[phoebe-powell]

Do you think that it would have been easier to play fast pieces because the strings were at a lower tension?
I remember my Mum telling me that in the Baroque era the pitch was lower, and that it was a lot easier for singers and wind players to do high notes. She also said that wind players were less likely to die from an exploding blood vessel in the brain as well! I wonder why the pitch got higher?

[phoebe-powell]

I would say Grandjany. My harp teacher has some LP’s, that were her Mum’s (who studied with Grandjany and so did my harp teacher), of Grandjany and Salzedo and many others. We’ll often be going through a piece and when it’s not working we go to the LP player and find the song, and then listen to it. I find it really helpful for me to listen to the piece and that will help me find the meaning of the piece. The recordings are in really good shape and sound is so fantastic. I love how clear Grandjany’s playing is.
I do have one question, and that is, did people tune their harps at a lower pitch back in Salzedo and Grandjany’s day? Cause when I hear Grandjany play Le Bon Petite Roi d’Yvetot, it sounded as if the strings were a lot lower pitched, cause when I go back to play it it sounds as if it’s in a different key. The sound

[phoebe-powell]

Wow! Congratulations! I would love to play it some day. Maybe you can come to Calgary and perform it 😉 Do you or are you going to have a recording of it yet?

[phoebe-powell]

My harp tends to lean at a very odd angle, but I was just practising and I tried moving closer to the harp and it works a lot better that way. It’s still rests a bit on the shoulder, and I always have held with my knees. With my Celtic harp I don’t get back pains as much, but I get more back pains with my pedal harp. After reading an article by Laurie Riley, which I got from Karen Johns, I figured out what the problem was…my right shoulder tends to come up when I play! The Laurie Riley article helped a lot and I’ve found out a lot of problems I’ve had with my back, and now even after 2 days, it seems to be getting a little better even though a bad habit is very hard to break!

Phoebe

[phoebe-powell]

Thanks Susan!

I just taught her on Friday and was working a lot on hand position. She tends to twist her wrists sideways when she takes her hand away, and her fingers are rather double jointed which makes it a little hard for her to pluck the strings! I think her back problem is going to be solved though, because I just got my little lap harp back from my conductor. It’s very light and so I think her back is not going to be a problem anymore. I’ve attached a picture of my big Celtic harp (well just copy and paste it onto another tab and the image should show up) It is very harp do grip it with your legs because it tends to slip of the stool but I’m getting a little pad to put on the stool which will grip on to to wood and then help it not to slide, which is my biggest fear….

Improvisation is something that I actually didn’t really think about. I think it’s a great idea though!

I was thinking that it would be good for her arthritis…

Thanks again! I’m having so much fun planning out her lessons 🙂

Blessings,

Phoebe

file:///Users/phoebe/Desktop/DSCF5851.JPG

[phoebe-powell]

Thank you Briggsie!

I forgot to mention as well that I do have the Fun from the first by Samuel Milligan, but the other books sound great as well!

Phoebe

[phoebe-powell]

This is great! I looked at the Heartland harps and they definitely look just the thing for my student. I’m going to look further into it for her.
All these books sound sooooooo wonderful!! I have a huge list of them now 🙂 But this is perfect and is definitely going to help start off teaching!

Thanks so much again!

Phoebe

[phoebe-powell]

Thanks Hannah!

I agree with everything you say 🙂 I will definitely keep all of you posted on how she goes.

All of you are so great!

Where can you get the harp column magazine?

Thanks again Hannah 🙂

Blessings,

Phoebe

[phoebe-powell]

Thanks so much Tacye!
I will definitely try and get some of that. I certainly didn’t want any stick on foam what would ruin the varnish and wood.
Thanks again!

Phoebe

[phoebe-powell]

Thanks so much Karen!

I thought I should start with hand position. I just wasn’t to sure, but I’m glad that you’ve confirmed it 🙂

I will look into ordering the books for her as well. I have a lot of Deborah Friou books and love some of her arrangements.

The harp is half resting on her shoulder and with her left knee. It’s a 32 string Celtic harp and I had it commissioned (side trim is made out of African Lace Wood, trim is Blood wood and the pillar and neck are made out of Curly Maple. Beautiful instrument) for my by a man in Cremona, Canada. It sits on a stool and it is hard to try and get at a good angle.

[phoebe-powell]

Great tip Elizabeth!
My teacher always said never to practise until you arm fall off, and if you’re starting to feel sore then take a break for 30 minutes and come back to it.

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