Progression

It’s been about three weeks since I bought my harp.  Since we had holidays and moving preparations, I didn’t always have the amount of practice time that I would have hoped for.  Also, my lessons haven’t begun yet, though it should be soon.  Still, I feel there has been a lot of improvement.  Wish I had videoed the first day for comparison, but my first video was just over a week into my journey.  

This song was a much greater challenge that the first, “Sailing on a Lake” by Christy-Lyn Marais, because it was harder to memorize and the hands don’t always move in the same direction.  In the first song, the right hand and the left hand simply played broken chords, starting at a low note and always moving higher.  Both hands also played the same notes for every phrase.  I think for someone who has played piano, that is much simpler.  Luckily, for the new song, I had a video lesson from the composer, which you can find here:  https://www.christylynmusic.com/after-the-rain-video-lesson.   She goes through her composition step-by-step, and you can play it over and over again – which I did!  So here I have for you “After the Rain.”

An Education

Taking up a new instrument is quite the education!  It goes far beyond learning to play the instrument itself.

Method Books:

I posted earlier that I was using the method book series “Harp for Newbies.”  Unfortunately, this turned out not to be a good fit.  This little mistake cost me about $100, but I won’t make that same mistake again!  Because shipping costs were high, I bought 6 books in the series, but only ended yo using about 1.5 of them. 

What did I learn from this mistake?  Only buy the first book for starters!  Also, don’t buy books without reading reviews or preferably getting advice from a harpist who has the style and technique you like.  In my case, I bought the series because it was recommended by the harp therapy program that I intend to use.  I didn’t research the method book decision at all, which is unusual for me.  However, what I should have noted is that these books were not a requirement, but merely a suggestion.  Instead of simply reading something online, ask harpists directly via email or YouTube comment, etc. 

It’s also best if you can see a sample, although in this case, it probably wouldn’t have mattered.   Since we’re talking about an entire series of books, you would need to see much more than a couple of pages. 

Sheet Music:

This one is not posing many difficulties so far.  Nearly all websites show the first page, or at least half of a page, of the actual music.  Since I’m so new at harp, there really aren’t any pieces that would be a total waste, as I can save them for later if I misjudged the difficulty level.  The only concern might be about the sharps and flats required if you don’t have full levers.  I do not have a fully levered harp, but am at such an early level that it shouldn’t impact me just yet. (I do have F, C, and G sharp and B flat.)  If you don’t have at least F sharp, I can see that it might be a problem unless you don’t mind tuning your F strings sharp (and hoping that there are no incidentals).

Teachers:

Though I’m trying to keep my costs as low as possible, I have decided that a harp teacher would be a wise idea, at least for the first part of my journey.  In the end, it may very well save me money.  For example, if I had contacted my teacher first, she would have recommended the series of books that I’m currently using, saving me a $100 mistake.  That comes close to paying for two lessons!  

My current plan is bi-weekly lessons along with an educational video that goes with my method book.  I’m hoping to begin lessons in January with Christy-Lyn Marais.  Waiting for space to open up in her busy schedule!  I’ve had a consultation with her, and she already gave me some very important advice which I have implemented.

Thanksgiving

I am so thankful that I took the plunge and bought a harp.  I wish I had done it much sooner, but maybe it was for a reason and a season! 

1.    The sound.  Even in a lower priced harp, the sound is gorgeous.  Now, it’s not gorgeous every time I pluck a string.  Sometimes I’m a little off and so is the sound, but when I hit it just right, there’s nothing like it.  It’s a different feeling than piano was for me.

2.    The vibration.  (See number 1 above!)  Perhaps what separates the piano from the harp, besides the fact that the strings are hammered instead of plucked, is that you are in direct contact with the vibration. Nothing separates you from the vibration.

3.    The appearance.  Again, my harp was not costly, but it still is a very pretty little thing.  Thank goodness for pretty little things!

4.    The culture.  I mean this in several ways.  First, this instrument has a very long history – perhaps 5,000 years.  Second, there are many types of harps found in many lands – all of which are interesting in their own way.  Third, the harpists on line seem like great people to get to know – very helpful in educating new comers.

5.    The challenge.  I can almost feel the connections my brain is being encouraged (forced) to make.  Here’s an example:  I’m thinking, “Fingers in right hand, pluck C, D, and E, while fingers in left hand, you pluck G, F, and E.”  Fingers are not doing as instructed.  I try it several more times, and they actually do what they’re told!  At my age (and after the loss of my mother who suffered from dementia), I am very thankful that my brain is handling the increased load!  Beyond the simple coordination example, there are many other challenges:  finding time to practice when things get busy, being able to stick with my plan over the several years that it will take to complete my training, and not losing the spark of interest that I have with things that are exciting and new.  

