Forum Coffee Break: I have something to say

And some may not like it, but then there have been occurrences here which I do not like.

It is a tragedy that all too often we are not as lovely as the instruments we play.  It must come as a harsh awakening to those visiting this site who have the image of the angelic harpist only to discover that those fingers dancing across the strings do not belong to anything even remotely resembling an angel.

My harp does not make me better than my brother or my sister. Nor does yours. We all put our pants on one leg at a time and we will all face our maker some day.  And I hate to say it, but trundling your harp in front of you will not guarantee admission through the pearly gates. Last I heard, there are as many harpists there as there are guitarists here. It might even be a guitar which would grant you the pass. If not, perhaps a Hurdy Gurdy?

Or perhaps could your entrance pass be how you treated the new harpist who bought an inexpensive middle eastern harp and came here to share?  Were you the one who said "Welcome" or were you the one who administered a lecture on PHSO's?

When an aspiring harpist arrives with a questionable plea for aid in acquiring their dream, did you respond with derision? Or with compassion?

When someone leaves the Holy path, departs from the sacred technique....  Do you scorn them? Or do you read with interest, showing them the same respect as you yourself expect?

You know, it does not matter if you are playing a Diamond Encrusted Gilded Concert grand as the star of Julliard, If your heart is cold, so is your music.

I include myself in this and to that end, I hereby pledge that I will do my utmost to be worthy of my noble instrument  by showing kindness and compassion. I will avoid all pretenses of snobbishness and will give a kind welcome to all recognizing that we are a diverse group where there is room for everybody.

That is my pledge, any who care to are welcome to join me.

Does anyone remember the New Yorker cartoon about the Internet? In the frame, two dogs are talking to each other (this is a New Yorker cartoon after all!). One dog is sitting at a desk in front of a computer and says: "On the Internet, they don't know you're a dog!"

I'm not convinced that the post asking for money to buy a Venus Encore was really going to be used for purchasing a harp. Maybe that makes me cynical, but I prefer giving money to people I know or to causes that I can confirm.

Maria,

I most certainly did and with what I feel to be good cause. Some of the derogatory comments that were offered concerning the Mid East harps were totally uncalled for, snobbish and in very poor taste.

As were some of the comments responding to the young lady's request for funding. Note, I did not and have not advocated donating to her. It is not at all about "Giving her money"  There was no call for some of the flippant responses that she received.  Frankly I was quite concerned for her as I saw a certain detachment from reality that I could have ignored had it not been for the vicious attacks she was subjected to.

I just wonder at what sort of face are we presenting to the world with our condescending attitudes?  I know I personally have more then once felt compelled to walk away from this forum for fresh air after seeing some of the totally inappropriate, boorish attitudes.

This is not a political forum where one might expect such actions but rather a artistic retreat and place to share. And there will be times when our opinions differ. We have diverse perspectives on the harp itself. One would think we would demonstrate considerably more grace and mutual respect than that which we have seen.

Maria, will you take the pledge?

Thank you for standing up for me, Liam. As a matter of fact I did print out the letter and showed it to my supports coordinator at Mental Health. Her name is Nicola Martin and she saw what I wrote and asked me questions about what I did, the lessons I took, and about my struggles for the harp. She says she's sorry for all the pointed barbs I got from this site and asks would I settle for a compromise in renting a harp. I responded I would but the problem is I can only rent the harp on a limited bases which lasts for a few months to up to two years. I also showed her my photos of me when I used to rent Gilligan my L&H style 15 pedal harp I rented from Michigan Harp Center as well. She asks if she can make a copy of the article for reference and I told her to go ahead and if she wants, she can go and showed this to DJ Root, one of the employers whose in charge with employment and skills training. I would've showed this to my church pastor, but I haven't got a chance to do it, yet.

I think that naming a harp after Gilligan, the hapless sailor, is asking for trouble, perhaps? After all, they never got off the island because of his ineptitude....

