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Sonya,
My teacher uses the small cotton dental pack they use in your mouth when they are working on your teeth. Maybe those would buzz less than the wooden dowels in her video? My dentist gives them to me free. But I did enjoy watching the video. She does a nice job explaining and good close ups. Best of luck to you.I am also assuming the Ogden was stung in nylon, and nylon in general holds tuning for me for weeks at a time. (Sorry if that is an incorrect assumption.) I also seldom break strings on my nylon lever harps. This is not true about my pedal harp however. It goes out of tune more easily, and I lose twice to three times as many strings. Three week old gut strings are still new. Tune often and they will settle in. My favorite lever harp is a large gut strung harp, and it breaks strings and goes out of tune, just like my pedal harp. And as Sylvia said above, I have also heard, harp techs ask you to replace strings a few weeks before a regulation takes place. I hope this info will help. Best of Luck to you, and congratulations on the purchase of your new harp!
Hi Randal,
Just so you understand, my comment isn’t meant as a correction, just a different perspective. I’m not sure if I’m right or wrong, and it’s just my own interpretation.And all points about the small harps…so true. Every instrument has it’s own unique appeal, harp, guitar,dulcimer, etc… I bought a 4 pound historical harp a year and a half ago, and it’s stung in gut, so I enjoy the more mellow tone. It’s not particularly small per se: it’s a tall harp. But so easy on the back and arms to transport…..
Many Blessings!
SherjI also think the scenarios you present here, of playing for audiences with particular needs, whatever their needs might be, is a wonderful choice to have made in your life.
I might respectfully disagree with this statement: “I’m aware that the vast majority of interest on the forum here is the concert harp.”
I haven’t found that to be true and I’ve used this forum for over 10 years I think. I believe it’s actually quite a nice mix. Particularly when you talk about the new therapy programs, many place an emphasis on smaller, more portable instruments for many of the purposes you list above.
My adventures into harp therapy settings have been limited as I work full time elsewhere, but I prefer to take a full size floor lever harp. I find that people who sit up in chairs can strum and play them better, as they aren’t worried about holding them. (I understand that eliminates many who are confined to bed, not able play them, but those individuals still enjoy listening in general when I play.) My main reason for not taking the smaller harps is I just don’t enjoy the sound of them, but it is a personal preference only.
Many Blessings as you pursue this work in your life.
Warmest Regards,
SherjTracey!!!!!
Such joy! Congratulations. I love the elegant look of the Preludes. My Mother was very tall and the Prelude fit her best of many lever harps. To me, it was very close to a pedal harp sound too, and I LOVED the mellow tone. Enjoy your new harp. Sherj
Gretchen. Look up
The Colorado Trail: Fantaisie for Harp, op. 28 – Emmanuel Ceysson on You Tube, and I believe this is the same harp. (And if it’s not, you can still listen to the amazing talent of Emmanuel playing.) He is performing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on this video. Blessings! SherjIt’s called orchestra face by people I know. Non playing audience members don’t realize what skill is involved or how much hard work goes into playing an instrument. At my last lesson before our Christmas recital this year, after I finished playing my solo for her, I asked my teacher why she was laughing, and she said, “You always smile after you make a mistake.” I love watching some of Robbin Gordon-Cartier’s videos where she frequently breaks out in a smile.
I feel like I have been at this for a long time, and I am not very successful at it. Especially at church when I am asked to play piano, I can’t block out the words between the two staffs, and have trouble reading the notes. I do sometimes practice sight reading away from the harp as others have suggested. What I think I have gotten a little(!) better at is recognizing the shapes. Hit one note out of a chord, and the others follow. I have also tried to practice using an index card to cover the measure and moving it from left to right, trying to read both staffs at once. While it hasn’t hurt, I’m not sure it’s helped either.
Beautifully done Janis! I’m sorry you disabled comments as I have nothing but great things to say. Congratulations on both your playing and the arrangement. Sherj
Basel, so NICE to hear from you and know you are somewhere, alive and well. The rest will come, but again, so thankful that you are still with us. Maybe someone will reply to the forum about a contact in Greece. All my thoughts and best wishes for you. Sherj