Wonderful Week

Just over a week of having my harp, and it’s been time consuming, but wonderful!  I did make my first video today, and it is as far from perfect.  But, I’m happy with the progress given my age.  I’m nearly 57, so I don’t expect to pick things up as quickly as someone who is younger.  I do have the advantage of being a little past beginner on piano, mainly because I can read sheet music (slooowly).  I’ve only been playing this tune for a few days.  “Sailing on a Lake” by Christy-Lyn Marais is free here:  https://www.christylynmusic.com/free-sheet-music . 

I’m sorry about my thumbs, which should be nice and high.  My fingers are also a bit too curled.  Can I blame it on arthritis?  Every time I think about keeping my thumbs up, I lose concentration.  I guess it will be something for me to work on.  Hopefully I’ll improve a lot and will look back at this video in a year to see how far I’ve journeyed!

So it's a little over a week in, and I generally practice 2 twice daily for about 45 minutes each time.  I have been bad and not been keeping to my method books because playing this and “Breath of Air” are a lot more fun.  I’m working on other songs as well, but force myself to go back to the books.  I am thinking more about getting lessons so that someone will force me!  Or maybe they will give me a recommendation for a different method book.  That might be a very nice thing.

In Tune With Your Harp

It’s been nearly a week since my harp arrived!  I’ve been practicing about twice daily, for at least 30 minutes each time.  I’ve noticed that at night, my attention starts to fade, and 30 minutes is about all I can do.  The sound of even a badly played harp starts to put me to sleep ;)

I’ve had quite a few challenges this week. I’ll begin with the first one today, tuning.

I bought a very inexpensive tuner on Amazon which had great ratings.  So glad that I did because it makes the process simpler and more accurate.  If your harp is new, it requires several tunings daily.  From everything I’ve read, this is important not just for the “health” of your harp, but also for you to develop your ear for hearing accurate notes. 

If your harp is new, it’s kind of crucial to tune often.  The strings have to be tightened not only because they stretch more at first, but also the wood in the harp has to stretch a bit into position. There’s even a term for this called “belly up.” The wood in the sound board has to be strong yet thin enough to rise to the proper position. At this point, the sound should improve, even on a costly harp that already sounds beautiful.  (In fact, those cheap Pakistani harps mentioned in an earlier post don’t “belly up” well or at all because the wood is thick and dense.)  So, if you are tuning 26 (or more) strings two or three times daily, you want a tuner that is easy to use and accurate.

Here are a few discoveries I made – all of which I should have thought of earlier, but  didn’t.  Remember that I was used to playing piano, so my tuning consisted of hiring someone else to do the work!

1.    Where you place the clip-on tuner matters.  Consequently, when I tune the highest strings, I move the tuner closer to the strings I'm tuning.  Yes, I believe it matters! 

2.    When you are trying to tune quickly, it helps to silence the previously tuned string before proceeding to the next string.  Pretty obvious, but when you’re trying to get done quickly, those little steps are easy to forget. 

3.    What strings to tune first?  There are (at least) a couple of different opinions on this.  The easier one is to start with the low notes and proceed to the higher notes.  Supposedly if you start with the high notes, by the time you get to the larger and longer strings, those high notes will be out of tune again.  This makes sense, but I didn’t actually try tuning high notes first.  It would be interesting to see if this is true!  So for the first couple of days, I tuned low strings first.  Then I read that you should start at middle C, and then the low C, followed by the other higher C strings.  After C, you move along through the other notes in similar fashion.  I found that I preferred this method.  I think it was easier to hear if a string was flat, since you are working with that same note but in different octaves.  Also, it was more entertaining!

4.    Tuning the levered B strings was a little different than the other strings.  This is because the B string is actually tuned to A sharp (or B flat). Then when you engage the lever, the note becomes B.  I decided to tune the string with the lever in the up or off position, rather than with the lever down.  So I first tuned these strings to A sharp, and then I engaged the lever to check if the note was actually B.  Luckily for me, all of my levers work properly and don’t need any adjustment.  Since my harp only has levers on F, C, G, and B, this was the only string that I play with the lever engaged. I’m sure that if you have levers on E and A, for example, you’d want to consider tuning them to D sharp and G sharp.  Kind of wishing I had levers on E, by the way.  I may write more on this later…

What to Play?

Learning to play the harp will be a challenge.  You are at an advantage if you can read sheet music, both treble and bass clefs as for piano music.  However, I also find my hands going into piano positions, which don’t work at all for harp ;)  The brain is a miracle, though.  I just keep concentrating and my fingers eventually comply with my wishes, even though I am 56 years old.  If you have played an instrument before, you will probably go through your first lessons pretty quickly.  But then there seems to be a slow-down, as you get more into the specifics of harp.

