Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
I still think that it is not necessarily so cleanly divided. Even if we change from Folk harper vs. Classical harpist to Lever harp player vs. Pedal harp player you still have a whole lot of over lap.
I know
I think your classification system is a bit to narrow.
Some harpists are equally comfortable in both genres. And others don’t work in either. Pedal harp doesn’t equal classical harpist. You can play folk music on the pedal harp as well. In fact much contemporary folk is fairly chromatic so more suited to pedal harp. Even the diatonic folk music can still be played on pedal harp.
Also Jazz is best played on Pedal harp as is a lot of Pop music.
Some folks defy any classification. Deborah Henson-Conant, for instance, started as a Jazz harpist but these days she goes beyond any simple classification and she plays everything from Celtic to Jazz/Classical fusion, all with her own sense of style.
Personally I wouldn’t be able to say what kind of a harpist I am. I started wanting to play Celtic, but studied with a Classical harpist who also played Jazz. I am just as likely to sit at my lever harp as at my pedal harp, and what I play at any given time depends on a lot of factors, but could just as likely be an old folk tune as a Jazz standard or a classical piece.
I am just a harpist. I play what ever I want at any given time and don’t concern myself too much about genres.
Number of strings has little to do with the quality of the harp. Lap harps and such are great for what they are, but if you chose a 20 something string lap harp as your only harp you will most likely find the limitations of so few strings a hindrance. I wouldn’t even consider under 30 strings and really, 34 to 36 strings I think would be a more appropriate size.
Of course if you have special need to have a very portable harp that may make a difference and compromises are sometimes necessary. But I have known many people who quickly find that such a small harp is just not enough range while I have never yet heard anyone complain that they had too many strings
Aside from Triplett and Dusty Strings, who make excellent instruments, both Lyon and Healy and Salvi make lever harps. Camac as well makes excellent lever harps. Pilgrim lever harps are great… I am almost reluctant to continue because I will eventually forget to mention some great maker out there.
As for pedal harp, budget may be an issue, but your size is not. I would be surprised if my teacher was five foot tall. When she plays she is dwarfed by her concert grand harp, but she manages it just fine. Besides, there are small pedal harps out there. My 85p would be a perfect size for someone of smaller stature. Although not too small for someone of my size (5’10”) it is an easy to handle size for someone much smaller. So while the money thing may be an issue the size shouldn’t be.
Honestly, I have dealt with people from almost all the main harp sellers. Sylvia Woods, The Virginia Harp Center, Harps Unlimited International, Harps Etc…, International Music, Melodies. While I haven’t purchased harps from all of them I can’t imagine any of them trying to pressure you into something that isn’t right for you. They all have wonderful reputations and are an excellent resource so you shouldn’t be apprehensive about letting them guide you in finding the right instrument for you.
Rather than being overwhelmed I think the good people at the Virginia Harp Center would most likely leave you feeling more knowledgeable and confident about your choices than before you walked in the door. A satisfied customer is a returning customer, and they have a vested interest to make sure you make an informed decision that you are happy with. After all if you are happy with the harp you buy from them you will be going back to them for years to come for music, strings and other necessities (and perhaps someday another harp). They want you to be happy with your purchase so use them as resources.
But.. if you have any specific questions we are all happy to help. It is hard to know where to start because there is so much about harps to think about and talk about.
For me it varies depending on many factors. But I can just tell when I have reached the point where I am not doing myself any more good that day. Not being a full time professional harpist I work the day and so have neither the stamina nor the time to practice five hours a day or more (except on weekends where I can easily practice for six hours and not realize anywhere near that amount of time has passed). But I have a knack for memorization so I learn pieces quickly.
But some days two hours and I am spent. Others I can go for longer. But after a certain point my playing starts to get worse rather than better and then I know it is time to call it a day.
What I do try to do, however, is if at all possible to practice every day. As they say, it is better to practice one hour a day seven days a week than to play seven hours one day a week. Consistency of practice throughout the week is very important and should not be underestimated.
First, I second Barbara’s suggestion. Renting first will let you know if you really like the instrument before laying out that much money on one.
That being said, if that does not seem to be an option for you then to address your specific questions:
1) while there are some adjustment issues going from a light tension harp to concert strung, it isn’t insurmountable and different people will have different degrees of difficulty.
My first harp was a lighter, more narrowly strung harp and my lessons were on a L&H Troubadour. I had no problems going from one to the other at my lessons. However I later got a better lever harp that was concert strung. After playing that for a while and then going back to playing the lighter strung I had problems playing the lighter strung harp. Now I have a pedal harp, a concert strung lever harp and a lightly strung electric lever harp and I can go from one to the other without any problems.
