Hi everyone,
I thought it would be cool to talk about what pieces we are working on at the moment! I'm learning Ravel's Introduction and Allegro, Salzedo's Turkey Strut and also Persichetti's Serenade No. 10 for flute and harp.
I'm sure we would love to hear from harpists of any level!

Well I'm certainly the other end of the levels from Jennifer-harp!

I'm still polishing the Grandjany Reverie, and I'm learning the Queen's March (Morfa'r Frenhines) from the Celtic Harp and the Schubert Waltz from Betty Paret's Book 1.

But I'm having lots of fun! The grade 4 arpeggios in first inversion are doing my head in a bit though, after spending so long getting ordinary arpeggios under my fingers, my fingers are NOT appreciating having to do something with different spacing!

Hi there, just thought it might be fun to talk about pieces. I have 2 pieces I'm working on.. the Variations on a Theme of Mozart (etouffees and flat octaves.... how I wish I wouldn't muddle up the two ) and Hasselmann's La Source (rather more of a challenge). My problem is I can understand the harmonies quite quickly as I'm a professional pianist, but transferring that knowledge onto a different instrument, using different hand positions, different muscles ... oh, and not forgetting all the pedals I have taken to marking pedalling in different colour inks for different feet

But I love the challenge

Great to see some responses, keep them coming!!
Collyermum, are you playing the Reverie from Trois Petites Pi?ces? If so, that's a beautiful piece, and the Barcarolle in that book is fabulous!
Maryw, La Source is wonderful, though I haven't got round to learning it!

Yes, I'm doing the Reverie, nearly got it now. The Barcarolle I definately want to learn too, it IS lovely, isn't it?

How long did it take you to get to grade 8 on the harp Jennifer-harp? And do you play other instruments, too?

I started on keyboard/piano at about 3 and a half, just for fun. I yhen started playing lever harp at 8 and a half. I did trinity grades initial-grade 3 half yearly, then did grades 4 and 5 ABRSM lever harp. I got my pedal harp at 13 and did grades 6-8 by 16 and a half.
So, long story short, it took me about 8 years to get to grade 8!

Pretty good!!!!

Do you still play the piano?

I have to admit that despite buying a grand piano two years ago and intending to get down to some serious piano study now my kids are all at school, I seem to have a serious harp problem getting in the way of that. Even though harp is by far my least proficient instrument, it is without doubt becoming my "first" in terms of how much time and energy I spend on it. Must get back to the piano though, or my husband will not be happy, and I do love that too!

Had a bash through the Grandjany Barcarolle yesterday and I can tell I'm making progress as I could play it in bits and it is such a pretty piece. I can see it on my playlist for this year now