harpcolumn

The Bliss of Teaching

The Bliss of Teaching

As college students, I think most of us are very eager to learn as much as possible. And learning is a combination of attending lessons and gaining experience. So I, as well as many, many other music students learn to say "yes" to every imaginable project that asks...

So you work with your hobby, so what is your hobby?

So you work with your hobby, so what is your hobby?

I started to play the harp at the age of 8, and except for a brief teenage rebel break, I have been playing since. Obviously, this started out as a hobby, and evolved to my field of study, to my occupation. Somewhere along the road, I realized that it is actually good...

An intense harping week

An intense harping week

I have had a very busy week, so my intended routine of writing something for the blog each Thursday was slightly disturbed. This week I had two major events, first I played with pop singer Frida Hyvönen on the Swedish Grammy Awards, and yesterday, Jonas Isaksson...

Harp Buzzes 101: That Annoying Room Buzz

Harp Buzzes 101: That Annoying Room Buzz

When is a harp buzz not a harp buzz? When it's coming from somewhere else in the room. The world we live in is teeming with objects that want to deceive us into thinking our harp has a buzz. Disguised as ordinary lighting fixtures, heating registers, even as innocent...

Meditation for Improved Practice, Performance, & Health

Meditation for Improved Practice, Performance, & Health

Meditation for Improved Practice, Performance, & Health “Discipline and freedom are not mutually exclusive, but mutually dependent because without discipline, we would sink into chaos.” -Paulo Coelho I began a daily meditation practice last year, in an effort to...

Harping with kids, in Sweden

Harping with kids, in Sweden

I am fortunate enough to have two amazing kids, a three-year-old and a nine month old baby, both girls. I also have two awesome bonus kids, a sixteen years old boy and an eleven years old girl. So, we are a big family, and needless to say, my husband adores children....

Touring harp, touring harpist

Touring harp, touring harpist

Swedish artist Laleh Pourkarim (currently living in Los Angeles!) had the awesome idea to bring a small symphony orchestra on tour in November 2016. Together with the amazing conductor Hans Ek (the man behind the beautiful arrangement of "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall...

Four Stages of Freelance Practice

Four Stages of Freelance Practice

I am a freelance harpist, and I play in plenty of different settings. On a happy day, I receive emails/phone calls something like this:   Dear Stina, I heard you play the other day.../ XX recommended you as an excellent harpist.../We played together at the YY...

Hello harp world!

Hello harp world!

This is quite exciting for me! First I was in the Harp Column 30 day practice challenge, where I to my family's delight, practiced my kantele with great success. And, I also won a price, a one-year subscription to Harp Column and access to the website, which brings us...

How to Prepare for a Regulation

How to Prepare for a Regulation

When you make an appointment to have your harp regulated, there are three important things you can do to get ready. The first is to make sure your strings are in good condition, especially in the top two octaves. The second is to make a list of any specific problems...