Buying a harp

[[AJ]]

I'm thinking of buying a harp for my daughters, they're not old enough to start learning yet, but I think it's a beautiful instrument and I would love one of them to learn how to play. It may sound silly to think about getting one now, but we have a friend (widow) who's daughter is learning the harp, but can't really afford to buy one. She uses the school harp and doesn't get to practice as much as she should. I figured if I bought one she could practice whenever she wants and encourage my girls to gain interest.

I'm after some advice about what type and what budget (new or used) I should be looking at really. With PH being so diverse I figured there's bound to be someone who knows something about harps! I know I could just go to a music shop, but at the moment I'm looking for an unbiased opinion and advice without the urge to impulse buy or come away with something too big, fancy or crap!

[andyquantum]

And if the kids hate it, you're stuck with a harp that the neighbour will want to come round and practice on

I'd let them take an interest in it first before throwing them at it.

I'm only saying this as I was pushed into playing guitar from age of 5, luckily I liked it but my sister wasnt so keen on the violin my parents got her. Or the piano

(Edit - my Dad loved Hendrix, Stones, Cream etc and didnt have the ability or patience to learn himself, so wanted me to do it instead. Just something to think about)

Edited by andyquantum on Tuesday 2nd September 17:32

[elster]

Friend plays the harp. Not an easy instrument to learn

Certainly not cheap either about £2k to 10k, you can rent them though.

[SS HSV]

I remember a thread on here about just this. IRC there are at least two PH'ers that play Harps - try a search (if its working) and see what you find.

A harp is a piano with its clothes off

[siscar]

andyquantum said:

And if the kids hate it, you're stuck with a harp that the neighbour will want to come round and practice on

I'd let them take an interest in it first before throwing them at it.

I'm only saying this as I was pushed into playing guitar from age of 5, luckily I liked it but my sister wasnt so keen on the violin my parents got her. Or the piano

(Edit - my Dad loved Hendrix, Stones, Cream etc and didnt have the ability or patience to learn himself, so wanted me to do it instead. Just something to think about)

Edited by andyquantum on Tuesday 2nd September 17:32

Yes I had years of hell with the clarinet, made the mistake of showing a bit of talent for it early on, took ages to convince them I hated it and was crap at it.

[Blib]

I know your type [AJ]. Seemingly full of good intentions but secretly desperate to get your kids on the professional harp circuit. Trying to live your life through your daughters.

Well that's what my mum did to me. Oh, OK I enjoyed it at first, all that stroking and plucking and smiling serenely through the strings at my audience but, as the years went on and the stakes got higher and higher I lost my love of harps and I began to hate them with a vengeance.

Do you know what it does to a growing body to schlap a full size harp home on the bus from practice 5 days a week? Laying down I'm 6 foot 8 tall. Carrying a harp I'm 4 foot 3.

And then, and then you've got the pro harpers, the ones on the circuit. The Europeans are Ok but the Yanks and Japs are fking insane. They will do anything to get up to the top of harping's ladder of fame. I've woken up many a time to find some foreign bint chewing on my finger nails in the middle of a night just so she can steal my Nairobi Intercontinental hotel lobby gig off of me.

That fking Jacqueline Du Pre has a lot to answer for, the bh.

I'm a broken man now. Reduced to playing the spoons under a bridge outside Limehouse DLR station.

I'll never stroke a harp again as long as I live.

If I were you I'd buy 'em a banjo and be done with it. You sonofabeetch

[SpydieNut]

Blib]I know your type [AJ said:

. Seemingly full of good intentions but secretly desperate to get your kids on the professional harp circuit. Trying to live your life through your daughters.

Well that's what my mum did to me. Oh, OK I enjoyed it at first, all that stroking and plucking and smiling serenely through the strings at my audience but, as the years went on and the stakes got higher and higher I lost my love of harps and I began to hate them with a vengeance.

Do you know what it does to a growing body to schlap a full size harp home on the bus from practice 5 days a week? Laying down I'm 6 foot 8 tall. Carrying a harp I'm 4 foot 3.

