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Sally, I had to pass a sight reading test with the National Piano Auditions, when I was playing the piano. I struggled with sight reading (I prefer to practice a lot, or play by ear) so my teacher emphasized the need to practice sight reading frequently. It’s a very useful skill to have, the further you advance in your music!
Something I learned was the importance of understanding what you’re actually looking for as you sight read. When I took my test, I was given a minute to look over the music…very helpful! If you are well-versed in your scales, chords and inversions, arpeggios, finger placing, etc., then your fingers should naturally fall into correct position, and it should be easier to jump around while following the music.
Always keep in mind the key signature and timing. Try to look at the notes on the page, less as individual notes, and more as patterns and combinations. I just wrote a blog post on this very thing as I’m in the process of learning some new songs and found, to my dismay, that I wasn’t as quick at sight reading, as when I actually just practiced sight reading alone- use it or lose it, I guess. For the in-depth post and tips: http://www.bridalharp.com/blog/7-news/56-how-to-sight-read-part-ii
Hope this helps you! Keep up the practicing, you will get better; trust me!
Right now, my brides are asking for a lot of classical. There are a few pop songs that, in my location, are standard. I’ve also had a bride who has asked for hymns, since its a church wedding. I guess my top ten staples would be:
1.Canon in D
2.Wedding March
3.The Four Seasons by Vivaldi
4.Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana
5.Watchet Auf
6.Arioso by Bach
7.Prince of Denmark’s March
8.Hornpipe from Water Music
9.Traumerei
10.Etude in E Major by ChopinFor a younger bride, she might be looking for more pop. In that case, you could always try:
1.You Raise Me Up by Groban
2.The Prayer by Dion
3.Forever in Love and The Wedding Song by Kenny G
4.I Will Be Here by Chapman
5.You’ll Be in My Heart (from Tarzan!)
6. Ashokan Farewell by Ungar
7.All I Ask of You and Think of Me by WebberFind out what kind of wedding you’re dealing with. Is it a church wedding? If so, you are looking at the traditional classical, plus hymns…which might equate to contemporary praise songs to younger brides. If it’s an outdoor wedding, you have a little more wiggle room. The “outdoor” bride is probably going to ask for something different anyway, so pop/classical/country/contemporary praise songs may be more what she’s looking for.
Try going to TheKnot.com’s music list…you’d be surprised at the variety of music they recommend. Just remember, she might want you to learn a new song. Don’t promise miracles, but tell her you’d be glad to look at it, and if it would sound good on the harp, you’d be glad to play it.
Kay, I don’t use that program, but I have been experimenting with recording at home. My living room is virtually soundproof, and I use a program called Cubase Studio 4 (it’s a slightly older version). Basically, Cubase is an “audio workstation” for recording, editing, mixing and producing music. I have just started recording, but I plug my Fishman transducer into the harp, plug a cable into the amp to connect it to the computer, then wire the cable into an instrument jack. Then I can record directly into my computer program. I actually just made my first little CD with 10 tracks recently…took me five and a half hours.
Stephen is right, there are some dragons to slay. It comes in the form of learning the ins and outs to recording. As a warning to those interested, Cubase has a very high learning curve for those who are new to recording. It is also quite expensive, but once one masters it, the possibilities are endless.
Recording at home is a debatable subject, but quite frankly, you are going to spend potentially just as much money to go to the studio, record, then pay for mastering, CD’s burned, CD and case artwork and inserts, plus distribution. Will you get a good result? Yes, obviously depending on the studio. But its very satisfying, not to mention manageable, to record in your own home. Plus, it is possible to find good equipment for less money. You just have to shop around!
Thanks for the reminder! I’ve never had the blessing of actually playing on a cross-strung, but I have played on both lever and pedal. Currently I own a Lyon & Healy Troubadour VI and I really enjoy it.
Jennifer, I was asking as a harpist. I was classically trained in piano from a very thorough, eighty-year-old teacher who taught and played “the masters” (Bach, Liszt, Chopin, etc).
Due to my training, I wanted to play classical when I started playing the harp, but I couldn’t afford a pedal harp. However, I am very grateful for the opportunity to play the harp I’ve been blessed with, and I have branched out; though I’m limited, obviously, on the classical I can play, I still play some. I’ve actually been able to play some of my favorite, albeit difficult, classical pieces and improvised just enough to make them manageable on the harp.
Would I choose to have a pedal harp over my lever? Some times I think it would be nice, but usually I think not. Yes, it would be lovely to be able to play classical as it’s written on the page, but, I’m not playing for an orchestra, so I am thankful for the harp I have. After all, not everyone has the blessing of playing a harp!
Thanks to everyone who offered their two cents; it’s been interesting to “hear” everyone’s thoughts!
Rachel
You want a name that captures your business services in just a few words, and is unique (not islandharping, because that’s too close to the names of your “competition”). I don’t have any brilliant ideas as of yet, but I will let you know if I do!
Congratulations! It’s always exciting when you have the opportunity to share your love of music with others. Like you, I didn’t get paid on my first gig. Actually, my first dozen gigs. As you start gaining experience, while playing for other people, you might try donating your time to community events. Living in a small town myself, I’ve found that to be a great way to gain exposure to my business (I play for weddings/events). I have played for the opening night of local plays at our cultural arts center, done children’s educational library programs, volunteered for local benefit dinners; try it, you might get some “leads” on a few more gigs!
Like you, I also didn’t have enough pieces to play at early gigs. The thing to remember is, that you’re playing background music. If you have to go through your list twice in an emergency, it’s not the end of the world. Quite frankly, unless the song is a well-known tune, generally, most people won’t notice if you play it twice. I’ve done it sometimes, though it’s really best to have a larger repertoire for each event. When you practice your “song list” for an event, time yourself. How long will it take you to play the songs you are playing for that event?
Keep in mind that you might take a one-minute break every now and then, and usually you will have at least one person who wants to chat with you. A friend of mine told me that it’s best to play easier songs (don’t add a lot of “frill”) so if someone comes up to chat, you aren’t thrown off in your music. Keep up the good work, and enjoy playing!
I know this is a late post, but I have read the Adventures books. I frequently volunteer my time for children’s educational library programs, and my programs are geared toward increasing awareness in the harp. During my program, I like to read the first Harp Mouse book to the children- they always enjoy it!
That makes sense, especially since the brides who choose to have a harpist in their wedding are usually looking for something “different” anyway.
I would recommend the Fishman SBT-HP Soundboard Transducer. I have a Lyon & Healy Troubador VI, and this pickup has done a great job for me. It attaches very easily with some included adhesive and does not damage the finish of the harp. I also use a Crate TX15 Taxi amplifier and have been very pleased with it. The Troubador has thirty-six strings; therefore, I needed an amp that would effectively capture both the low and high ranges and project them well; the Taxi does just that. At home I practice with my harp in my fairly large dining room (20’x20′, and at least 20′ tall ceiling), and so far I’ve only had to turn the Taxi’s volume up to 3, and it projects extremely well throughout two stories of my home. It’s also powered by battery and an AC wall adapter. Another thing I like about the Taxi is that it’s very user-friendly, and quite affordable compared to numerous other amps. The Fishman mic is on the expensive side (I got a deal on it), but really, you get what you pay for, and if you are playing in a band you really want to make sure your Christina is going to be heard.
I memorize my music. I like to keep a list of songs that I have chosen in advance in my binder, which sits on my music stand.
For you, it just depends on how comfortable you are with your music, and your ability to memorize.