 

Being able to attend a conservatory has nothing to do with having a top-of-the-line harp other than that we do everything we can to obtain one because it is so important to us, or we are rewarded with one for our work and dedication, as an act of supreme faith by our parents. The jewels we possess are knowledge and talent, intangibles, not gemstones. Well, most of us, anyways, I wager.

I just read an article where someone referred to Lauren Bacall, the great actress, and how marvelous her rhubarbs are. If we all acted like perfect angels, we wouldn't be human, we wouldn't be harpists, and we would certainly be boring. Humans are made to be faulty, not perfect. And one thing the harp does not need is to be equated all of the time with angels. As the great Salzedo used to say, "You have to work like the devil to play like an angel." I'm not saying we should be mean, but we should be human.

Harp Column Magazine Forum may not be the right place for non-orchestral players. Some users here, such as Miss Evans, are not interested in playing a pedal harp, or much of anything far from "Brian Boru's March" or "Londonderry Air", but their questions will be read by harpists who play in "Nutcracker" and "Planets" and other such. That is all well when discussing study or technique, but undue emphasis may fall upon their choice of instrument. To write "when you want to move up to tunes with modulation you will need a harp with levers that work" is one thing, but to say "your harp-shaped object will ruin your studies and should be sold to a local Irish pub for a wall ornament" will fail to convince, may only alienate.

Hmmm....so these forums may not be the right place for non-orchestral players, eh? Boy, I wish I would have known that long before I wasted time here. Maybe there should be a billboard across the top of the home page stating this fact.
So does this also mean that Beginning In The Middle should only accept orchestral harpists as well? Maybe the moderators or this forum should delete that entire topic as well.LOL

But all that sarcasm aside, I believed from the beginning that the harp column forums were meant to be an eclectic mix of all harpers/harpists,and all the various types of harps have been discussed here as well. I myself have gleaned all sorts of useful information here, and for that I am truly grateful. God Bless all the great teachers and harpists here who do take the time to give constructive criticism to all us newbies.

Liam, you and I have discussed this before- the attitudes and sometimes downright snobbery we've encountered on these forums, and not always from pedal/orchestral harpists either. That being said, however....

I would like to take your pledge, Liam, I really would. But that would mean not being able to defend those who would still inevitably get snubbed or disparaged due to their choice of instrument/music/whatever. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't speak out against those types of verbal attacks. Sorry. But I have nothing but admiration for your heartfelt and well-put post. Peace be with you, my friend, and I promise I will try to be as nice as possible. Really.

And for the earlier post on "our beloved president", again, I am sorry, but LOL!! Please don't refer to him in the "our" sense. He may be your "beloved" but he is certainly not mine. Best to keep that reference to the political forums, IMO. It really has no place when discussing harps.

Karen

As always Karen, you are the consummate lady. 

LOLOL!! I fully understand your reasons for not taking the pledge and actually join you in the sentiment. (And as you know, will join you on the front lines should you feel the need to speak out.)

By the way, Sherry... there is a certain ironic lesson here. Karen and I are both "Clarsairs", not actually "Harpists", nor even "Harpers".  ... Remember those Irish Celtic thingies you spoke disparagingly of?  You know, those quaint wee leverless, pedalless funny looking wire harps?    Yes, that is us......   One of the others who quickly came to your defense has settled for those crazy cross strung harps.  There is a lesson to be learned from this.

My preference is not the large concert instruments, but I definitely enjoy listening to them and have the utmost respect for those people that have mastered them.  And yes, I presume to feel a certain kinship with them.


(Karen, Must be something about tearing your fingers on sharp wire strings that renders us the wee bit cheeky!    And NO I still cannot engage my thumbs, but I have managed to compensate for it!  I actually have made it past my first public go!  Don't tell anyone, but I started the wrong piece for my second, once I was into it.... I figured there wasn't a program, so kept on going. My wife's eyebrows were up to her brow!!)

I believe that these forums are for everyone, not just leverites, or only pedalites.