I am using the lessons from “Harp for Newbies” by Verlene Schermer:  http://verlene.com/books.html .  There are a few reasons for this.  Her series of “Newbie” books were recommended by Harp for Healing, which is the program I’ve tentatively selected for harp therapy.  Also, Verlene is helpful via email, which is  important for support.  Finally, her books have many online videos and recordings to watch and listen to.  The first two levels (haven’t bought the third yet) each have over 20 videos for instruction.  You will likely need all three books for each level, as they work together to teach the entire program.

While the author has tried to add compositions that are nice to listen to, I wanted to add more.  Already, people have asked to hear me play, and the songs in the early part of Verlene’s books are not really what you’d want to “perform.”  They also don’t have a quality of flowing that I know I’ll need to develop for harp therapy.  But the good news is that I have found arrangements that seem perfect for this purpose!  I suggest that you listen to the music and instructional videos of Christy-Lyn Marais.  Here is an excellent video:  

Christy-Lyn is composing an easy harp arrangement every month with the fluid quality that I love to hear.  What is great about her pieces is that you are also practicing chords and other techniques while you learn in an enjoyable way.  Some of the exercises in my lesson books really feel just like that – exercises.  They aren’t fun, although I know they are necessary.  I am finding that using both of these sources is effective.  I work through the lessons and reward myself with Christy-Lyn’s arrangements afterwards.  You can subscribe to her sheet music via Patreon or purchase individual titles on her website.  She also has free sheet music for “Sailing on a Lake,” which is at a beginner’s level:  https://www.christylynmusic.com/shop.

My Harp Arrives!

If you’ve read my early posts, you know that my home felt a little empty without my old piano.  I’m preparing to move and consequently downsizing.  I was anxiously awaiting my harps arrival, thinking it would be in a day or so, when I received notification that it was here!

The harp came from Rees Harps, who make the Harpsicle line as well as many more upscale and larger versions. (See this website for the custom lever harps:  https://reesharps.com/rees-harps-marketplace/.)  I had ordered a Sharpsicle that had a finish that wasn’t perfect, but the savings was perfect for me!  The folks at Rees harps were amazing. Even though the harp had been finished, they added extra levers for me on the Gs and Bs (in addition to the Fs and Cs that the Sharpsicle comes with).  Based on the curriculum I was planning to use, these were requirements for me.  Extra levers are only $11 each at the time of this writing, which is an amazingly low price in my opinion!  I also bought the lap bar, strap, and display stand.  More about those later...

The harp was very well packed at suffered no damage in shipping.  The box and the harp are very light, which I know will be very helpful when I begin therapy down the road.  Since the weather was temperate, I unboxed the harp at the time it arrived.  However, it is important to note that if you have very hot or cold weather outside when your harp arrives, and your home is quite a different temperature, you should allow the harp to sit until it reaches room temperature.  At least that’s what I’ve read!

The first day she arrived (yes, this harp is definitely a lady as she has a bit of pink and is close to a champagne color), I tuned her twice.  On the second day, it was three times.  Yes, she went out of tune that quickly!  On the third day, it was basically about 1.5 times.  In the evening, I only had to adjust a couple of strings.  It is now the morning of the fourth day, and I think I only turned 4 or 5 strings.  All of this is normal with new harps, according to what I've read.  It's a little time consuming, but it's good practice!

Why Therapy?

My mother passed away just over a year ago after being seriously ill for about six months. I witnessed many things that I hope you will never see. I felt the loneliness of the elderly, many of whom seemed forgotten. I visited my mother every other day and the residents got so used to seeing me that they thought I worked there. I saw how important it was to those with dementia just to see another person, to hear music, to have a moment of special attention.

I knew that my mother always loved music, particularly church music. After her first stroke, she barely communicated, but when I played music on my cell phone or sang from her old hymnal, she very clearly responded. Her eyes would flutter open and she even tried to sing.  After she was transferred to an assisted living facility, I developed a habit of singing her favorite hymns to her for a short while each day after bringing her back to her room after breakfast. Little did I realize that I was providing a little therapy to her!  I only knew it made her happy. 

Once her illness progressed, and hospice was called, I came several times a day, each time playing her favorite hymns and religious music on my cell phone. I know that she heard it, and that it made things a little better for her during those difficult times.

But after she was gone, the memory of my mother’s music faded…until now.

