Do you have a question?
Q: What is behind the cost of hiring a harpist?
A: Bringing a harp to any event is no small endeavor; it involves careful packing and loading of the harp into an appropriate vehicle along with its various accessories. Beyond this, a harpist sets her prices within a fair competitive range to account for skill, time and experience. Harps are at the higher end of instruments in cost and take considerable care and regular professional maintenance. Any notable damage to a harp incurs great expense due to the scarcity of available technicians.
Q: Is it hard to play the harp?
A: Yes...perhaps it is, but as with the acquisition of any skill, when you start at the basics you can build a foundation of confidence. Most often when this question is asked, I wonder if perhaps the underlying question is "is it hard to figure it out?" It is not! There is a surprising amount of mechanics working inside a pedal harp while you play, but the main functions of a harp are rather straightforward; the strings are tuned like the white keys of a piano. Whereas a piano uses black keys for chromatics, a pedal harp has seven pedals, each of which is designated to all the octaves of one note (i.e. the C pedal operates all C strings). This allows for strings to become duplicates, which is perhaps the most unique feature of the harp and the reason a glissando can sound so pleasing. On a piano keyboard, the key for C flat is the same as the key for B natural. On a harp, the C string can be adjusted to C flat while the B string remains natural, thus producing two strings with the same note. It's all rather wonderful!
Like anything worthwhile, it takes work. Sometimes I am asked "when did you learn to play the harp?" The fact is, I am still learning, and I believe I always will be (but I began at about age 7).
A: Yes...perhaps it is, but as with the acquisition of any skill, when you start at the basics you can build a foundation of confidence. Most often when this question is asked, I wonder if perhaps the underlying question is "is it hard to figure it out?" It is not! There is a surprising amount of mechanics working inside a pedal harp while you play, but the main functions of a harp are rather straightforward; the strings are tuned like the white keys of a piano. Whereas a piano uses black keys for chromatics, a pedal harp has seven pedals, each of which is designated to all the octaves of one note (i.e. the C pedal operates all C strings). This allows for strings to become duplicates, which is perhaps the most unique feature of the harp and the reason a glissando can sound so pleasing. On a piano keyboard, the key for C flat is the same as the key for B natural. On a harp, the C string can be adjusted to C flat while the B string remains natural, thus producing two strings with the same note. It's all rather wonderful!
Like anything worthwhile, it takes work. Sometimes I am asked "when did you learn to play the harp?" The fact is, I am still learning, and I believe I always will be (but I began at about age 7).
Q: How much does the harp weight? How tall is it?
A: My concert grand harp is the Salvi Diana model, which is 88 pounds and about 6 feet tall. All harps vary in these details but range very close to those measurements.
Q: How many strings are there?
A: All concert grand harps have 47 strings ranging from a contrabass C up to high G. Midsize harps, both of pedal and lever or Celtic variety have differing ranges, beginning at 22 strings.
Q: How do you tune it?
A: Harps are tuned by the turning of pegs around which each string is wrapped at the upper end, using a special "tuning key" for adjustment. Harps need very regular tuning due to the fluctuation of wood and strings caused by changes in temperature, environment and tension.
Q: Are the pedals on a harp like the pedals on a piano?
A: No. As explained in a previous answer, the pedals do not sustain or dampen the sound of a harp. The pedals' function is providing chromaticism, the ability to play in any key.
A: No. As explained in a previous answer, the pedals do not sustain or dampen the sound of a harp. The pedals' function is providing chromaticism, the ability to play in any key.
Q: Are harps expensive?
A: Yes---and is it worth it? Yes, if you are serious about pursuing it with passion.
A: Yes---and is it worth it? Yes, if you are serious about pursuing it with passion.
