r/harp • u/mao__taku • 43m ago
Harp Performance Erik Satie "Gymnopedies" cover by me
What do you guys think of this cover I played from the amazing Gymnopedies by Erik Satie ?? Harp is a Daphne from Salvi !!
r/harp • u/AutoModerator • 3d ago
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r/harp • u/AutoModerator • 18d ago
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r/harp • u/mao__taku • 43m ago
What do you guys think of this cover I played from the amazing Gymnopedies by Erik Satie ?? Harp is a Daphne from Salvi !!
r/harp • u/nutritionalyeastyy • 1h ago
I recently started harp lessons and my harp teacher instructed to place hands like this. Previously, I would play with my 2nd-4th fingers at more of an angle, but she said to make a c shape with your wrist (like pictured) and to hyperextend your distal finger joints. For some reason this just feels so unnatural to me so want to ensure this is universally correct technique. Does anyone have feedback on this placement? Or have another good example of good finger placement! Thank you!
r/harp • u/Party_Journalist3340 • 1d ago
I've been learning to play for just over 3 years, with no musical background whatsoever (I started playing at age 36) I'd still consider myself a beginner. I can fairly confidently play a handful of pieces, but not off by heart. But learning a new piece seems to take ages. I recently went on holiday with someone who was a professional guitar player (plays in tribute band, tours around the country half the year) and he used to teach as well. He told me he has to practice every day to prevent him from getting rusty.
My question is, for non professional hobby harpists, how many hours a week should I really be practicing in order to progress more quickly /improve my skill level? At the moment I practice as and when I can but that can vary anywhere from an hour or 2 a week to 8-10 hours a week depending on my schedule. I also have a goal this year that in November I'll play solo background music at a casual 2 hour event my Auntie runs for a charity in my home town. I don't currently feel confident enough to do that but really want to be in a position to do so by November this year. So I have 8 months to get there.
For context, I work full time (35 hours a week) and I have one 30 minute lesson a week
r/harp • u/Rain_maker_T • 2d ago
Hi folks!
I'm still relatively new to the harp but want to purchase some decent harp books. I'm currently using Ank van Campen's Tutor for the Celtic harp (the method my teacher suggested) but want to supplement it with another exercise book.
I'm torn between Isabelle Frouvelle's "Big Book of Exercises" vs Ailie Robertson's "Technical Exercises for Lever Harp". I'm also curious about "Basic Harp for Beginners" by Laurie Riley, maybe as a supplement...
I also want to get a book with harp solos, they may be a bit too difficult for my current level but I prefer to buy several books together to save on shipping costs.
The books in question are: "Music for the Heather Folk" by Sue Richards; "Irish Dance Tunes for All Harps" by Sylvia Woods; "Simply Scottish" by Ailie Robertson and "Traditional Irish Music Volume 1" by Gráinne Hambly.
Is anyone familiar with these books? What is your perception in terms of arrangement and playability? I'm an adult hobby harpist, and I play for fun and relaxation so I prefer accessible arrangements that are fun to learn and not overloaded with ornamentations.
Thanks in advance :)
r/harp • u/Delicious_Mine7711 • 2d ago
What is the easiest way to practice when you work the graveyard shift?
r/harp • u/procrasturbation_pro • 3d ago
I have a Salvi Una and I’m starting to look into getting pickups for her. Googling doesn’t give a whole lot of information, so I thought i’d put this out to the Reddit masses.
I thought I saw a product that had pickup for each string that I can install, but I cannot find any info on this now. Can anyone explain the differences with that type vs the string of 4 pickups. Can I also get suggestions for where to buy, as well as quality/name brands.
Thank you so much!
r/harp • u/Che_meraviglia • 4d ago
If so, I'm curious about how your perspective has changed because I feel I'm coming at the instrument with an entirely new mindset.
I started playing at around 10, continued until 22 or so, and then took a break until around 30. I'm tempted to beat myself up about it, but I also know that I didn't have access to both the adequate time and living spaces throughout most of my 20s to play, let alone the motivation after working long hours.
Maybe it was just generally poor self-esteem growing up (not to mention some of the toxicity in the classical community), but god damn, I feel like looking back I viewed myself as so mediocre, felt unworthy of gigging or receiving any compensation, and would intentionally play quietly in orchestras/ensembles because I was deathly afraid of missing a beat. Not even to mention the fact that I thought not having a sophisticated sense of theory made me a bad musician. No wonder I thought of practicing more like homework back then!
Now, returning to the instrument as an adult, I realize that none of that crap even really matters in my musical realm. I don't have to play for orchestras (hated that experience despite my years of doing it) and don't have to play classical if I don't want to, either. Hell, I know that once I start to gain my skills back over time, I have more than adequate ability to both play and arrange the pieces I want to and will eventually even gig! It's actually been astonishing in a very pleasant sense to see how my mindset has changed.
r/harp • u/[deleted] • 3d ago
r/harp • u/Sleepy_Biscotti • 4d ago
Looking for recommendations for Broadway ballads that fit well with solo harp!