And then, and then you've got the pro harpers, the ones on the circuit. The Europeans are Ok but the Yanks and Japs are fking insane. They will do anything to get up to the top of harping's ladder of fame. I've woken up many a time to find some foreign bint chewing on my finger nails in the middle of a night just so she can steal my Nairobi Intercontinental hotel lobby gig off of me.

That fking Jacqueline Du Pre has a lot to answer for, the bh.

I'm a broken man now. Reduced to playing the spoons under a bridge outside Limehouse DLR station.

I'll never stroke a harp again as long as I live.

If I were you I'd buy 'em a banjo and be done with it. You sonofabeetch

[Justayellowbadge]

Blib]I know your type [AJ said:

. Seemingly full of good intentions but secretly desperate to get your kids on the professional harp circuit. Trying to live your life through your daughters.

Well that's what my mum did to me. Oh, OK I enjoyed it at first, all that stroking and plucking and smiling serenely through the strings at my audience but, as the years went on and the stakes got higher and higher I lost my love of harps and I began to hate them with a vengeance.

Do you know what it does to a growing body to schlap a full size harp home on the bus from practice 5 days a week? Laying down I'm 6 foot 8 tall. Carrying a harp I'm 4 foot 3.

And then, and then you've got the pro harpers, the ones on the circuit. The Europeans are Ok but the Yanks and Japs are fking insane. They will do anything to get up to the top of harping's ladder of fame. I've woken up many a time to find some foreign bint chewing on my finger nails in the middle of a night just so she can steal my Nairobi Intercontinental hotel lobby gig off of me.

That fking Jacqueline Du Pre has a lot to answer for, the bh.

I'm a broken man now. Reduced to playing the spoons under a bridge outside Limehouse DLR station.

I'll never stroke a harp again as long as I live.

If I were you I'd buy 'em a banjo and be done with it. You sonofabeetch

I say. Rather good.

[rhinochopig]

Blib]I know your type [AJ said:

. Seemingly full of good intentions but secretly desperate to get your kids on the professional harp circuit. Trying to live your life through your daughters.

Well that's what my mum did to me. Oh, OK I enjoyed it at first, all that stroking and plucking and smiling serenely through the strings at my audience but, as the years went on and the stakes got higher and higher I lost my love of harps and I began to hate them with a vengeance.

Do you know what it does to a growing body to schlap a full size harp home on the bus from practice 5 days a week? Laying down I'm 6 foot 8 tall. Carrying a harp I'm 4 foot 3.

And then, and then you've got the pro harpers, the ones on the circuit. The Europeans are Ok but the Yanks and Japs are fking insane. They will do anything to get up to the top of harping's ladder of fame. I've woken up many a time to find some foreign bint chewing on my finger nails in the middle of a night just so she can steal my Nairobi Intercontinental hotel lobby gig off of me.

That fking Jacqueline Du Pre has a lot to answer for, the bh.

I'm a broken man now. Reduced to playing the spoons under a bridge outside Limehouse DLR station.

I'll never stroke a harp again as long as I live.

If I were you I'd buy 'em a banjo and be done with it. You sonofabeetch

Living under limehouse station bridge, I'm sure your stroking technique comes in very handy

[[AJ]]

Blib]I know your type [AJ said:

. Seemingly full of good intentions but secretly desperate to get your kids on the professional harp circuit. Trying to live your life through your daughters.

Well that's what my mum did to me. Oh, OK I enjoyed it at first, all that stroking and plucking and smiling serenely through the strings at my audience but, as the years went on and the stakes got higher and higher I lost my love of harps and I began to hate them with a vengeance.

Do you know what it does to a growing body to schlap a full size harp home on the bus from practice 5 days a week? Laying down I'm 6 foot 8 tall. Carrying a harp I'm 4 foot 3.

And then, and then you've got the pro harpers, the ones on the circuit. The Europeans are Ok but the Yanks and Japs are fking insane. They will do anything to get up to the top of harping's ladder of fame. I've woken up many a time to find some foreign bint chewing on my finger nails in the middle of a night just so she can steal my Nairobi Intercontinental hotel lobby gig off of me.

That fking Jacqueline Du Pre has a lot to answer for, the bh.

