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| Q: | I am an adult. Is it too late for me to start harp lessons?
| | A: | Absolutely not!
| | Q: | When is a good time for a child to start harp lessons?
| | A: | At the time of personal motivation or parental discretion and availability of a qualified teacher.
| | Q: | What is a good harp to begin lessons with?
| | A: | Depending upon commitment level and economic factors, either a rental instrument or the highest quality harp affordable.
Wisest investments are made with some experience and the assistance of trusted professionals.
| | Q: | Should you take piano lessons prior to taking harp lessons?
| | A: | Piano background is VERY helpful but not necessary.
| | Q: | How much should I practice each week?
| | A: | THAT depends on you! How young or otherwise committed are you, and what are your goals? Even 5 - 30 EFFECTIVE minutes CONSISTENTLY can produce satisfying rewards.
Multiple shorter daily practice periods are most beneficial for beginners.
| | Q: | How often should I tune my harp?
| | A: | Ideally, daily. Certainly before practicing and/or performing.
| | Q: | Does it hurt my harp to play it out of tune?
| | A: | Long-term failure to tune a harp DOES indeed compromise the instrument.
Playing the harp out of tune disorients a beginner's ear.
| | Q: | I have the impression that the harp is very difficult to play. Is this true?
| | A: | Playing the concert classic harp is a physically and mentally "multi-task" experience. Additionally, the instrument inherently presents unique mechanical challenges. Happily however, the harp produces very pleasing sounds at even elementary levels and, with careful work in successive steps, advanced levels can be solidly mastered.
| | Q: | Does playing the harp provide "healing" benefits?
| | A: | Therapeutic use of the harp both anciently and in modern practice is a most fascinating and interesting study. Hospital accredited programs are currently available while numbers of harpists playing solely for personal satisfaction and reward continue to increase.
| | Q: | What is the cost of a harp?
| | A: | Prices of harps vary in relationship to types, size and quality. Specifics are available from the builders or manufacturers listed at www.harpmall.com
| | Q: | I would like to purchase recordings of harp music. Can you offer some recommendations?
| | A: | There are many fine recordings available of harp music in all musical styles. Prominent classical harpists of the past include Marcel Grandjany, Lily Laskine, Lucille Lawrence, Henriette Renié, Carlos Salzedo & Nicanor Zabaleta. Contemporary recording soloists of classical harp literature include: Nancy Allen, Jana Bousková, Annie Chalan, Alice Chalifoux, Osian Ellis, Catrin Finch, Alice Giles, Erica Goodman, Maria Graf, Ursula Holliger, Marie-Claire Jamet, Yolanda Kondonassis, Jung Kwak, Heidi Lehwalder, Judy Loman, Susann McDonald, Carrol McLaughlin, Catherine Michel, Susanna Mildonian, Emily Mitchell, Isabelle Moretti, Marielle Nordmann, Isabelle Perrin, Ann Hobson Pilot, Marisa Robles, Helga Stork, Ann Yeung, Naoko Yoshino & Dan Yu.
| | Q: | Please suggest available harp recordings outside the classical repertoire.
| | A: | Celtic/Ethnic/Folk harpists: Patrick Ball, Derek Bell, Kim Robertson, Carol Robbins, Alan Stivell, Carol Thompson; Healing/Meditation/New Age: Mary Amanda, Joel Andrews, Clara Atkins-Pope, Gail Barber, Laurie Riley, Joyce Rosenfield, Michelle Sell, Christina Tourin & Sarajane Williams; Pop/jazz harpists: Lori Andrews, Greg Buchanan, Stella Castellucci, Deborah Henson-Conant, Carmen Dragon, Jakez François, Corky Hale, Cindy Horstman, Andrew Lawrence-King, Carrol McLaughlin, Verlye Mills, Ray Pool, Park Stickney, Sunita Staneslow & Rachel Van Voorhees. There are increasingly many more in all categories.
| | Q: | Are there recordings of harps in ensemble?
| | A: | Harps in ensemble have been recorded by Adams-Harris, The Harp Consort, Harpfusion, Laskine-Nordmann, McDonald-Wood, The New York Harp Ensemble, Octavia, ParaCelt & The Salzedo Harp Duo among others.
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