It is all about what you are used to and your own ability.
But… if your play really is to go to the pedal harp eventually then you may as well get a lever
I don’t know of any websites specifically geared toward harp and reading music, but Sylvia Woods Teach Yourself To Play the Folk Harp goes over the basics of music reading specifically in the context of the harp. But really, reading music is reading music. Harp music is written almost identical to piano music so any site that goes over the basics of music reading will apply.
As for the subway, I had a harp once that was about the size of the Ogden and I used to take in on the NYC Subway from time to time, and I have taken a L&H Folk harp, which is also about the same size and dimensions, on the San Francisco Buses. But I don’t know how big you are. I am an average sized guy and definitely not a 90 lb weakling so I didn’t have too much trouble. But most subway systems have elevator access to the platforms so you should be able to manage. A harp cart would also help.
I am just wondering why you need to bring your harp at all? When I took lessons I brought my harp once, so my teacher could check it out to make sure it was a decent enough instrument and to show me how to tune it and other details. After that I always took my lessons on her harp and never again was asked to bring my own harp to a lesson.
My advice if
Well, on the one hand so long as you are not playing in a way that causes physical problems then you can play anyway you want.
However…
If you ever want to play anything more complicated your current method won’t work. If the way you play now satisfies you then keep using it, but if you want to play more complicated music, using chords in your right hand, or playing fast passages in either hand, you will be limited by what you are doing now.
At that point you will have to relearn, and honestly I think it is better and ultimately easier to learn the right way from the start.
Yes, it is slow and cumbersome and difficult at first. Playing the harp is NOT easy. But eventually you get used to it and you wonder how you ever had a problem with it.
Basically the way you play now is fine for the music you play now, but if you want to progress at all then your current playing method will be a hindrance and limit you. To get the most you can get out of your instrument you need to start practicing with correct placement and fingering. Yes, it will be hard and slow going. It was for ALL of us. But just as the rest of us managed to get through that difficult stage so can you and I believe in the long run you will be much more pleased with the results, and glad to have a lot of other works opened up for you to be able to play.
There is plenty of diatonic music that is still challenging to play and will work on your harp but not with your current playing technique. If you want to be able to play any of it you will need to address that at some point. Sooner is better than later.
I see your point, but I do think that there are cases where it is clear that someone’s chances are limited in a certain area. If someone comes for lessons starting
Well, every teacher seems to think their subject is the most important. But ultimately the student needs to determine for themselves where they want to go with their various endeavors.
Perhaps they have the skill to become great at sports and that provides them an opportunity to make millions. Or perhaps they have a keen interest in biology and will some day cure some form of cancer.
Who is to tell them what they should do? What the teacher should do is make it clear what opportunities their subject realistically has for them.
If the student has the ability to go on to become a professional harpist and has the kind of talent to make a name for themselves in the world of music then let them know that in no uncertain terms. If they really don’t let them know that as well.
Each teacher should give the student a realistic evaluation of their skill and their opportunities. After that it is the students right and responsibility to determine which path is the one they want to go down and where they need to focus the majority of their effort. Not everyone who takes music lessons even has a desire to make music their life. Many just want to include music in their life. I think their priorities need to be respected.
I’m thankful to the late Mr. Don Henry who sold me my first harp and helped me find a wonderful teacher.
I am thankful to that teacher, Ruth Berman-Harris, for not only teaching me but for opening my horizons to music I never would have thought to consider before.
I am thankful to the late Derek Bell who was my main inspiration to play in the first place.
I am thankful to all the wonderful writers and arrangers who have produced the books and arrangements that have provided a wealth of resources. Including, but not limited to, Sylvia Woods, Yolanda Kondonassis, Deborah Henson-Conanat, Carlos Salzedo, Lucile Lawrence, Sam Milligan, Dewey Owens, Barbara Brundage, Verlene Shermer, Lousie Trotter, Paul Baker, Edward Bunting, Mildred Dilling, Deborah Friou, Jan Jennings and Ray Pool, being names of authors I turn
LOL.. Agreed on all counts. I actually do use a book of piano chords I practice on the harp, and not long ago got Sylvia Woods Chord and Scale reference chart for harp that I keep in my book of lead sheets so if I come across a chord symbol and I have trouble figuring it out I can easily look it up.
For guitar I actually have a neat program on my pda that lets me put in any chord and it gives me at least three different fingerings for it.
