That's a Wrap

Well, another successful and delightful Spring recital is in the books.  Now everyone can heave a sigh of relief.  The benefits of performing in a recital far outweigh the butterflies beforehand!  The experience you gain and the confidence that comes with each performance is invaluable.  A lot of planning, practice and preparation goes into making it a successful experience.
   

Here are some tips, pointers and suggestions to help you prepare and be proud of any performance:

The way you practice in preparation for a performance is different than daily practice.  Start playing your piece from start to finish; instead of working on it in small segments as you have been doing.  Always work on those rough spots as you go if they crop up.  Have places in your piece where you can go to if things fall apart (called repair points), so that you can skip ahead or backward to those spots and carry on. Sometime, I'll tell the story of when my mind went completely blank in the middle of a performance.  Thank goodness for my repair point!!  It saved the day.  Make sure that you have the beginning of your piece very solid under your fingers.  That's the time you are likely to have the most butterflies and your fingers may be shaking.   If you slightly tense up your fingers during those moments, it will help with the shaking.  Once you are into the music a few bars, you probably will relax.

When you have it perfected, play your piece for your family, friends or video recorder.  It is very different from just playing for yourself in the comfort of your room.  Videoing yourself is a real learning experience.  You get to see your posture, your facial expressions, your technique as well as hearing yourself play the piece.   I also have my students practice how they will end.  When you finish, dampen the strings with both hands and lower the harp, signaling your piece is finished.  Then to wild applause, walk to the front of your harp, put one hand on the column and slowly bow.  A fun thing for students to say (to themselves, of course) as you bow down - "Did I wear my shoes today?" and then on the way up - "Yes, I wore my shoes today!"  This makes the bow slower and more stately than a bob!  And don't forget to smile and now is the time to look at your audience!

The day is finally here!  Your appearance at the recital is important.  Fuller, longer skirts or dresses, or pants are appropriate attire - especially if you are on a stage.  How you wear your hair is important too.  The audience wants to see your face, so pin hair back on the left side, maybe with a pretty clip, especially if it is long.  Even long bangs which fall into your face and have to be brushed away can be distracting to those watching.

Try to focus on the beautiful music you are making and don't let your thoughts get distracted - "How does my hair look?", "Oh darn, I made a mistake, what will everyone think?",  "Oh my goodness, everyone is looking at me!"  If you make a mistake - and you probably will because everyone does from time to time - just keep going. Don't stop or go over that spot to make it right, just continue on as if that's what you meant to do.  Also, don't give it away with your facial expression or head shake.  Chances are, the audience won't even be aware you made a mistake!  They are too busy enjoying the beautiful music.  Don't beat yourself up!  Learn from any mistakes you made and just plan on doing better next time.


In the end - the preparation, dedication, practice and follow-through that you learned will help you in any endeavor you pursue in the future.  And, after all your hard work perfecting the piece, consider playing it at different venues afterwards - church, nursing homes, school talent shows, etc.

 

How do I find the perfect lever harp for me?

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe - which is the best harp!  Since I am frequently involved in helping students and friends buy or sell their harps; I want to share what I think is important in choosing THE one.  Finding the perfect harp for you can be a daunting process, especially if you are new to the harp world.  There are almost limitless variables to consider and since a good harp is a big investment, you want to be as informed as possible.  Initially, I always advise new students to rent for a few months, for a couple of reasons - first, to make sure that playing the harp is something you want to pursue; and second, to become better versed on what is the best harp for you.  After playing for just a little while, you will develop an ear, appreciate the sounds of different styles of harps and develop preferences.

Since most beginners will start on a lever harp, the focus here will be on smaller harps.  We will discuss additional features of pedal harps at a later date.

