Harp players cannot live on practice alone. There is, after all, more to life. Like performing. Or maintenance. Or just plain enjoyment. We all have those things we need to have – things that are essential to us. Stuff that makes the difference between a good day and a less than stellar outcome. Have you ever thought about what you just can’t live without at when it comes to playing your harp?
Well, I have. We all have those things that we really rely on. And since you asked (after all, where do you think I come up with these ideas for blog posts?) – here’s my things I can’t live without, my essentials* –
- Tuner – there are loads of tuners out there. They range from fairly simple to awfully complicated. I have four – a Snark ST-2 (the red one), a Korg CA-1 with a pickup, a free app download (G-Strings), and a tuning fork. Clearly each one has a different application. I like the Snark because it’s small. The Korg is great in a group. I love that the app is almost overly precise. The tuning fork is just for fun – and when I feel like I need a challenge I use it to tune by ear and then double check my accuracy of the tuning with one of the other tuners.
- Spare strings – ok, this is a “duh”, but I am always surprised when someone tells me they don’t have a spare string. My strong recommendation is that you get a spare set of strings – an entire set. And, if you have already broken a string, don’t forget to order an extra with the set (one to go on the harp and one to complete the set). That can be kinda pricey, but it’s the only way to have a string on hand when one breaks.
- Recorder – I am always suggesting that you record yourself – so you can hear what you haven’t heard, so you can see what you can’t see, and so you can know what you would otherwise know if you weren’t too busy playing when you needed to know it. I use a(nother) free app). It doesn’t have a lot of features, but it does have my favorite – the big red DELETE button. We’re not recording for posterity – just to learn…and then we ditch it!
- Notebook/journal – You didn’t think I’d leave this off the list, did you? We’re all busy and it can feel like we don’t have time to journal our playing, but that’s a missed opportunity. Be reflective, think about your playing, practice, and performance. Be active, not passive, and write it down.
- Great tunes – All that stuff is really in service of great tunes. After all, it’s more fun to play really great tunes you love than to just bang through stuff you don’t like. An incredibly wise teacher once told me to play music I like and leave the rest. Someone else will like the tunes that don’t beg you to play them – focus on the ones you love.
There are, of course, load of other things that could be on this list – like a harp, the tuning key, the perfect bench, that light that makes everything easier, and more. What do you find essential? What can you not live without? Let me know in the comments.
*I’m not smart enough to be paid to endorse stuff, so these are my opinions – do with them what you will. I really am interested to know what your favorites are – I’ll learn something and possibly shift my list!
ditty bag- have an extra tuning wrench and tuner in the harp case. beats looking for/forgetting/ not finding them when your harp goes Out.
My Harpo cart, my Music Maker platform to move room to room when playing therapeutically. A classy-looking, no-tip stand for gigs (Mr. Standman, pricey but worth every cent), and a Dusty pickup.
Great list!
I have two wonderful long clips to hold my music in place on the stand. The front arm is made of clear plastic so that the entire piece of papers stays in place even on a windy day (which we have many of here in Colorado). They allow me take my harp outside to play in my front yard under the tree… my favorite place to play!
That clip sounds cool! Any chance you could post a link so we can find them too?
beats clothespins! my harp will certainly want a couple of those!!
My little clip on Korg AW3 tuner. The ultimate accessory – it goes with everything!
A music stand that adjusts to the level of my bifocals. Reading from a piece of sheet music laying on my knee is an exercise in whiplash. (Gotta talk to my optometrist about those glasses!)
Harp wheels that make it possible to take my large harp out of the house without either us getting hurt.
Good adds!
I’ve got it – except strings.I have flurocarbon strings. rarely break. IF i have to replace one the high strings are so short that i can use a piece of a former oh- i don’t record either . uncertain about that tech wise, as well as emotionally!
every harp needs a ditty bag or designated case pocket with powder, lotion, etc.
My human provides all of these Service for me!
yours, Morigan a Thormalen Ceili-Mor.
That ditty bag is really helpful! I don’t have as much faith in the FC strings as you have – I’m pretty sure Murphy makes them 😊
fc strings are awesome. don’t absorb moisture like nylon wrap= stay in tune better/longer. they are more supple than nylon= faster. for myself, that is not an advantage, tho.
I had to laugh when I was reading #2.
I had the most bizarre dream last night where four strings broke on my harp and three were the lowest bass strings. The dreaming rational brain carried on, trying to figure out how that happened.
Anyway, this morning while eating breakfast, I was thinking that I need to check my string supply because I am sure I need at least one replacement. Then next, I am reading your weekly blog. What a coincidence!
(By the way, those almost obsolete music CD purse-like folders store my string envelopes quite nicely and it fits well in my harp case pocket.)
This CD wallets are excellent for this! And you can use fabric paint in them – to be creative or to differentiate string sets if you have more than one harp.
Special harp glasses designed by my optometrist that give me a correction so I can see the strings and the music.
Excellent addition!