[Harp-L] Fun Trick: Practicing w/ Earbuds

[Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>]

On a lark, I tried practicing with earbuds today.  Usually I have whatever
I am practicing with (metronome click track for exercises, song I'm trying
to work out, or a backing track for jamming) playing over a set of
speakers, and I play over it.

Playing over earbuds (not earphones) makes a fantastic mix because the
sound of the harp travels through the jawbone up to the ear.  You really
get a different sense of timing and connection with the harp.  It sounds
crazy I know, you have to try it to see what I'm taking about...its really,
really cool.

The ones I use are the foam type that actually go *inside *your ear, which
I think makes a difference because it completely closes off all other noise
from the outside. The only harp noise that gets to your ear is through the
structure of your head.  You can hear what is going on *inside *the harp.

Normal earbuds (the kind that sit in your outside ear) may or may not work
for this.

And, you can practice a lot quieter...which is helpful for those of us with
non harp-wives or significant others.