Laura's Harp Playing

I've wanted to play the harp since I was very young. I remember vividly sneaking my mom's wire baking cooling rack out of the kitchen cabinet and pretending it was a wire harp, and playing on it. (Sorry, Mom) When I was in school I was offered the chance to learn an instrument, and I asked for the harp. I was told that wasn't an available choice. I chose cello, as the closest alternative possible. I did learn a lot playing the cello, and I'm still fond of the instrument, but I didn't go that far with it.

I'd always looked wistfully at harps and wished I could play them. At a ConChord filk convention, I heard/saw/met Moira Breen, a VERY talented harpist and singer, who was playing a pedal harp at the con. I met her later at a friend's birthday party, where she had brought a smaller lever harp. She let me try it, and urged me to take lessons. Wow. I didn't get much farther with it for a while, not knowing where to go. Then at an SCA Collegium, the Baroness of Dun Or gave a class on introduction to the harp. I went, happily played with the harp, and she referred me to the Sylvia Woods Harp Center to find a teacher. Huzzah! I found a wonderful teacher in my area, who has an advanced degree in historical music - perfect, I have an expert to help me pick period music for SCA use!

I've been taking lessons since December. I'm just thrilled to finally be fulfilling my dreams and playing the harp.

All pictures are thumbnails - click on the picture to see the larger, clearer version.

Playing during a lesson

Here I am with my teacher, Sue DeVale. This is her pedal harp that I take lessons on.

Playing while my teacher looks on. I'm sure she must have been about to correct my hand position, and tell me to get that little finger tucked in!

Gotta remember to keep the thumbs up!

My best dignified harper look!

Here's a picture of Laura, in her SCA guise of Lady Meghan Paget, playing her harp at the Festival of the Rose, June 2001.

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