If you read my earlier posts, you know that I was in search of a new instrument to play. When I began my research and finally chose the harp, I came upon several websites that explained the concept of harp therapy.  Something crystalized in me.  It became clear - learning the harp as an instrument of therapy was the path I should take.

Harp therapy requires special training, and ideally certification.  I really wanted to do things right, so this meant not only learning to play, but also learning the specific techniques used for harp therapy.  There are four programs accredited by the National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians (http://www.nsbtm.org/).  Two of the four programs would require significant travel for me, so I looked more closely at the other two:  Harp for Healing https://www.harpforhealing.com/, and Harp Therapy International http://www.harptherapyinternational.com/ . Take a look and see which one interests you most.

All of the programs require some proficiency in harp before you can begin. This is because you will be learning about the therapy techniques, and won’t have time to begin a new instrument at that point. Each program has suggested curriculum for harp instruction. Harp for Healing suggests that you complete all three levels of Verlene Schermer's Harp Newbies:  http://www.verlene.com/newbielesson1.html.  Harp Therapy International uses the training materials found here:  http://www.emeraldharp.com/rainbow-of-sound-books-dvds/  and   http://www.emeraldharp.com/creative-harp-series-1-10/online-streaming-creative-harp-series-1-10/ . Each program uses its own approach, so see which one might work best in your own situation.  I think that either – or even both – would be a good choice.  Yes, there people who complete both!  I think this makes some sense, because continuing education credits are required by all accredited programs.

At the present, I am working towards entering the Harp for Healing curriculum.  I must admit that part of this decision was cost.  But I also have great appreciation for the kind and helpful advice that I’ve received from this group and also Verlene Schermer.  Because of finances, I haven’t directly contacted the representatives from other training methods – didn’t want to take up their time if I felt it would be a stretch for me.  But I don’t want to make my decision final just yet.  I see great merit in both Harp for Healing and Harp Therapy International.

Finding My Harp

When I set out on a research project, I become a little obsessive.  I watch a hundred videos, countless articles and reviews, numerous threads on harp boards – you name it!  I like to, as they say, “leave no stone unturned.”  During my research, I also determined that I wanted to pursue therapy harp, which will be the topic of a later post.  But, that decision was very important because it led me in the direction of a lap harp instead of a floor harp.  I knew that I could only afford one harp, and also that I couldn't lug a floor harp to nursing homes and the like.

So now, even though I am a newbie (more on that later too), I will offer a little advice to any others out there considering the purchase of a low priced lap harp.  This will be primarily for new students in the United States (though the magic of internet and global shipping might make it possible for many others).  I will tell you the different options I pursued, in hopes that this might help someone else.

Low Budget Lap Harps

Pakistani Harps:  If there is one nearly universal opinion when buying inexpensive harps, it is stay away from harps made in Pakistan. With one exception, they seem to be very poorly made, from heavy woods such as rosewood that do not produce the best sound, and with levers that frequently malfunction. (Sharping levers enable you to play in many keys, basically similar to the black keys on a piano.) I cannot tell you how many knowledgeable harpers/harpists said to stay away from these harps! (Probably because I didn’t save the links ;)  There have been a few anecdotal accounts of the Pakistani harps working pretty well other than the levers, but it seems the tiny minority. 

However, there may be an exception:  Mikel Harps http://mikelharps.com/mikel-lever-harps/.  This particular company seems to be working hard to shed that low quality image, and it seems that their latest models have many improvements. Because I didn’t have funds to buy a second harp if I had made an error, I didn’t go this route. However, I would reconsider Mikel at a later date, after they have perfected their new models.

Cardboard Soundbox Harps:  Believe it or not, most experts would prefer that you buy a harp kit with a cardboard soundbox over a Pakistani harp!  These harp kits are made by at least two companies:  Waring Music and Backyard Music.  They don’t have as many strings as I’d like, and might not be the best choice if you are travelling a lot, as for therapy. Still, the videos show that they produce nice sounds. The Backyard Music Fireside Folk Harp is probably the better choice as I hear that you can later add levers:  http://www.backyardmusic.com/Harps.html.  The Waring kit isn’t designed for levers:  https://waringmusic.com/product/waring-harp/. It also doesn’t have the harmonic curve at the top.

Mid-Budget Lap Harps

Harpsicle Harps:  Rees is the company that manufactures Harpsicles,  along with their cousins the Sharpsicles, Flatsicles, and Fullsicles.  These are good quality instruments at great prices. The models and their prices are based on how many levers they include, with Sharpsicles having levers on F and C, Flatsicles F, C, and B, and Fullsicles on all strings.  If you visit this page:  https://harpsicleharps.com/discounted-harps-ready-to-ship/, you can save even more on discontinued models and seconds. Of course their regular prices are still very competitive.

