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Some harp shops provide harp moving service. In my case when I moved house, they provided everything (travel case, vehicle, dolly).
If I were to time travel, I would rent multiple harps before buying. Each instrument teaches you about something. Anything not overly small (unstable to hold) are good experiences, even though one that you are less impressed with. If you can adjust your playing to make them sound their best, the learning is forever gained by you.
My liking for the type of sound changed a lot in the journey and it is not a one way street. Each instrument tells you about something to look for or even guard against.
Some traditional method to consider if you are off grid.
1. Get rice, barley or some grains of any types. (If you are desperate, use wooden chips)
2. Heat the grain to dry it. Low/medium heat, several hours (we are NOT cooking the stuff).
3. Allow it to cool down without absorbing moisture (e.g. inside a covered jar)
4. Put treated grain (in socks or a cloth sack) inside the case.
5. Empty the used grain and repeat the process.
This removes moisture using low tech methods.
I did as well. Started at 50. Going real chromatic is really good and the sound is more of what I like. I still keep the lever harps because on the back of mind mine, I know there will be time when my body goes down hill (anything like arthritis), the lever harps will be the thing to hang on to. I had Dusty string, then Camac Bardic and Madmoiselle for sounds increasingly closer to the pedal harp before getting it. I kept all except the Dusty String. The Bardic is kept because it is really small (22 strings).
From time to time when I got into difficult situations, I switch to Madmoiselle to see if my fingers can be persuaded there first under lower string tension. To be honest at other times the smaller harps are idle.
For “young at heart” category of player, there is a genuine need to plan for the “decline” path.
Hi Tess,
I think Carl’s suggestion leaves most options open.
Rather than being limited to the types of harp you will be left to choose from, you will be better off choosing any and all types of harp you may come to love. So please see if short nails is something you can accommodate.
Cheers
If metal string, please wear gloves. I didn’t and ended up with a smiling doctor holding a syringe needle digging out the loose winding that went into the finger. In the end he give me a local before continuing the digging! Quite a lot was dug out, because there is no clear vision around an open wound with constant blood supply. It took long to heal because a lot of flesh was gone. Injury by metal string is very nasty because there seems to be no nicer way of dealing with it when the doctor cannot see clearly.
Thanks Wil-Weten and Balfour-Knight for article and calling out the range.
My several hygrometers (all but one are digital) differs a lot but mostly within a 10% range. Most consumer grade ones are +/- quite a few percents and between any two they could differ by 2 X of that variance (when one over reports and the other under reports) plus significant mis-calibration margins.
They also differ very significantly in the rate of change.
The de-humidifier’s own measurement is again totally different.
So I now see the desired range as a rough guide only. If no one sleeps in the room and doors+ windows are closed, it can’t wonder too far off. Without a snow season here, my main concern is the moist spells.
It is seldom too dry but if it were, I would think twice before turning on the humidifier, which is possibly too fast acting.
Thanks again!
Dear Biagio,
Thanks for your reply.
I have different ones. If there is no one number to aspire for, I’ll let it run on smart mode when I feel the need to use it. Got 3 hygrometers around (and they all have their own opinions!!).
I never thought I needed one until I ordered one pair of reading glasses and then incredulously tried it at the Harp. It’s is so good!
I play by ear and memory and don’t have to read scores. But it is so good to see the string a bit clear than before. I thought I didn’t see the strings because they are vibrating. Now it SEE them vibrating!! I didn’t believe I needed that until I tried. It is way way better with the glasses! It feels like the time available to reach for the strings has suddenly increased! I am so glad I did try!
Dear Sarah,
I recall (not using levers actively for a while) adjusting screws on the levers (not those attaching it to the harp but those holding different layers of metal in the moving parts of one lever). Please see if anything is funny in those screws or impede the movement of the different layers of metal of the lever. They are screws on on BOTH sides of the lever (your left and your right when you are looking perpendicularly at the neck of the harp). Before disassembly or even tightening/loosening, looking for missing screws or broken/bent metal first. Compare it with adjacent levers (check both sides of the affected lever.)
Please make sure 200% that you have the correct keys/screw drivers before you adjust the screws. Best to put the key in and softly emulate turns it to sense if there is any play or looseness before applying any real force. Also check that the key slots in securely and fully and is likely to take the torque of the turn. I would lower the tension of the string before starting.
The higher pitch side is easier, one slot screw and it is larger. The other side is a pair of small screws. You will have to flip the affected lever and adjacent one(s) to make room for this activity. Try different combinations to make it work. If you key is has a gigantic handle, buy another one.
In case I am not clear, you are NOT removing the lever from the harp. You are only tinkering with the different layers of the moving parts of the lever. I would try not to take out the lever or else you will essentially have to regulate that note of your harp yourself.
Good luck.
One can’t always have everything. But I am glad I got started at all when not so young! Day job pays for what you love but robs you of the time to binge on it.
Another 9-to-5-er.
The Christina has rather low string tension when I tried it. I didn’t try the Stoney End Evening Song but from memory of You tube videos it may have better sound, high and low.
Balancing a lap harp while learning it means more things to handle at the same time. But it is fair to say that I never had that experience and cannot recreate it now.
In Tasmania, there is a harp maker Andrew Thom who makes harps with aluminium. He “tunes” the sound with different composite materials. The harps reportedly sound louder and can handle much more abuse than wooden ones.
Another vote for heat shrink tubes! I have pre-bought them already. Of course you have to judge whether the handle can handle at least hairdryer heat. (I assume you take it out to avoid undue heat on the harp or strings. If you use tin foil to shield the harp, you may get away by doing it in situ but be generous with tin foil please!
Congratulations for getting the instrument!
Assuming you won’t suddenly and immediately get started in formal lessons (or else you won’t ask), please think of it a a multipronged approach. Methodical learning is one sure way. If you think you cannot get that started and you want to “cheat the system”, you will still need verification that you are actually progress and musically convincing.
Music theory is a must if you improvise, in fact you will need to be an instant real-time “song arranger” plus “composer” to improvise.
Harmony is especially important for harp and must be mastered eventually if you improvise. If you have attempted the guitar, the exposure to basic harmony would help a lot.
If you don’t have an urgency to get to certain levels by certain time, things can be learnt piecemeal. However, as others have pointed out, there is high risk of going the wrong path and having to backtrack. Some people enjoys figuring things out. Some just want a bee line.
In the pre-internet world it would be hard. Now you have a fighting chance. Lots of harpists offers basic lessons there. Music theory as well. Try to see if that is helpful.
Don’t expect to get really started well right away. There will be false starts and unlearning, relearning. Viewing people play, after getting basic introductions, could slowly lead you to figure out what the instructions ACTUALLY mean via your trail and error experimentation.
After all that there is still the risk of making a mess and wasting time.
If you accept the above and enjoy the journey, why not?
One more note, music is innate to the person and has nothing to do with being “smart”. It is more about wavelength. Even if you take formal lessions, not every instructor works for you either. Everything has a context and don’t let other expectations or standards trouble you more than as a driver for self improvement. If you have music the the blood it will come out naturally.
Good luck for your quest!
