Here is a question for any harpists here. I am progressing quite well with my harp playing, having only started at Christmas but have started to notice something about my technique and wanted to ask if it is normal.

When I play, especially when I play something a little faster, sometimes the first joint on my right hand fingers goes concave ie instead of being nicely rounded, they go bending backwards. Should I be trying to keep my fingers convex at all times ?

I will ask my teacher at the next lesson, but as that is next week, I have a good bit of practice to do before then and I don't want to keep working at something when I am not doing it correctly. I still feel I am struggling on hand position a bit and have to keep reminding myself all the time.

Thank you
Elizabeth

Opinions (and maybe schools of technique) are divided and your teacher may not care, or may have a definite preference in either direction. That you say 'nicely rounded' does imply your teacher has a preference. How does it change the tone and your control?

Hi

I think she hasn't noticed perhaps and it is something that I have observed during my own practice sessions at home. I think when I play at lessons I am playing more slowly and therefore have more control with rounded fingers - at home I tend to speed up and that's when I have noticed my fingers going kind of backwards in shape. I have watched loads of harpists on youtube and they all seem to have nicely rounded fingers which are curved convex in shape. I am just wondering if, in my attempt to speed up playing I am compromising technique.

just wondering if it's something I should work on ....?

E

I try to round my fingers, but apparently Grandjany (among others) played with flat joints and that is enough of a counterexample to prove round is not the only way to work!

yes, I ran into my teacher today by chance and chatted about this - my teacher plays rounded, but another teacher i know, who is a folk player, plays with flatter fingers because she has a lot of fast ornamentation (plus it is just the way each of them were themselves taught).

So, I just need to make my mind up and then work on it!

If you want a YouTube exemplar with flat fingers (some of the time- especially in the right hand) have you found Xavier de Maistre playing the Moldau (it's Trnecek's transcription - lovely piece!).

WOW! that is just amazing!

Thanks!