Harp news...
Jun. 20th, 2007 02:04 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jim_p(Cross posted to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
harp, but I figured some of my other friends might want to see this as well...)
File this under "I can't believe this is happening"....
Short form of the story: I'm now playing pedal harp, years before I thought it would be possible.
I started harp lessons about a year and a half ago on a 29-string Pakistani harp I bought on eBay. It was a nice little instrument, but I quickly found myself needing more strings (its bottom note was C-below-middle-C, and a lot of music dips into the octave below that). I found a teacher who teaches both lever and pedal, and sought to learn classical technique in case I ever moved up to pedal harp "someday"
Then I found that The Harp Connection has a very nice rental program. For $60/month I could have the use of a late-model L&H Troubador V 36-string lever harp. It was a very nice instrument, and I made a lot of pogress on it.
About a month ago, when my choral group was on tour to Jamestown, VA, I got to chatting with a friend in the chorale. I casually mentioned "Yeah, Monday is my music day... harp lesson in the morning, then chorale rehearsal in the evening". Her ears perked up... "Did I hear you say harp?".
Long story short, she had been an amateur pedal harpist for a number of years, but had to give it up due to sciatica among other things. She had a beautiful old L&H Style 22 that was sitting around, much loved but unplayed, and she was toying around with renting it out to make a little money and make sure it got the playing it deserved.
Since the rental period on the Troubador was coming to an end, I had to decide whether to extend the rental for another year or buy the Troubador... and all of a sudden Door #3 was opened in front of my eyes!
My teacher and I went to my friend's house to look the harp over. Both the harp and my friends met with great approval from the teacher. I sat down and played it, and it felt totally natural. The Troubador is designed with exactly the same string spacing and tension as L&H pedal harps, which is why I felt right at home. I even played around with the pedals a bit (I already knew the theory and arrangement of pedals, which helped). Arrangements were made, and last Sunday my friends brought her over. I think she fits right in with the decor of the dining room... here's a pic:
While I was returning the Troubador to the Harp Connection, I picked up some new music. Yesterday I had my first lesson on pedals. I think I'm going to have a blast!
harp, but I figured some of my other friends might want to see this as well...)File this under "I can't believe this is happening"....
Short form of the story: I'm now playing pedal harp, years before I thought it would be possible.
I started harp lessons about a year and a half ago on a 29-string Pakistani harp I bought on eBay. It was a nice little instrument, but I quickly found myself needing more strings (its bottom note was C-below-middle-C, and a lot of music dips into the octave below that). I found a teacher who teaches both lever and pedal, and sought to learn classical technique in case I ever moved up to pedal harp "someday"
Then I found that The Harp Connection has a very nice rental program. For $60/month I could have the use of a late-model L&H Troubador V 36-string lever harp. It was a very nice instrument, and I made a lot of pogress on it.
About a month ago, when my choral group was on tour to Jamestown, VA, I got to chatting with a friend in the chorale. I casually mentioned "Yeah, Monday is my music day... harp lesson in the morning, then chorale rehearsal in the evening". Her ears perked up... "Did I hear you say harp?".
Long story short, she had been an amateur pedal harpist for a number of years, but had to give it up due to sciatica among other things. She had a beautiful old L&H Style 22 that was sitting around, much loved but unplayed, and she was toying around with renting it out to make a little money and make sure it got the playing it deserved.
Since the rental period on the Troubador was coming to an end, I had to decide whether to extend the rental for another year or buy the Troubador... and all of a sudden Door #3 was opened in front of my eyes!
My teacher and I went to my friend's house to look the harp over. Both the harp and my friends met with great approval from the teacher. I sat down and played it, and it felt totally natural. The Troubador is designed with exactly the same string spacing and tension as L&H pedal harps, which is why I felt right at home. I even played around with the pedals a bit (I already knew the theory and arrangement of pedals, which helped). Arrangements were made, and last Sunday my friends brought her over. I think she fits right in with the decor of the dining room... here's a pic:
While I was returning the Troubador to the Harp Connection, I picked up some new music. Yesterday I had my first lesson on pedals. I think I'm going to have a blast!