In making your selection, you first have to be able to answer the questions below.  Your teacher will be a big asset in helping you:

How many strings to I want on my harp? Folk harps range from 28 strings to 40.
Do I want full levers, none, or partial?
Is ease of moving the harp important to me?
Do I want new harp with a warranty and a higher price tag, or used "as is"?
What string spacing works most comfortably with my hand?
Do I like looser tension or tighter?
Is the size right for my height - is it comfortable to sit behind the harp?
Which type of harp back feels best resting on my shoulder - square (stave back) or round?
Is the harp strung in folk or pedal gauge strings?  Which feels best on my finger tips?
Is nylon the sound that I like or do I prefer the sound of gut strings?
Is the harp made by a reputable manufacturer?
How much am I willing to spend?
And lastly, what wood finish and overall look do I like?  Strictly a personal decision there.

If you are considering a used harp.  There are many places to look for a quality used instrument.  Again, help will be invaluable in this area from your teacher.  When purchasing used, here are some additional questions to ask the seller:
   Age of harp - serial number.  The age can be verified with the manufacturer.
   History of ownership - original owner?
   Has it been keep strung, regularly played?
   Where has it been housed?
   What accessories come with it?
   Any cracks and dings - are they structural or merely cosmetic which can be repaired?

   Be sure to play the harp and assess the sound and feel.  Then weigh the cost and quality of a
   used harp at a lower price with the comparable new harp with a warranty.

GOOD LUCK - and happy harping!

Care and Feeding of your Harp

Whether you are renting or own your harp(s), you will want to take the best care possible of them.  A harp - large or small - is a big investment. You want it to last a long time.

PLACEMENT  Never place your harp in a window which has direct sunlight.  Sunlight will dry out your strings, as well as damage the wood by drying out the natural oils and bleaching the wood.  An interior wall may be best, but an exterior wall even with a window is okay if the direct sunlight never streams in.  Be mindful of where your heating and A/C ducts are and try to keep your harp out of the direct line of fire.  Be sure to keep your harp, especially smaller ones, are out of traffic areas in your home - away from dogs, kids and adults too!  If your harp is on a rug and the padding is thick, it may be a little tippy.  One solution, is to make a small wooden platform to place your harp on to make it more secure.

CLEANING  Frequent dusting is important to prevent build up.  A feather duster works beautifully for me, except in the area of lever or tuning discs and crevices.  Here is where a soft bristled paint brush comes in handy.  It can clean out and dust all those small grooves.  Never use furniture polish, cleaning products or oil on the wood of any kind.  Always check with your harp manufacturer for what is appropriate to put on your harp's finish.  The finish may interact negatively.   If your harp has gold leaf, be careful to not touch it with your hands.  Over time, it will tarnish the finish.

HANDS   Wash your hands before playing.  Don't eat a greasy chicken leg and then sit down to play your harp!  The same applies to hand lotion.  Everything will transfer to the strings.  From a practical standpoint, wait awhile to play after having your hands in water for any extended period of time.  The skin on your fingers soften and that can make paying painful.  More about the position of your hands later.  :)

JEWELRY  Also be mindful of the jewelry you are wearing.  A watchband on your wrist can hit the soundboard especially when you left hand moves up to play the upper registers.  You may not even realize that is happening, but over time can damage the finish.  Make sure there are no sequins, rhinestones, studs or buttons to scratch the finish.  Even your belt buckle can scratch if you are standing close while tuning.  Any jewelry can be a problem - dangling earrings, bracelets, pins, watches, necklaces, etc.

HUMIDITY  Humidity is as important as temperature in making sure your harp is happy.  A good rule of thumb is - if you are comfortable, your harp will be comfortable too.  The ideal humidity level is between 40% and 60%.  If you are concerned about the humidity in your home, you can purchase a relatively inexpensive hygrometer to measure moisture content.  If you live in Arizona where it is very dry or Florida, where it is very damp, you might do well to check the humidity levels.  There are humidifiers and dehumidifiers to fix the problem.  Also, if you are on the east coast and your house is overheated in wintertime, that can dry out the wood on your harp.

Tuning, strings, transporting, and regulations will be discussed at a later date.