Posts by Elizabeth Webb
Refreshing Your Harp Strings
How often do you change your harp strings? When they break? When they sound dull? Or do you have a schedule? Harp strings have a specific, semi-predictable lifespan, depending on the material of the string. Now, it will vary some based on climate, amount it is played, etc., but all strings eventually lose their bright…
Read MorePayment Models for Gigs
For those of us who play for paid events, there is more to consider than just how much to charge the client. How and when you expect the client to pay can be a complex topic. I have been playing harp for paid gigs for about 15 years, and I’ve changed my policies probably a…
Read MoreMaking Harp Medleys from Christmas Carols
At Christmas, most people don’t care much for fancy showpieces of obscure Christmas pieces, they just want to hear a familiar carol played on that magical harp. So keep it simple and spend your practice time increasing the quantity of your Christmas pieces rather than focusing on just a few intricate ones. One fantastic way…
Read MoreElectronic Tuners for the Harp
While experienced harpists are usually able to tune by ear, most of us still use electronic tuners to speed up and simplify the process. There seems to be an infinite number of options when it comes to electronic tuners, but here are my 2 favorites. And the good news is one costs less than $20…
Read MoreSafety Tips for Harps during Natural Disasters
We don’t want to think about it, but with everything going on in the world, especially in the last month alone, it is important we all take some time to consider how we can safeguard our precious harps in the event of a natural disaster. In this article I discuss ways to help minimize your risk…
Read MoreShould I Rent or Buy my First Harp?
I always recommend you start by renting, even if you can afford to buy a harp outright. First, you want to make sure it is, in fact, something you (or your child) will enjoy playing and want to stick with long term. It’s easier to return a rental after losing interest in 3 months than…
Read MoreWhat does a harpist need to perform?
Most harpists are self-contained in that they provide all of their own equipment when performing for your event. All you need to provide is a place for them to set up. For a full sized pedal harp, you need at least 4 feet by 5 feet of space to have room for the harpist’s bench,…
Read MoreHow to select wedding ceremony music
More often than not, when I ask a bride what music she would like for her ceremony, she does not know. And that’s perfectly ok! The best thing to do when getting ready to speak with your ceremony musician is to have an idea of what genres you would like and then ask the musician…
Read MoreWhat to expect when hiring a harpist for your wedding
You have the venue, catering, officiant, photographer, and flowers all set for your big day. What about music? So you jump on Google to see what people typically do for their ceremony music, see a picture of a harpist in a long, billowy dress playing a golden harp, and you’re sold. Now what? Where do…
Read MoreCounting the Cost When Quoting the Gig
I remember those first paid harp gigs I got from people I did not know. It was thrilling to be getting paid to play harp! Until they asked that awkward question: “How much do you charge?” I did not want to charge too much, after all, I was a teenager, no music degree yet,…
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