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Yes, I agree; even my little 22-string has a very nice sound–with its solid mahogany box. It only loses its resonance in the lower octave.
…she’s actually made from flamed sycamore which is a pale creamy gold wood
It is a lovely looking harp Lyn, and I’m sure she’s much moreso in the wood. I love those lighter-tone woods–my harps are walnut, and I would love to have something in cherry/amber
It was dropped off to me at 4, but I haven’t yet had the chance to even unzip the bag
One thing I can say–at 50″ tall it’s still nicely portable : )
…later…
Okay, got her put and she’s A-OK ; )
Incidentally, in case anyone is interested in a beautiful little 25 in cherry, there’s one used at Elderly currently (NFI): http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/200U-2095.htm
Well, it’s out of your control…let my experience last April be the sacrificial harp for us all! Nothing but the safest travels for your new harp–and us all
I would think durable is the prime factor hear–harpsicle. Unless of course the school wishes to spend more. My 8 year-olds love to play on my 22-string lap harp, so I wouldn’t think a larger harp is particularly needed in your environment
Rose, I would be interested in hearing about your experiences–the activities you use, structure, etc. I’ve worked some with groups in this age range–with a variety of interactive approaches. Usually, percussion instruments are effective, and musical games. I’ve used ukes–which of course are deployed as percussion and rhythm instruments in this group. I’m intrigued about employing harps
Congrats Deb!
I’m getting a new harp this week too–on Friday. It’s even local–no shipping! : ) (Triplett 30 wire)
I have one. The sound box is quite small and does not provide much resonance in the lower octave–particularly with its mid- to low-tension. Should be fine for a first harp for a seven year old to begin to acquire skills, but may be soon outgrown. My own kids (age 8) are learning on mine, but we’re not hitting it very hard at this point. You might want a larger harp for more serious study
Although you can add levers on this harp, personally, I wouldn’t put much money into upgrading this harp–I don’t think it has enough resonance to bother with. Perhaps look for a Sharpsicle?
I’m a life-long guitarist–about 40 years–studying primarily flamenco–nails are absolutely essential. Although I always wanted to play the harp, I resisted it, until just last year–because of the technique conflict. I suffered for decades with the yearning to play the harp, but knew I couldn’t do both. I started playing hammered dulcimer long ago to assuage my compulsion for harp. Eventually, my interests in harp increasingly grew toward wire-strung, so I finally began last year with wire–which enabled me to do both to almost reasonable degree. But I also play fretless instruments–oud, violin, doublebass–on which any nail (LH for oud and vn; RH for DB) is simply problematic at best. Eventually, I’ve just gone all in for wire harp, and no longer pursue other stringed instruments. I play primarily only for my own enjoyment now–
Contouring the nail assymetrically didn’t afford much of a solution–as I employed this same contour for guitar
Nails are pretty much anathema to playing fingerboard instruments–because we use our finger TIPS in fingering these instruments. So, no, I’m not able to play guitar WELL or the other fingerboard instruments, properly. Although i can fudge a bit angling my fingers and using the pads more–this is neither particularly effective nor fun, for me, having come up studying in the classical/technically rigorous manner…i’ll play the banjo a bit , and citterns and bouzoukis…and try to keep my left hand nails at a reasonable length to enable SOME facility. Nails interefere especially with playing “fretless” fingerboard instruments–like violin and oud: with frets, the string is actually “stopped” by the fret–the finger applying pressure to the string against the fret…but without frets “stopping” the string, the physical aspect of the finger upon the string is different–requiring the technically correct oblique angle of the finger on the string, and use of the finger tip. (there are playing techniques in certain fingerboard stringed instruments–such as some “old-time” banjo playing, and I believe sarod, where an alloy fingerboard is used in conjunction with fingering with the nail to accentuate glissando and portamento effects, etc). This has been a thoughtful and deliberate transition, to wire harp, for me as I’ve recently been studying oud–for which nails really preclude any serious attempt (as with fiddle, there’s just not room on the fingerboard to permit much fudging of fingering technique)
WRT learning and “how long?” and so forth…like all such things–there are many variables to consider, but early pedagogy does provide nice easy pieces that are enjoyable to play and sound nice. I don’t think enjoyment is necessarily predicated on advanced repertoire; there are many idiomatic approaches that are easily accessible, fun, and nice-sounding on guitar…probably one reason for its immense popularity. It’s an instrument that accommodates a casual approach and recreational playing. I found quite a bit of commonality between the guitar right hand and harp technique: aside from the many overt and nuanced differences, fundamentally the fingers upon the strings and many techniques felt quite natural to me immediately
You should play flute again! I dabble a little with keyless flute–it’s “within me” as woodwinds were my first instrument(s); I actually got back into flute as an alternative to English concertina–a lovely instrument, but I could never get on with the alternating-hands scalar system of EC, which to me isn’t intuitive like woodwinds, strings, or Anglo concertina
Yes, altering and modifying attack angle, and playing with salvaged nail remnants…I know it well ! I was as much athlete as musician…one simply cannot play b-ball and expect to not lose nails : (
Btw, my apologies to Deb–I’ve taken over your thread talking about my gouged harp and my fingernails!
A very similar response–in terms of sustain
How are you able to compensate for the lack of consistent length when you lose a nail? Over 30+ years of classical guitar, I’ve never figured out a way
HD is so nice at least for reason of its low ergonomic demand…just hit it with a stick : )
I don’t fret much over nails either–although i try like hell to not break/tear them. When it happens, I have to file them all down so I can play anything…then it’s what it is until they assume a decent length again. I am, however, finding the left hand nails rather a drag…
