Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
In the back of my mind, this thread has been reminding me of the movie and novel, “The Loved One”, about the funeral industry, in which the woman running a funeral parlor is named Miss Thanatogenous.
I do remember seeing a Harp Therapy program that was set up in Montana that seemed to be perhaps cogent and useful.
I am willing to teach healing and harp to someone interested, but I don’t have the energy to market a “certificate” program, but I can have one hand-calligraphed to show completion of the program.
There should be no big change in the regulation if you switch to nylon strings, which I prefer. Any regulation needs minor adjustments as the strings stretch and the felts pack down, so learning to make those yourself will take care of things. When felts are changed, the regulation usually needs to be redone after a month or so of use. It depends which nylon you have though, if you have Pirastro, there will be little difference, but a bit more if you have other nylon strings. I only use Pirastro.
Sam, I’m pretty sure there is something wrong in how you are installing your new strings. You are making the wrong kind of knot, or making the string much too tight so it pops as it goes into pitch. Or, your discs are moving way too far into the string. Have your teacher look at it. I suggest you take it to your next lesson.
Get used to it. Playing anywhere involves a certain amount of hassle. Get good at moving the harp and it becomes less of a chore.
My point was that you don’t have to only use a harp, a guitar can do nicely, too, and I do not hold with the idea of
The Berezowsky Concerto is also an effective duet, and the Turina Theme and Variations is not difficult and very nice.
Lyra carries the Salzedo Sonata. It is very challenging, but a masterpiece. The bias against harp and piano is unfounded, I have realized. If the pianist accompanies sensitively, they are beautiful together, but if they are too loud, it does not work. It’s just more noticable than with other instruments. Lyra has other harp and piano works in their catalog. The Introduction and Allegro of Ravel is very beautiful as a duet.
If you are taking lessons through a school where you pay the school and they pay the teacher, tipping is a great idea, because as a rule, the teacher is getting less than half of what you are paying for lessons, and what you are paying is most likely already less than they would get for private lessons. It should be done discreetly. It is not common though, maybe in other societies, and some teachers might be offended. An annual gift might be a more suitable approach, at the end of the year like a bonus. The other thing to be conscious of is breaks for holidays and vacations where the teacher will not get paid, and you should definitely consider paying the amount they would otherwise be earning, so holidays are not gloomy. When I’ve worked for caterers who negotiated a low fee, then gave me a generous tip, like the waiters, I was offended by that, rather than being paid my proper fee.
