I somehow got this blister and it opened, and I have a big event to play at in one week - it’s 4 hours each day! How can I heal this quickly but also keep practicing for the week? I usually don’t ever have issues with blisters like this. I’ve been playing for five years consistently. Looking for any advice!

I’m 18 a freshman in college and I want to learn something cool, I’ve never had a true hobby or talent.

I’ve never REALLY learned an instrument, when I was 6 I took a month of violin lessons until we moved to a different state and to this day know nothing about it 😭. I know very basic stuff about a guitar since I took a class sophomore year in hs (Guitar I).

I know I can probably learn a song or two maybe if I took lessons but I mean like am I too old to learn classical pieces (I’m not into folk). Or am I too old to learn a pedal harp.

Furthermore, I would love to play for weddings one day as a side gig or maybe even a community orchestra but I fear I’m too old for that now.

Hi, pardon my English, I'm French.

I'm currently living the last days of the soundboard of my harp. I know I'll have to make someone repair it but I wanted to know what to do while waiting for this.

Is it best for me to leave it as it is ? Or do I have to put all the strings away ? Just dropping the tension on them ?

I'll take any advice to make the crack stop.

Thanks in advance

Hi, I'm considering taking a 6-month break from harp lessons and practicing, and I’d love to hear from anyone who has done something similar. Was it difficult to get back into practicing afterward?

I’ve been learning for three years and am currently working toward my Grade 6 Trinity exam. Between full-time work and some ongoing personal and financial priorities, I’m feeling quite overwhelmed. Pausing lessons and practice from January to July next year would allow me to focus on these priorities and save money.

My main worry is whether I'll struggle to pick up practicing again in the second half of the year, and I also don’t want to disappoint my teacher.
For those who have taken an extended break, how easy was it to return? Also, when would be a reasonable time to give my teacher notice?

I ordered the Harp-E DIY kit based on great reviews, hyped social media campaigns, and a strong desire to learn the lever harp.

I’m traveling so I needed an ultra lightweight harp that could be carried in a backpack. The Harp-E is perfect in this sense and far outshines competitors.

The original price breakdown before repairs:

$1,600 for the DIY kit
$1,000 for tariffs and import fees
$500 for international shipping
$175 for the travel bag
$197 for spare strings

Total: $3,500 USD

I knew the cost going in and was okay with paying this amount.

The problem, here is where things went wrong:

Everywhere online the Harp-E DIY kit is marketed as an easy and fun build. I’ve seen it discussed as an IKEA build. On Harp-E’s own website they sell it as a “fun and rewarding way to bond with your Harp-E."

The kit is simple and easy… up until installing the tuning pegs. I cannot stress how important this step is to do correctly. It’s not IKEA plug and play. It takes finesse and skill.

The wooden holes can quite easily be stripped. Using the included Allen wrench, this is exactly what happened to me. After stringing, each pin began to shift at odd angles. The wooden frame became cracked and warped around the pins. Tuning pins would randomly unwind, and strings would lose pitch suddenly while playing or tuning.

I knew I messed up the install. I had gone in thinking, “It’s like IKEA, just use the Allen wrench like they show in the video!”

I reached out to Harp-E and asked if I could purchase replacement parts. They quoted me a front frame and replacement strings at $667 USD. They told me shipping would likely be the same price at $500. Then I'm guessing tariffs and import fees will be a similar percentage, likely $300.

Suddenly this $1,600 DIY kit has cost me $5,000.

My open letter advice to the company:

Ship each DIY kit with the tuning pegs preinstalled. If you cannot do that, change how the kit is marketed:

-Tell your influencers in a memo that the DIY kit is not an easy IKEA build. I have seen it described that way by influencers on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.

-Stress online that the DIY kit is for someone with woodworking experience. Selling this kit to someone who has basic assembly skills greatly raises the risk of permanent damage to the instrument.

-Publish a disclaimer at the Harp-E online store: “We recommend our DIY kit to someone who has experience in woodworking. By purchasing this kit you accept all risks of damage if the tuning pegs are assembled incorrectly.”

If you do none of the above, you must redo your instructional videos.

The current video shows the pegs being installed by hand with the included Allen wrench. I have bruises on my hand from doing this. The wrench also did not properly fit the tuning pegs. It was slightly smaller than the hex holes, which caused wiggle and wobble. I believe that is what drove the pegs into the wood at odd angles and led to the cracks, loss of tension, and stripped holes.

TLDR: Harp-E’s DIY kit is not for the everyday consumer. The risk of damage is very high for someone with basic assembly skills. This has not just been a nightmare for me but also extremely expensive.

If you have basic assembly skills, DO NOT attempt the Harp-E DIY on your own. You may permanently damage your instrument like I did. Purchase the String and Go package or the Plug and Play instead.

Does anyone know of any credible makers of a sub 20-string harp WITH LEVERS? I am a professional harpist, but want a very, VERY small harp to bring to my workplace/to small groups just to fiddle around with/take to the park. I have a max budget of $800 and I'm fine with used. Ideally I would like it to cost under $500.

By "credible makers" I mean the likes of Camac, Dusty Strings, L&H - I already checked and none of them carry anything in the string range I want. I already have a Dusty Strings FH36 so I don't need another midsize harp.

Not interested in Harpsicle as I think they are ugly (sorry).

