Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Eric, Joyce Rice, chairperson of http://www.harpspectrum.org,
Andie, It’s true that a school district usually will not purchase a harp. In my large city with many high schools, and middle schools, other ways were found to purchase big ticket items: band uniforms, harps, tympani, etc. The PTA or student bands or orchestras held benefit concerts (solo or group), spaghetti
Brandee, Could it be that you are not getting actual nail sounds from your nails, but rather a poor string sound from a hand position? First, check that all your nails are trimmed below the ends of the fingers and thumbs, except perhaps right index finger where you may occasionally need to produce the nail sound. Then, once your nails are not the problem, think how you could get more of the finger around the strings when you pluck them. The direction
C Fleck, here are just a few ideas; 1.Number every 5th measure, if they aren’t numbered already. 2.Do a quick analysis of the form and mark those sections with alphabet letters(ABBA, ABACADA, etc. 3.Play the new piece through, slower than concert speed, just twice, and put lightly pencilled parentheses around places you believe will need drilling in order to get a smooth flow. At this point, put any additional markings on the pages that your eye will need to commit to memory along with the note symbol. I use red pencil for pedal markings. 4.Put metronome on, slower than concert speed, and teach the left hand its own journey, through the whole composition, until it goes smoothly in time. 5. Do the same with the right hand only. 6. Starting one beat before the last 4 measures, put the hands together and try to make your piece end very well, just as the composer intended. When you feel you’ve mastered that section, do the same for the first four measures plus the next beat. Continue in sections like this (divide and conquer!)until you have a good knowledge, vertically and horizontally of what is on the pages. Then you own it and can play it hopefully now from memory, directly from the brain rather than by way of the page, adding appropriate styling and depth of feeling.
Louise, in the 1970’s there were far too many violinists, flutists, and pianists applying for admission and scholarships to my alma mater, and few harpists. The head of the admissions and scholarship committee asked me (a volunteer helping each Spring with auditions in my west coast city) to telephone him collect, if I knew of a high school junior or senior competent harpist interested in applying, as some scholarships for that instrument were unused. The school? Eastman, in upstate New York.
Bethany, Until recently all previous harp students were learning only from printed music, or in some cases, by direct teacher demonstration in the first months. Now that there is video, much more can be learned between lessons on the student’s own time. This means the same student might learn more, and sooner, assuming that he or she does watch the video several times before the next weekly lesson. The late Phyllis Schlomovitz, a harp virtuoso, was asked by the Salvi Harp Company to make Video 1 and Video 2, to go with her excellent Volumes 1 and 2, Beginning Harp Book. Phyllis’ daughter, herself a fine harpist, appears in the video and demonstrates the pieces in the books, which are suitable for an eight-year-old who can progress from titles like Blind Mice Song, through theory explanations and short exercises, to some repertoire by Bach, Sibelius, and others at the end of Volume 2. Surely a teacher gives additional material to the student, according to individual progress and need, but I have found that the inspiration of the video presentation, when used correctly along with the printed music, is a definite plus. Especially for the harp, where live harp recitals to attend come rarely, and where a student is often the only one in neighborhood or school that chose the harp, the video presentation
Sarah-Helen, Rebecca Harris in Auckland is a professional harpist who gives lessons, in the Epsom area. If you cannot find her, e-mail me for her address and phone. Also Carolyn Mills in Island Bay, Wellington. The skilled maker of pedal and lever harps in Whangarei, Mr. Kim Webby, would surely have names of all harp players in New Zealand to share with you. His beautiful harps are sought after by virtuosi on the harp from many countries.
Carlos, i have no answer but just a name. Contact Jonathan Cascante in San Jose, Costa Rica who has also been trying to obtain a harp- he is an accomplished harpist and composer. It would seem that if all of you share ideas some good result might come.