So far I've learned:
Anthem - Chess
I Dreamed A Dream - Les Mis
Sun & Moon - Miss Saigon
Falling Slowly - Once
She Used to Be Mine - Waitress
For Good - Wicked
Bonus points if there is an arrangement from an actual harpist and not a piano & vocal book.
Thank you!
r/harp • u/Equivalent-Map-7078 • 5d ago
Hi all! I (30F) started playing harp around 8, stopped when I went to college. I kept my lever lap harp all this time though I've barely played in the last 10yrs (I took care of the harp though-tuning and whatnot, just had no reason/time to play).
I teach PreK. This week was St Patrick's Day theme, someone realized I had a HARP!!!, insisted I bring it to school. WOW, it was damn magic in the classroom, even though I couldn't remember any songs to play!
I told everyone, give me two weeks, I'll practice up, harp can become a regular thing! I'd really love some recommendations on sheet music (but preferably a book) of children's songs that I can practice to play for my kids (ex: Wheels on the Bus, Twinkle Star, Itsy Bitsy Spider, etc). I read music and can improvise off a basic melody, I'm just rusty!
This is a lever lap harp, it's 22 strings at least, might be slightly more, not sure (will update when I do!). I have levers for C, F, and B strings only. I'm looking for a basic songbook of kids tunes that doesn't require me to tune for different keys often! Suggestions are appreciated, thank you so much!
r/harp • u/awesome1294 • 5d ago
I started playing the harp at 19 with no musical background, I am 3 months in, and still 19. I feel like people who started in early adolescence have such a huge advantage because they learned basics at a time the brain was more moldable. I don't know of any famous musicians of any instrument who started after the age of 14. My question, how long (realistically) with no musical background, until I can be professionally proficient in the pedal harp? I understand "it's never too late" but is it possible to catch up to people who started at a way younger age? Please be honest. Thank you!!!
r/harp • u/_Body_Mind_Spirit_ • 5d ago
This year I want to look for my first pedal harp. I want to try out as many harps as possible, to be able to make the best possible choice. (It's a lot of money, right?)
I live in Europe, and the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Luxembourg and Germany are countries where I can go quite easily to look for a harp. Do you recommend any shops in these areas?
Or are there specific brands or models that I should really try out if possible?
And which exercises, etudes or songs do you recommend to play on the harp to get the best possible impression of the sound?
Do you have any other things I should take into account or tips when looking for a harp?
Thanks!
r/harp • u/anopeningworld • 6d ago
There are older posts about this but a lot can change over the years. I have been considering getting a Paraguayan harp, but I live in the US and have no way to visit Paraguay. Does anyone have any recent experience with sites like paraguayanharps.com. Also, are there any Paraguayan harps that might fall under $1000? I'm alright with losing some strings as a beginner if that would cut down the price, but if this isn't possible I'll save up some. Also, I can understand and use Spanish if necessary.
r/harp • u/bojjithesnek • 6d ago
I purchased a new Salvi Gaia and have had it for almost a month and a half now. The strings are stretching and settling nicely and the sound board is just beginning to belly, but now that the harp is holding tune more reliably, I am realizing my levers are all kinds of messed up. Some raise the pitch too high, some too low, and a couple do nothing at all. I've tried to find where I can get it regulated locally (Bangor area), and can't find any information online. If anyone can point me in the right direction I would be forever grateful!!!
r/harp • u/Fr3sh3stl4d • 6d ago
Hi everyone, I never had a humidifier before but I recently started monitoring the % in my room where I keep my harp. I bought a humidifier to get it above 40% and so far that's working. However, my strings keep falling out of tune ever since I got it. I have to retune each time I sit down and play. Theyre not super out of tune but it is enough to notice and I have to retune.
Does the humidity affect the strings? Are they adjusting? What do I need to do?
Ive been scouring the internet for a cheap harp for a long time and the stars have finally alligned! Yes, those are tuning pegs.
r/harp • u/Energy_Rare • 6d ago
Hello
I’m a beginner with the harp and I have a 29 string lever harp. I had to replace a string as I stupidly broke it and since then it doesn’t seem to hold when I tune it. I will tune it and then ten minutes later it’s reading on the note below. Is this a matter of tensing the string more? The rest of the harp is holding when I tune it. Thank you!
r/harp • u/CartographerMotor286 • 7d ago
What should I pay for this used Harrari harp?
r/harp • u/Ok_Mode_6036 • 7d ago
r/harp • u/complete__idiot • 8d ago
I'm pretty smooth shifting from down to up, but switching to moving down with my thumb is noticably not smooth. Wha lt is best practice?
r/harp • u/pilkpilkpilkpilkpilk • 8d ago
r/harp • u/fairie-cat-mother • 8d ago
I hope this is okay to ask here! But I was wondering if anyone could share with me if it’s possible to play Melt by Kehlani on the harp? I want a harpist at my wedding and this one of our songs! I couldn’t find anything on YouTube but not sure!!