Harp: Playing with Personality
Dexterity with the use of the fingers is required when playing music with the harp as all of them, except of course, for the little finger is used to play a harp piece. As you can see, the index finger, which is too small and feeble, can distort the playing pattern of the other fingers and can’t effectively pluck a string. Usually, majority of the harp types only require the hands for playing but it’s with the exception, however, of the pedal harp, wherein the feet are used to operate foot pedals. Alongside those general techniques, there are styles associated to personalities. One, the method developed by Carlos Salzedo-the Salzedo method-uses expressive gestures, and the performer keeps his or her elbows parallel to the ground. The French method advocated by Marcel Grandjany does not use expressive gestures and the elbows are held at an angle; the wrists may occasionally rest upon the soundboard too. In both methods, the shoulders, neck, and back are relaxed though.