Play the Harp Beautifully

If you’ve read my earlier posts, you may know that I’ve switched method books and am now using “Play the Harp Beautifully” by Pamela Bruner.  I am not so amazing with my technique, but I do feel that I’m improving since using her books found here:  http://pamelabrunermusic.com/harp_books.php.  If you buy them at this website, you can purchase the PDF version and won’t have to pay or wait for shipping:  https://www.fleur-de-lyre.ca/products/play-the-harp-beautifully-level-1 and https://www.fleur-de-lyre.ca/collections/educational/products/play-the-harp-beautifully-level-2-digital-download. Don’t let the higher price on this second link scare you, as it’s in Canadian dollars.  I also just received the DVD which goes with her series, and it includes both levels 1 and 2. So, you can have two levels including books and DVD instruction for about $100 plus CD shipping.    

Here’s why I prefer this series over some of the others:

1.  Examples are pleasant to hear and play. It’s getting challenging, near the end of the first book, but it’s still enjoyable.

2.  They are divided into chapters. Some books just go on and on, but these have concise units with reviews that make you feel like you’ve accomplished something!  Once you have (kind of) mastered a unit, you know it’s time to move on to the next, which leads me to…

3.  They are logical.  You know where you stand and when to keep practicing before going to the next chapter.

4.  The DVD shows her playing every selection. My previous method books only had videos of certain exercises, not every piece.

5.  Book 2 looks exciting!  Who doesn’t want to have something to strive for?  Once you download or purchase the second book, you can see all the great topics and arrangements that are ahead.  Book 2 seems to have all the techniques I’m longing to try, such as Glissandos, Rolled Chords, and Grace Notes.  It also has a few topics that I’m not so sure I look forward to, but that I really must learn, like cross overs and unders and lever changes.

6.  Book 2 has many pieces that will be a valuable part of any repertory.  These include Eleanor Plunkett, The Ash Grove, Danny Boy, Morning Has Broken, Scarborough Fair, Greensleeves, and more.

Harp for the Holidays

I’m sure that someday I’ll be able to play quite a few holiday songs, but it’s slow going for this year.  Beginner arrangements that are pretty are a little hard to come by, but I have a few suggestions if you’re in the same position as me.  Give Christy-Lyn Marais’ “O Come, Emmanuel” a try if you are a late beginner, or “Silent Night” if you wish to sing while playing the harp.  I think that I would have been able to learn “Silent Night,” but my singing voice is too deep for the key in which it is written.  Most women would be able to sing along though (contralto here!). Christy-Lyn also has written “Star Guide,” which is a new holiday composition.  This last piece is the easiest of the three.  Find them all here:  https://www.christylynmusic.com/shop.

If you are looking for more beginner options, take a look at Anne Crosby Gaudet’s “3 Easy Christmas Solos for Harp” found here:  https://musicdiscoveries.shop/products/3-easy-christmas-carols-harp.  My video below shows the third song in the collection, “The First Noël.” The two others are “Silent Night” and “What Child Is This.”  I’m planning on learning the last song at some point as well, since it can be played year around as “Greensleeves.”

I’ll go into greater detail about sheet music when I am more experienced.  You can learn a lot by watching YouTube videos and figuring out which harpists write the types of arrangements that you prefer.  So far, my favorites are the two mentioned above as well as Sylvia Woods.  At this point, I’m in search of late beginner sheet music that would be appropriate for a 3-5 minute therapy type piece.  I’m planning ahead for my application for Harp for Healing, as I am certainly not late beginner yet!  I need to be at an early intermediate level before I can apply, but it’s fun to dream about it.

So here I am playing “The First Noël," one month after receiving my harp.  Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah too!

  

Optimal

What is optimal when it comes to buying a harp?  I think there is a different answer for each person!  Yes, I have already discovered a few things I wish were different with my new harp…sigh…  But, I’m sure I’d feel this way about any harp.  Perhaps this is why so many harpists have more than one. 

I’m making a list of what I wish this harp had, and also the features that I can already tell that I love.

What I love about the Flatsicle with extra levers on the G strings:

1.    Weight – feels like it’s basically nothing.  Many of my purses weigh more.  I think this harp would be ideal if you need to move around and walk with it for hours at a time.

2.    Balance – although I’ve read that it’s harder to start with a small harp like mine, I find it relatively easy to balance as long as I use the harp stick with the shoulder strap.

3.    Levers on same side as tuning pins – from what I’ve read, this is not typical for harps, but it’s very convenient!  I can easily see which string I’m tuning, which makes it quick and efficient.

4.    Harp Stick – love this thing!  After about an hour it feels hard on your thighs, but it still isn’t uncomfortable.  I can imagine that using a stick on a heavier harp might not be so much fun, but it’s perfect with my harp!

5.    Color – so delicate and pretty.  As you may know, my harp was a second because of the wood grain showing through the white finish.  Basically, I got a discount because it wasn’t semi-solid whitish.  To be honest, I prefer it like this!  The color is like champagne, not quite rosé, but there is a hint of warmth.  I think it’s perfect for therapy!

What I might want different next time:

1.    Different bass strings – I can order the upgraded bass strings from Rees Harps, maker of Harpsicles, but I wish I had done this from the start.  The sound of the entry level bass strings does not match the beauty of the others.  I need to do a video of the same song with the current strings and the upgraded strings when I buy them!

2.    More levers – actually full levers!  I’m finding that there are already songs that I won’t be able to play (because I’m naughty and try out things that aren’t beginner level).  First I came upon songs that needed E flats, and then D sharps. 

3.    More strings/larger harp – I can see where this is going!  No, I don’t need them, but I think a larger harp with more strings would be so nice to have.  In my research, the harp weight issue was really exaggerated.  This made me go for a very light weight harp, which wasn’t necessary.  I’m not young, but I still would be able to carry a much heavier harp.  (Note that I’m over 5’8” and not slender.  This could be very different for someone my age who is slight of build.)  In an ideal situation, it would be nice to have a larger and heavier harp when harp therapy wouldn’t require a lot of moving around.

4.    Nicer strap – I got the least expensive strap.  It’s functional but not comfortable.  My plan is to take it apart and make something softer.  The edges of the low cost strap from Harpsicle are a little rough on your neck/shoulder area if you’re wearing a tank top, for example.  And this is Florida…

5.    Movement – Yes, it balances pretty well.  But since I made my first video, I did notice that it moves.  I wasn’t expecting that, as I don’t notice it while I’m playing.