Anita, You can e-mail: music@trinitycollege.co.uk for “Strings syllabus including Guitar and Harps.” This has lists of what is required at Trinity College, London, for a non-pedal harpist to pass from Grade 1 to 8, and then the Performer’s Certificate. A new Syllabus was available January 2004. At the Performer’s Certificate level you would find literature such as the Toccata by Paradisi (arr. Perrett); Handel’s Air and Variations (ed. Bouchaud);Nocturne by Snell;Telnn by Houdy (pub. Salvi);Bergamasca by Sweelinck (ed. Bouchaud) and so on.In the previous Grade 8 are listed Handel’s Concerto Op.4 No.6 (pub. Salvi);Pajaro Campana by Ortiz; Vibrations by Keller (pub. Billaudot);Several Scarlatti Sonatas (ed. Bouchaud) and so on. I hope this helps!
Jessica, you could consider a Pilgrim 41-string Progress pedal harp, for harp players your size. New ones are 9900. British pounds, but there are used ones listed on the site also, for 5000 British pounds.
They have a few dealers in North America; ask them where, if you live in the U.S.Stephanie, regarding your question about different grades for the harp: England and Australia, and perhaps other countries also, have put out printed booklets for many years, with lists of requirements for the different “levels” a student might achieve in studying the harp. Some countries, and some teachers, do not bother; so you may not need to go from level to level if you have a wise teacher who has the experience to do without printed lists. Syllabi, or lists of appropriate works to be used at a certain level, are usually in about 9 levels in the countries I mentioned. The Ninth level has the most difficulet harp repertoire, and after a harp student has reached that level they are given a certificate to teach. In the U.S. an attempt has been made recently to organize harp studies into 6 levels. I have syllabi from each of these three countries and they were helpful when I began teaching many years ago. The U.S. list is published by Tichenor Publishing, Division of T.I.S.Inc., P.O. Box 669, Bloomington, Indiana, 47402-0669.It iis called “String Syllabus for Harp and Guitar.” There was a charge of about $30. U.S. and I personally felt this list compared with others, was not so carefully organized. The London College of Music holds recognised examinations throughout the UK and overseas, in 250 locations up to eight grade levels in harp, and three levels of professional Diploma in performing and teaching.Information: London College of Music, Thames Valley University, St Mary’s Road, London W5 5RF, England. An excellent syllabus for guitar and harps, bound together in one volume, is from: Trinity College, 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP United Kingdom. Their website is http://www.trinitycollege.co.uk.A free 50-page book by Danielle Perrett, “Technical Development for Harpists”, is available from that website, and it is well worth having. The
In May 1977 a Salvi Angelica 46 Empire pedal harp in mahogany was listed at $4000. when Salvi had an outlet in Santa Monica, California.
Groups of short words also work: For sevens, try Jack and Jill went up a hill, or Lift up your heads O ye gates; for sixes: My cup runneth over or Jonathan Appleseed; for fives; Ave Maria, rain in the city, gratia plena,Philadelphia- rhythmic phrases abound in poetry and you could be influencing your spiritual side whilst playing, if you wish.
About twelve years ago my husband and I were shown around the factory by Max Horngacher. Everything was orderly and you realized German thoroughness in detail was going on. Then we came to the room where several finished models were on display, that customers could try. The tone was beautiful on each, as well as the workmanship. What impressed me most was that the walls of the room were covered with glossy photographs of prominent solo harpists and orchestra harpists, each with his/her Horngacher, and a few words of praise for the instrument written beside their signatures. I feel you would not make a mistake in choosing a Horngacher but of course like any harp it will need service from time to time. Inquire if there is someone trained in this, in Israel. Best wishes, Julia.
For about the price of one lesson, you can join the American Harp Society which will then send you, among other benefits, an 82-page DIRECTORY of harp teachers, performers, and students in the U.S and foreign countries who are also members. California has many (8 pages, closely typed, with a T identifying teachers)members listed; and those who joined did so because the harp is important to them, not a passing whim. If I wanted to find a teacher in Sacramento, I would not want to be taught by someone NOT in the AHS directory, would you?
