Subject: [Harp-L] another harp experience

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

_Moandabluz@xxxxxxxx (mailto:Moandabluz@xxxxxxx)   writes:
 
"  I thought I would share this harp experience with the list. Last  night I 
played the national anthem prior to a high school hockey game here  in 
Minnesota. I just played through the mic that the PA announcer uses, but  
with a big rink made of metal (tin?) and that big sheet of ice, the built in  
reverb and 
"big" sound was pretty cool. "
 
...........very cool, but wait a minute  -- isn't Minnesota in general  at 
this time of year "one big sheet of ice"?    I just visualize  the entire state 
as being "acoustic heaven".  <VBG>   Eliz.
 
      "I debated for awhile how to approach this,  but ended up playing 
traditional style.. I used a B-flat Sp20 harp in first  position and played 
it on the 
bottom octave. This required some bending, but  it helped with the 
expression, I 
thought. I had considered a melody maker at  one point, or maybe a low D and 
the middle octave." 
 
....... ok, Steve so now you'll just have to tweak me a Special 20  Bflat 
harp as well, right?  And maybe a D, since my C doesn't sound as good  on the 
National Anthem.  And then the bending lessons or do I still have to  wait until 
I get my horse collar off?   I guess this is a question for  the board in 
general:  I've injured my neck to the point where I have  several herniated disks 
(we won't talk about the "old" arthritis and my  surgeon's strong hint about 
fusions), but I'm having a lot of difficulty  attempting some of these 
techniques which are all new to me, having  just played pucker method for so many 
years.  All these "throat"  techniques I'm trying really aggravate my neck pain.  
Anyone else dealt  with a similar situation?   Eliz. 
 
  
"The trickiest bend was on the line "Oh say  does that STAR SPANGLED banner" 
where you have to play a 3 draw bend three  notes in a row. Try that on a 
stock harp when you are nervous. I don't know  for sure how close I came to 
the 
right pitch, but people seemed to like  it."   

Still a fool for the Harp
Steve  'Moandabluz' Webb" 
 
......I'm sure it was great, Steve -- wouldn't they have booed if they  
thought you were off pitch?  (Remember Roseanne?)   But what's  this about being 
nervous?  I thought that was only for newbies  like me?!   NOW you tell me!  <G> 
   Elizabeth