Hello!
I have just bought 22- string celtic harp and I’d be very thankful if someone more experienced player could give me some advice how to start practise harp playing. Is there some super good practising book for instance…just something to get started with. I have tried to get a teacher but I don’t think that there are too many celtic harp players here in Finland. And other question, my harp is Scottish wolfstone harp the GlenLoth model. Does anybody know anything about it. I like the harp and I’ve tried to find some information about it from the internet but haven’t found anything. Thanks in advance.
Is it a nylon-stringed harp? If so, I recommend the book “Teach Yourself to Play the Folk Harp” by Sylvia Woods. Since you don’t have a teacher yet, I highly recommend getting the video DVD as well…she gives a lot of helpful information on technique in that, and you can actually watch her hands, which is helpful. What I don’t know, however, is if the DVD is zoned for all regions…you might want to email and ask. This will get you started off right, with placing correctly and focusing on good hand position and posture. I also highly recommend finding a teacher if you can…even if you can only visit the teacher once in a while. There are some things that it’s just easier to learn from a live person, and it’s easier to fall into mistakes if you don’t have a teacher to keep you focused.
You can find the Sylvia Woods book and video here:
Redwolf
Actually, here’s a direct link to the book:
http://harpcenter.com/page/SWHC/PROD/SWBooks/5111Z
Redwolf
Congratulations on the new harp!
Some other useful books I’ve had luck with teaching to play harp in a traditional style are:
“The Small Harp” by Alison Kinnaird, Kinmor Music, ISBN 0-9511204-2-5 which you can get directly from
http://www.templerecords.co.uk/newwebsite/home.php
and
“Coupled Hands for Harpers” by Ann Heymann, Clairseach Music, ISBN0-9621867-40, and can get this directly from Ann at http://www.clairseach.com/
Both of these are great resources for tunes, ornaments, and technique.
Best of Luck!!!
Chad
I love the Kinnaird book, but found it more difficult to use without a teacher. One of the things I like about the Woods book and DVD is it presumes you don’t have a teacher, so is very clear about such things as hand position, placement, fingerings, using brackets, etc.
You didn’t mention, Weaveress, if you’ve been able to find a teacher. I would say that, whatever you start out with, it’s worth continuing to look for one, even if it takes you a while to find one. I’ve been playing since January, but I’m amazed at the progress I’ve made in the few months I’ve been working with a good teacher.
Redwolf
Thank you for your advice! Yes my harp is nylon stringed, I forgot to mention. I have also found a teacher, she plays pedalharp. I was thinking if that would be a problem, since I’m playing folk harp (I haven’t had any lessons yet). But I think that it has same hand positions etc.?
Does your teacher have any experience with the folk/Celtic harp? Some things are the same, yes…but some things are different. For example, the pedal harp has much higher tension on the strings, and thus often requires a different technique from the folk harp. If she has experience with playing the folk harp, however, she could be a great help. Can you ask her what kind of a background she has with this instrument? It’s not unusual for classical harpists to start out on a lever harp, so she may actually be quite knowledgeable.
Redwol
So Weavress…how goes the harping?
Redwolf
Thank you for asking, I’m embarrassed to admit that I haven’t played that much:oops: . I haven’t been able to meet my teacher yet (she lives in another city). But my determined intention is to get that Sylvia Woods book and start playing immediately. You asked me has my teacher played folk harp. Well I don’t know but she seemed to know quite much about that subject and about folk harps. What about your playing, is it going well?
Yes, it’s going well, though I’m struggling a bit with my left hand position again. Just when I think I’ve got it automatic, I start focusing on something else, and I’m back to a “claw hand”! It’ll come eventually, however. I’ve been working mostly on Christmas carols recently, and have gotten pretty solid on “What Child is This,” “The First Nowell,” “O Sanctissima,” “Silent Night” and “Christ Child’s Lullabye.”
Sounds like your teacher should be just fine.
Redwolf
Can I cut in here and ask you what would be a good enty level harp under 400 dollars? I see the “harpsickle” on sale for 295. I’m looking for a lap harp to accompany my flute playing.
Any suggestions?
For under $400, the Harpsicle is about all you’re going to get in a decent, playable, reasonably well-built instrument. Do not…repeat: DO NOT…buy one of those Pakistani harps (such as those sold by Mid East manufacturing). They seem like a great deal, but they have all kinds of problems, from just plain poor sound, to sound boards and necks that warp and crack, tuning pegs that won’t stay tuned, etc. etc.
The Harpsicle is fine if you’re looking for something light and portable. Lots of people keep them as travel harps or “sing around the campfire” harps (in fact, I’d like to get one exactly for that purpose). You can’t get sharping levers put on them, however (they don’t have bridge pins, so they can’t be added later)…that’s something you’ll want to be aware of. It is not worth spending $495 to get a “Sharpsicle”…at that point you’re better off going a step up in quality.
If you can go a little higher, a Dusty Strings Ravenna like mine is a tremendous value for the money ($595, without levers, but they’re easy to add later). Well made, GREAT tone, and almost as portable. It’s not a lap harp, though…more like a small floor harp.
Redwolf
What key is the harpsicle in? will it facilitate all the trad tunes that I play which are in the same basic keys, D, G, Em, Am, etc. Maybe a dumb question, but i know nothing about the harp.
I was under the impression it was like a piano keyboard.
Thanks for the advice. very much appreaciated
Lee
Well, harps aren’t in “keys”…they simply play a diatonic scale. The Harpsicle goes from the C below middle C up to the G two octaves above middle (three octaves, total). They’re typically tuned to the basic “C” scale. It’s like a piano keyboard without the black keys.
Without levers, you would have to retune to play in most of the keys you mention. An unlevered harp will play in C and its relative minor, unless you tune to a different scale. Bear in mind that tuning the strings more than a step above what they’re intended to be tuned to will likely void any warrantees on your harp.
With levers, you have more flexibility…for example, with C and F levers, you can play in D, G, and their relative minors. But you’d be wasting your money buying a Harpsicle with C and F levers…at that price, you’d be getting a better instrument with an unlevered Ravenna.
You can keep your Harpsicle tuned to a “D” scale (i.e., with the C’s and F’s sharpened) if you typically play music in these keys, but you will need to retune to play something in C, for example. Most of the beginning material in a harper’s repetoire tends to be in C.
Redwolf
Thanks red. I think the harpsicle will be a good start, and I have all the info I needed. I’ll let you know when we record our first track together!
Lee
A good resource for new harpers in the Yahoo Harplist
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Harplist/
Beware of harps on EBay sold under 400.00 most notably the Pakistani harp, which is more for decor than for playing.
Better bet is to visit Blevins harps and check their Specials.
http://www.cindykleinstuber.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=112_176_173_175
Good luck and Happy Harping!