and harp . Available from Vanderbilt Music of Bloomington, Indiana. It has great verve for both instruments
This excellent harpist and teacher lives in California but contact him either for names of teachers near you, or for his recordings, teaching DVDs and music books.www.alfredo–rolando–ortiz.com
Brandon, when you say you live in a city in northern Ontario, it certainly must be far from Toronto, where there are many harpists and teachers.When I look at Ontario in the atlas, I find it is huge!!
Gina, this new information came to me from Joyce Rice, chairperson of the non-profit educational site for harp players, http://www.harpspectrum.org:
Guess what?Brandon, go to http://www.youtube.com; type in Benjamin Creighton Griffiths. He’s 11 1/2 years old and in Wales. Hear especially his videos: New Blues, and La Source. You will find him a great inspiration to learn harp and practice a lot; he did.
Gregory, several posts on this forum are very helpful. If your phrase “tangible value” means for you, that after expense for a course you are later paid enough through employment, to gain back what you spent, and more, then that tangible value is about money. Many of us volunteer, without pay, to bring our music to cancer wards, children’s hospitals, retirement and assisted living facilities. Our reward is that some patients
Frances, those suggestions above sound very good. Here are two more: The young harp virtuoso Josh Layne rests his feet on top of the pedals until needed. I heard him a few weeks ago in concert. I didn’t notice whether his feet were smaller than usual, but he managed Smetana’s Moldau just beautifully!
Also, one more harp model you might look at is the Pilgrim Progress pedal harp. of 41 strings. There are a few U.S. dealers of this British harp, and there is a web site also. Let people know you are looking for that model, or a Lyon and Healy #12, and one just might become available. This site might be a good start; good luck!
Una, here is some more information on verbalizing pitches that may help learning music. With the Do Re Mi system, the Do can be any pitch, that is the tonal center of a piece (“movable Do”), To go up or down chromatically, here are all the syllables: Do, Di., Re, Ri, Mi, Fa, Fi, Sol, Si, La, Li, Ti Do.