Magical Strings:  This company makes some lovely harps that you can listen to online.  Check them out here:  http://www.magicalstrings.com/HarpsDulcimers.html. I didn’t choose this company since I had decided I needed a lightweight harp with a minimum of 26 strings. Their smaller harps have 24 strings.

Dusty Strings:  A little higher on the price scale, but possibly worth it!  I’ve heard many good things about their instruments, particularly from harp teachers.  You may want to seriously consider the lowest price model, the Ravenna 26 string harp if you're on a budget:  https://manufacturing.dustystrings.com/harps/browse-models/ravenna-26.

Used Lap Harps

This is another option to consider, particularly if you can view the harps in person. Here are a few of the many websites where you can find harps from reputable dealers:  Virginia Harp Center https://www.vaharpcenter.com/harps/used-harps/, Kolacny Music http://kolacnymusic.com/harps_sale/usedconsignment-harps/, and Melody’s Traditional Music https://www.folkharp.com/650-used-harps. I spoke to Melody’s over the phone and they were very helpful, but a little out of my price range mainly due to shipping costs.  Shipping on harps can be extremely expensive, so don’t forget to ask in advance, regardless of the company!

Rental Harps

There seem to be many stores and teachers who rent harps.  It would be ideal to see these harps if possible. Rentals have an advantage in that you can try several harps before deciding on a model to purchase later. Some companies also have rent to own plans.

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This listing just scratches the surface of lower priced lap harps. I looked at many other sites, which just didn’t work in my circumstances.  One in particular that I really hoped to buy a kit from was John Kovac’s website:  http://www.johnkovac.com/kits.html.  He was so kind to me when corresponding, but unfortunately he no longer makes the kits.  He still has a few completed harps at the time of this writing. Seems like a great person, so I’d recommend contacting him if you are looking.

After I searched for many long hours, drooling at the higher prices harps, I still had great difficulty making my decision.  In such cases, it’s a good idea to seek advice from those who know more.  I called shops, emailed prospective teachers, and read about the harps used in therapy.  I also joined a harp group on Facebook that was extremely helpful in providing me with many valid insights.  Finally, I considered the fact that I don’t have a teacher nearby, and do not live in or near a city with a harp store.  Therefore, I wanted a more common brand with lots of YouTube videos showing how to tune, change strings, adjust levers, etc.  

All of these considerations, as well as price and quality, led me to choose Harpsicle Harps.  Pictured at right is a similar model.  My harp will arrive in two days!

A New Beginning

I find myself in a time of transitions. My children are older and not at home. My husband has retired. My parents are both gone. My home will be on the market in a couple of months and we will be moving into a smaller space.  All of these transitions have lead to introspection and a desire to change direction. And that is where my Harp Story begins.

Why harp?  It's true that I have always like hearing harp, but no more so than my other favorite instruments, cello and bassoon. Part of my decision to pursue harp was logical. I had to downsize my home, and sell my rarely used piano since it took up so much space. Even though I only played it a few times a year lately, without it, my house seemed empty. I don't mean empty as in removing clutter for selling your house. I guess I mean that I felt empty. Just knowing my piano was there throughout my life brought me comfort - as I might play it whenever the mood struck.  

In researching what replacement instrument would be best for someone who could (passably) play the piano, I decided on these options:  bowed psaltery, zither, and harp.  The bowed psaltery was out - many YouTube videos showed me that the sound could be piercing. It wasn't the calming music I wanted to hear, even though I loved the setup of the strings that so resembled a piano.  Still, if you like violin and the idea of using a bow, it might be a good option for you!

T K O'Brien "Lap Harp" or Zither

I came to believe that the zither (sometimes called lap harp) might be the best option. Even a beautiful model wasn't much over $100, and then I could determine if I liked the feeling of plucking strings before making a major investment.  So, I bought the very lovely T K O'Brien Custom Lap Harp in walnut. It took me all of 5 minutes to realize that I do like plucking strings!

I played it for a few days, and even arranged some music for it, which was a little challenging since it has just 16 strings and is tuned in the key of G.  At this point, I had already decided to pursue harp, but thought I might play around with my current instrument for awhile. However, when I began to watch instructional harp videos, I realized that this might be a mistake. The way I was holding my hands and fingers was all wrong, and I began to wonder if I might develop counterproductive habits. So I set the zither aside and did a lot of research on harps.  And the zither did teach me one important thing:  I needed to be able to create sharps and flats on my instrument. Coming from piano, I would be very frustrated without them!

At this point, I felt that I was moving in a new direction, and I knew which way I was going.