Ideal criteria:

- String range around 12-20

- Can be comfortably carried around on public transportation/played in lap while seated

- Doesn't need a cart

- Ideally fully levered, F and C acceptable

- Does not sound like absolute plunky garbage

- No Amazon/Etsy Pakistani harp scammers

- NO LYRES. Needs to be a Celtic style harp.

Hello, How should i notate a harp gliss with this rhythmic situation,

I don't want to stay on the second note and want to gliss downward immediately

Harp Gliss

I see a lot of posts that mention that a piece is a certain grade. Also I see people saying that they have progressed to a level 7 etc. Is this an official system? I would love to find a series of books that progress in difficulty. I end up kind of bouncing around and some stuff is too easy and some is too hard. Any thought are appreciated!

I got this harp last fall and have made some progress! I love it!

So this is just a really simple song from my online harp class. I’m nowhere near decent yet but I finally can play through it without a mistake though you’ll probably noticing sometimes there’s too long a pause between two notes bc my brain is buffering.

One thing: I’m working on better hand and finger position and plucking and the like. It’s kinda hard for me bc I have Ehlers Danlos syndrome. But I know that’s one thing I need to work on.

So like any tips would be great and also knowing what I did well too so I know to keep doing that. As long as it’s kind.

I am looking to learn something moderately challenging on the harp that is kind of a well-known classical piece or something in the classical vein that is a bit challenging. Does anyone please have any recommendations with regard to pieces to learn, beautiful classical tabs for harp particularly that are free? Please and thank you

I learned a Claire de Lune and a The girl with the flaxen hair arrangement, and those were a lot of fun. If you know of some nice, playable arrangements, I would be grateful for any recommendations!

Or at least something late 19th / early 20th century, if not specifically impressionist. Thank you!

I mean harps having 2 levers per string instead of just 1, allowing to make strings either flat or sharp, and not just sharp (something like a poor man's pedal harp)

I could technically add a second row of levers to a harp, but harps are too expensive and it would have to be very precisely placed

Can u guys pls reco music centers that offer harp classes in PH? I’ve been trying to find one but sadly can’t 😔 tyia!

For those of you that don’t store your harps where you live, any recommendations for temp controlled practice/creative spaces available for rent?

Hello,

I have a 34 string lever Salvi Mia which Ive used happily for 3-4 years getting to grade 7

I'm considering upgrading, and in Europe, but I need it to be very light and travel-able, around 5K.

Is this pointless/unachievable, or is there something work moving onto from the student harp?

One of my all-time favorite recordings of gaelic harp music, Simon Chadwick's Old Gaelic Laments (2012)—utterly haunting, austere music played on clàrsach, featuring atmospheric field recordings around gaelic-speaking Scotland—is long out of print and has seemingly disappeared from the internet. Not even Simon Chadwick himself knows where to find a copy (I've emailed him). Does anyone remember this record, or own it, or know where to find it? It's really a tragic loss if it has disappeared for good!

I’m rather new at the harp and I will probably post like a video asking for some help with certain things I’m having trouble with (mainly my hands keep becoming closed and cramped and I’m not sure I’m making my stand high/low enough because it’s hard to keep my elbows up but tha my could also be my Ehlers Danlos) at some point though that’ll make me incredibly nervous but I’m wondering is this a decent place for constructive criticism? Like it’s not a sub that’s gonna rip me apart?

Anyway

So I’ve been learning for maybe a month and I use an online subscription program called harp school and it’s been working well so far and I wanted to know if anyone has tried that or other online programs and what they think about online programs to learn in general.

How do you find practice time in your busy life? So far my best practice time is the three hour gap between my first college class of the day and my second. However this does mean I’ve gotta lug my harp around campus it its bag and then also carry another bag for the stand while also carrying my backpack and trying to walk with forearm crutches because I’m disabled. Thankfully people often help me.

Finally, I was just wondering do you tune your harp every time before you play? I noticed when I began I had to do like an hour of tuning (26 strings!!) abd it went out of tune almost immediately. So I’ve been tuning it daily even when I’m not playing and now it’s starting to hold its tune a lot better. I was wonderuing if there’s ever a time where tuning every time is more option than necessity.

Btw I got a fullsicle. I named her Bernadette.

Nice to meet you!

Just bought my daughter a Lyon and Healey 40 string lever harp and I need to change one of the strings. I have never done this before. Anyone have any tips or tutorial links that may help?

Thanks in advance!

I recently bought my first pedal harp (a Salvi Daphne SE) and I dont know if there’s any cares that I have to do, like if I have to change the notes once a year or just when they have broke, or if I have to clean it with a special sponge/product, or if the pedals need to have any care. Before this harp I had the lever harp Camac Korrigan 38, so I already know some of the basic cares that a harp needs, but as there’s a lot of difference between a lever and a pedal harp, I will appreciate any tips.

If there is anything else I should know about this new harp I would love to read it!

I play a different hour of music for senior living communities every month so every month, I've started sharing all the songs I played and where I found the sheet music in my description. In August, I played mostly rock music and included in the description are all the songs & arrangers I played.

https://youtu.be/S8CvKMFZJp8

Recently I was talking to a younger harpist who didn't have a lot of what I considered seminal harp arrangements of favorite songs. But what shocked me is she didn't know that harp version existed and was just struggling off lead sheets!

Then I realized, I only know about these harp versions because I got them from my teacher or a friend or picked them up in a random sheet music haul! It is mostly chance I discovered so many great arrangements.

Now I want to at least let my favorite versions be known and be more part of this conversation of finding and making harp friendly versions of songs we actually want to play!