My First Broken String!

YOUGUYS. It happened! Either while I was out or while I was sleeping... which is how everyone said it would happen. I always imagined my first broken string would smack me in the eye while I was playing and render me blind... Fortunately it's a pretty high note I don't use too often, so I can live with the harp like this while I wait for a replacement. (Again, really wishing there were harp stores everywhere so I wouldn't have to wait, it can't be good for the harp to sit like this!) It's about time for another video! I have a few new songs I've been working on, and from the photo you can see that I have a new friend to introduce ^_~ !

Harp Shopping!

I took a day trip to the magnificent Virginia Harp Center today, mainly to make googly eyes at all the pretty harps and hopefully get closer to making a decision about what to do with my rent-to-own Troubadour VI when the 6mo is over. (My mind is made up now!) I have a really inexplicable emotional reaction when I'm around a lot of instruments at once. I get overwhelmed. Am I alone? (Almost afraid to ask - Is this diagnosable? Ha...) There's just something so awesome and comforting about it... Anyway! I spent a great deal of time gazing at and playing a new Style 100 (oh em gee, I think it's *the one* you guys!) and also playing a used Style 30 circa 1967... Both harps blew me away in person in a way you can't really read about or hear in recordings. I gave a few other harps a chance, but nothing compared to the Style 100. For me, it's the total package. I got some excellent advice from the forum at harpcolumn.com ~ A kind soul suggested that I have the person working at the harp center play the harps for me so I could hear how they fill a room rather than just what they sound like as you play them. The woman at VHC was more than accommodating, and hearing the harps from a distance really helped me get a feel for the volume, character, and tone of the individual instruments. Again, I wish that harp stores were everywhere so I could do this every week. However, I am fortunate that the VHC isn't too terribly far from where I live. I've got some big decisions to make soon!

Shit Harpists Say

The girl walking in on the broken string is the best part. :)

First Recital: Check!

I played in my first recital last night! Of course, I made my nails super fancy to mark the occasion. It was my first time transporting my harp, first time playing in front of people I don't know (live), first time with my name written on any sort of music program in at least 7 years... it was so fun! My Troubadour VI fit beautifully in the folded down back seat of my husband's Honda Civic... Now I only need to gain more confidence and learn to drive a stick shift and I'll be all set for playing more in public! Everyone at the recital was very warm and encouraging! I played a small song from my rinkydink beginner harp lesson book and then my Clair de Lune/Pavane combo... It wasn't perfect, but I got through it fine - shaking hands and all! My teacher, Kelsey, played a neat Celtic medley with a recorder player and violinist (pretty awesome!). Kelsey's teacher, Amy, played Impromptu Caprice by Gabriel Pierne, which is the most insanely awesome thing I've witnessed on harp to date. The harmonics! BOOM! I was so impressed. After the recital, we mingled a bit and I mustered up the courage to ask to play Amy's pedal harp -- it's a Lyon & Healy semi grand, I don't remember the model but it's over 10 years old and has a really beautiful sound. The sound quality and general feel are so extremely different than my Troubadour. It was a dream come true for me, just to play a few arpeggios and push a couple of pedals down and see the mechanisms in action and hear the result. I left the recital feeling giddy and accomplished! I'm so grateful to have been included last night! I'm also very excited that the recital is over, because now I can start focusing on NEW THINGS!!

Unwillingly Anxious & Shy

We had some friends over recently for small a dinner party and I was so thrilled at the thought of playing my harp for more than just our cats or whoever happened to be walking by our house on nice days when I'm practicing with the windows open... but I clammed up. I froze. I saw faces of people I admire and adore and for some reason instead of it comforting and empowering me, I was terrified. I wanted them to be impressed by my progress but I could barely handle the silence and their focus as they all patiently waited for me to play a note. None of these people play harp, they have no idea how it should sound, they won't recognize the tiny songs I've been learning, but I was petrified. I eventually managed to convince them to look away & carry on a conversation and I played a few songs somewhat smoothly. I don't know how I'll overcome it, ultimately, or if many of the performers I admire so much are even over it after multiple albums released and concerts played. Actually, I've heard Chan Marshall has stage fright. If that's true, I know I'm in good company. Shy, reclusive musicians unite!

Clair de Lune/Pavane Pour Une Infante Défunte (segments)

I'm making some progress on two pieces that are very dear to me... Clair de Lune is my favourite classical song - My aunt played this song as I walked down the aisle at my wedding a year ago & Pavane is for my lovely friend Caroline, who got a few bars of the sheet music tattooed to her forearm at the tender age of 18 and somehow managed to keep it a secret from her family for months. Ha!

Both arrangements come from Classical Selections - Book II (for lever harp, yay!) by Angi Bemiss & Balfour Knight. I find these arrangements the perfect challenge for my current skill set. Maybe they are even a bit beyond my level, but I think they are simple enough that I should be able to master them with continued practice. I also really love playing classical music rather than the tiny exercises in my lesson book, although I understand it's important to remain focused on the basics as I progress.

Style 100, I love you so...

I love love love the harp, but I am a grungy 20something with an overwhelming fondness for rock music, victorian homes, and cat videos. As fun as I think it would be to eventually be good enough to play in an orchestra, I'm more interested in exploring what else I can do with harp. I dream of being on stage at some cozy venue wearing a long flowing gown and rocking out on pedal harp as my husband accompanies on banjo... Actually, my favourite recent past time has been playing my electric guitar & looping it through the amp and then improvising a melody over it on the harp. It's such a pain to get both instruments in tune together, but it's well worth it!

I've spent some time looking online at pedal harps (like a kid looking through a toy store window, knowing mom & dad aren't going to stop for me to go in), but I keep finding myself coming to the same absurd conclusion - columns either look so silly and pretentious, or they're just lackluster and unspectacular like an extremely long newel from a boring stairwell for giants! However, the Lyon & Healy Style 100 is totally speaking my language. I feel like the column has a funky, art deco quality to it while remaining formal and elegant. I also think the retro-ness of it makes it more interesting when I consider its separation from its natural habitat (orchestra, wedding). The Style 30 is also awesomely designed, but I'm not completely sold on the shape of the body. I'm bummed that harps aren't as popular as guitars so that I could have my choice of many fine manufacturers, but as long as Lyon & Healy keep making the Style 100 I think I'll be all set. Now... if I could only find $22,500...