[Harp-L] Playing loud and fast

[Robert Bonfiglio <bon@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Here's the reed offset answer.  You set the reeds up high enough that 
they don't choke when you hit them hard but still play when you play 
softly with the cover plates on.  In order to play fast and loud you 
need for the reed to pick up immediately to full volume.  For some 
things I use biting technique for immediate pick up, not the glottal 
stop.  I teach will  this technique in my Grand Canyon seminar.

Now here is the trick for volume, you practice scales and arpeggios for 
about an hour a day for 10 to 15 years working constantly on getting 
immediate pick up and louder sound and getting faster.  As you get 
louder you learn to focus the sound and get it to carry to the back of 
the hall.  When you gain the next level of volume, you will have to 
learn to focus that level.  So the object is to get on top of your 
sound as fast as you can in order to play immediately loud and focused 
so you can play with speed and volume.

Playing fast and loud requires a lot of work!!!  The notes won't choke 
if you are relaxed when you hit them hard.  That's the trick, isn't it. 
 Kind of like Michael Jordan jumping high in the air but being totally 
relaxed as he does it.

harmonically yours,

Robert Bonfiglio


Siegfried wrote:
> Absolutely, and it is exactly corresponding the problems harp players
> are fighting with when they try to find the optimal offset (for 
> Newbies: the
> distance of reed tip - plate surface). If the offset is too small the
> vibration
> can´t start or you only can play softly. Is the offset bigger you can 
> play
> louder but is it too big the airstream chokes the vibration again.
>
> That goes also for the playing speed. If you want to play faster than 
> the
> reed´s reaction time allows the reed´s answer may be: time is motion, 
> so,
> if you have no time - I won´t move.
>
> In other words: Same as there´s no optimal harp or optimal offset 
> there´s
> no optimal relation of loudness and playing speed. It all depends on 
> the
> technic the player wants to apply.
>
> So, Robert, I´ve problems to understand your:
>
> > playing fast and loud requires a lot of work. <
>
> I´d rather said:  playing fast and loud requires to change physics a 
> little.
> Hmmmh, how had you managed that?
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