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Anyone plan on going out for holiday busking this season? I’m always very curious to learn how folks solve the various problems involved in casual performing. My own solution is to play indoors in nursing homes, etc., but I’m always yearning to find and perform for holiday festivals, craft fairs, etc.
Thanks Allison. The only time I’ve made use of e-tuners is when playing (double-bass) on stage–when I couldn’t actually hear my instrument.
Is it actually useful to fine tune?–or does it just get you in the ballpark, necessitating fine tuning with your ears..?
I wanted to input here, Sherri, as I appreciate and support the existence of a wire harp-dedicated forum on HC.
Although–since you and me have corresponded pertaining to these issues–I really haven’t anything to add! I’m learning pieces from various recordings of ap Huw, and tunes. Hopefully, others will eventually participate
Thanks! R
I have the 25. I wasn’t looking for a lap harp, necessarily–I acquired it used, but I do occasionally play it in my lap (and even in bed–lying under it : ). I did pursue a strategy to mitigate having to find a stand/chair or whatever for it…I got the 50″ floor model ; )
Double-strung wire? wow!
Thanks Sherri–my small harp is really great for its size. I should probably not say, however, that it’s a lap harp–as it’s really too large for the lap, and holding it so is very cumbersome
Like Sherri, I play wire harp exclusively. Although I started on nylon–pretty much the same factors as Sherri: I knew for many years it was wire harp that I wanted to play, but for a variety of reasons–it took me years to commit, and more years to acquire one
I have two Triplett wire harps–floor and lap
Hospice organizations offer free trainings to the public. Some hospice agencies are implementing a broader musical component (than traditional harp protocol) understanding that some folks may have aversion to harp repertoire, or perhaps beneficial associations with a particular musical tradition. The trainings generally are valuable in a variety of ways–from personal insight to practitioner skill development, so whether or not you volunteer for hospice you could benefit from the trainings in your personal and career development
I too have two children with similar special needs (my wife is also a provider, so we’re very much immersed in the therapeutic milieu in several capacities). Some kids–particularly those on the spectrum, and with spectrum-like challenges–tend to really respond to music
With all the research (and diagnosing) now involving spectrum-type issues, broader intervention strategies (such as music) are becoming more common in the therapeutic milieu. I would think opportunities in the field are burgeoning. (But as Jennifer mentions–any involvement in professional health care practice requires much consideration of many factors)
Catherine-
I do hope folks will post to your thread–I’ve been watching expectedly. I spent a few years working with folks in LTR/palliative care using music informally but quite successfully, and have always been interested in the field
(have you ever seen the film “In the Garden of Sounds”?)
Andra–if you please, what is the string spacing on the Zephyr? The Triplett website doesn’t provide such info
Greetings and welcome to the harp!
The harp in the youtube clip is a wire-strung clarsach–and looks to be of a traditional design (carved sound box from a single block of willow or similar wood). There are significant differences between wire- and nylon-strung harps–both in construction and playing technique. These are also fairly hard to obtain–but becoming more readily available with the recent increasing interest in wire harp
In the US: Ardival, Witcher, Triplett, others
There is also Muis Dreamsinger n California–who builds more affordable models, and offers a small, lap-size model as well
Congratulations and welcome James!
I’m a life-long classical/flamenco gtr player–switched to wire-strung harp one year ago, after finally acquiring one. I played all the strings, but have largely given them up due to commitment to wire harp (and left-hand nails being basically anathema to string-playing). There are of course general and basic aspects we can advise on, but as usual you’ll just need to find your zone–what you can/can’t do, with how much nail, and so forth.
For example, my large harp has quite large string spacing–so if I break nails and need to file them down in order to compensate for the broken one, I can adjust my approach/attack and play using more flesh–until my nails emerge again. Conversely, my small harp has quite narrow string spacing, and I’m unable to play it in any way other than total nails–as there just isn’t room enough for any finger. So, the larger harp allows me to vary my attack much more–providing more room for various finger angles–which is nice for those times when my nails aren’t optimal.
With experience you can find the optimal way to employ what (left-hand) nails you can muster. Although I always preferred just a moderate length of nail for guitar, I’m no longer particularly fastidious nor diligent and just let them grow until I can no longer stand them–with long nails on both hands, of course, string-playing isn’t viable. So it’s the harp for me now : ). When I file to more optimal/shorter length, I’ll pick some tunes on the fiddle. But serious guitar playing is absolutely behind me.