I'm a broken man now. Reduced to playing the spoons under a bridge outside Limehouse DLR station.

I'll never stroke a harp again as long as I live.

If I were you I'd buy 'em a banjo and be done with it. You sonofabeetch

Haha! Fair play!

Well it's not that I want to live my life through them at all. I play the piano and my wife plays the violin. Both my kids like music. Kids are more likely to take an interest in something if they are exposed to it. I love the sound of the harp and at worst it makes a nice bit of furniture! I do understand where some of the comments are coming from though and I don't like pushy parents (although they will start karting at 8 if they like it or not! ) I quit piano lessons in my teens because it wasn't cool.. but really regret it now. I could have been quite good.

Still... anyone actually got any advice about harps?!!

[Oakey]

andyquantum said:

And if the kids hate it, you're stuck with a harp that the neighbour will want to come round and practice on

I'd let them take an interest in it first before throwing them at it.

I'm only saying this as I was pushed into playing guitar from age of 5, luckily I liked it but my sister wasnt so keen on the violin my parents got her. Or the piano

(Edit - my Dad loved Hendrix, Stones, Cream etc and didnt have the ability or patience to learn himself, so wanted me to do it instead. Just something to think about)

Edited by andyquantum on Tuesday 2nd September 17:32

I wish my father had pushed me into playing the guitar. He also loves Hendrix, Stones, etc and is a fantastic guitar player himself. He always tried to get me to play but i was always emabrassed about it. Now I'm 26 and deeply regret it.

[Justayellowbadge]

AJ, it was a gag!

[[AJ]]

Justayellowbadge said:

AJ, it was a gag!

I was aware of that! I did however want to point out that my girls will be karting at 8 whether they like it or not!

[NiceCupOfTea]

As already said, harps are very expensive - I would look into hiring rather than buying. If it's all going well after a year or so, look into buying.

[andyquantum]

Oakey said:

Now I'm 26 and deeply regret it.

Never too old to learn, it's a great instrument - get on with it!

[Oakey]

andyquantum said:

Oakey said:

Now I'm 26 and deeply regret it.

Never too old to learn, it's a great instrument - get on with it!

Yeah, I keep pestering him to teach me, think I've almost worn him down!

[Balmoral Green]

Cup o' tea, sit back, relax...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsBUTbS1zVQ

[londonbabe]

Don't do it.
Harps are possibly the least versatile instrument after the bagpipes. the only thing they are good for is welsh folk music. woopee doo.
They are big ugly horrible things, every string trying its hardest to go out of tune - seriously you will want to smash it to bits with frustration because you cannot tune the bd thing and have it stay in tune.

Do your kids a favour. buy them instruments that will be in demand, that they want to play, and have a better than average chance of paying gigs, attracting admirers and making them rich. Do you know how sought after drummers are, for example? or how rare really good keyboard players are (and if you must hear the harp, most synths do a much nicer harp sound than a real harp), or bass guitarists, or good cellists? What about the Saxophone, or the guitar?

Who ever heard of a rich harpist?

[Blib]

londonbabe said:

Don't do it.
Harps are possibly the least versatile instrument after the bagpipes. the only thing they are good for is welsh folk music. woopee doo.
They are big ugly horrible things, every string trying its hardest to go out of tune - seriously you will want to smash it to bits with frustration because you cannot tune the bd thing and have it stay in tune.

Do your kids a favour. buy them instruments that will be in demand, that they want to play, and have a better than average chance of paying gigs, attracting admirers and making them rich. Do you know how sought after drummers are, for example? or how rare really good keyboard players are (and if you must hear the harp, most synths do a much nicer harp sound than a real harp), or bass guitarists, or good cellists? What about the Saxophone, or the guitar?

Who ever heard of a rich harpist?

Harpo Marx was rich. He's dead now.

Londonbabe, do you know Limehouse at all? Want to learn all about it?

Edited by Blib on Tuesday 2nd September 22:34

Edited by Blib on Tuesday 2nd September 22:35

[mybrainhurts]

[AJ] said:

I'm thinking of buying a harp for my daughters,

Great idea...

You can make chips with them...