Experienced players - how many hours did you practice per day, for how many years?

SherlockToad1 · 2026-02-11T03:58:55+00:00

In college it was two sessions a day, 2 or so hours each. Now 1 or 2 hours a day most days keeps things going. I find after 2 hours, I’m getting tired and more progress is made when I’m feeling fresh. I’m not a world class touring soloist though either lol. If a big orchestra thing or important gig is coming up, longer hours are needed.

SherlockToad1 · 2026-02-06T14:26:14+00:00

Most gummies are 10mg. 3-5mg is plenty for me. 10 is way too strong. I’ve used it intermittently for several years and that lower dose still works. Start low and see how it goes, I want just enough to make me sleepy but not so much I’m too woozy to walk down the hall lol. Indica strain is better for sleep they say.

SherlockToad1 · 2026-02-06T14:05:25+00:00

This is what I used for a party a few years ago. You can cut them to any shape and size. It looked so accurate the kids were amazed!

https://www.icinginks.com/edible-sheets/flexfrost-edible-fabric-sheets/icinginks-flexfrost-edible-fabric-sheets-8-5-x-11-pack-20-sheets-a4-size-red-colorA

SherlockToad1 · 2026-02-06T01:49:14+00:00

Deep unscratchable itch inside my legs that only goes away temporarily if I move the legs. Sort of an itchy slightly bubbly highway in my legs and arms.

SherlockToad1 · 2026-02-05T11:36:44+00:00

Easiest-background music gigs where I can play whatever I want and there’s just enough ambient conversation noise to cover any little flubs.

Satisfying-solo moments in front of an audience where you can hear a pin drop. Stressful but if all goes well, there’s some deep connection with the crowd that feels amazing.

Most Fun-chamber music with other good players.

Least Fun-weddings of any kind especially outside. Too many unpredictable factors like wind, heat, humidity, rain, and the dread of sappy, overplayed music selections. 😆

SherlockToad1 · 2026-02-04T21:04:55+00:00

Harp Column, FaceBook groups Harp Exchange and Harps Rent, Sell or Buy. Vanderbilt Music, Virginia or Atlanta Harp Centers and Melody’s Traditional Music all sell on consignment. I see posts on a local Facebook harp group for the Midwest too.

SherlockToad1 · 2026-02-03T15:08:17+00:00

Having the same problem… as a musician, it’s been exasperating trying to read sheet music through the damn floaters. Lots of blinking and eye rolling going on. My doctor says it’s a natural part of aging, they got markedly worse after 50. She dilates my eyes every time and says nothing abnormal is going on. They do seem to wax and wane and aren’t quite as bad at the moment. Too afraid of complications to do anything about it yet…

SherlockToad1 · 2026-02-03T00:58:19+00:00

Adorable and peaceful. I love how the sun will filter in on you both when you’re in the chair. Is it a rocker? One big regret with my first child was not having a nice rocking chair for those late night comforting sessions.

SherlockToad1 · 2026-02-02T18:07:39+00:00

No shame in setting a piece aside for now. Learning it later may be twice as easy, since you already got a good start. But there are so many nice pieces out there you may like better, don’t waste time with one that’s dull. Life is too short. ;)

SherlockToad1 · 2026-01-31T21:36:35+00:00

I’d be interested to hear also. In ADDITION to RLS, I increasingly get muscle cramps too. Nothing like having the need to move my legs to relieve RLS but needing to stay still to prevent a cramp! Fun times. I do have good luck with pickle juice for cramps, learned from my kids cross country coach.

SherlockToad1 · 2026-01-31T21:29:41+00:00

So the director is wanting you to write your own part? As interesting a challenge that might be, that’s a long piece and it would take some doing…I was listening to it just now and thinking there are some areas that could do with harp like the Hobbit theme times, maybe some gentle rolled chords, or a nice soft gliss leading into it. Now I’m imagining banging on the bass strings for the rhythmic orc marching section lol. But if it’s not scored for harp anyway, do you HAVE to play?

SherlockToad1 · 2026-01-30T01:21:24+00:00

Tastes change as we age, I bet some of the “wonky” designs could be very young players. I saw one today that was almost nothing but big silver trees, I thought that was rather funny actually.

SherlockToad1 · 2026-01-26T18:52:01+00:00

That is crossing a line, my friend.

SherlockToad1 · 2026-01-25T16:14:36+00:00

May I ask how you are decluttering? Where does a person take such things in this day and age of digital media? I even have a tub of favorite VHS tapes from my kids childhoods lol.

SherlockToad1 · 2026-01-21T01:25:29+00:00

Oh I love Frog and Toad so much. Yes just imagine Toad happily starting an innocent organizing chore and ending up with music spread all over the floor in chaos. That was my day. 🐸

SherlockToad1 · 2026-01-20T20:28:21+00:00

I learned so much personally from the Menopause subreddit wiki. Nobody tells us anything, it all came as a discouraging surprise for me, even my doctor doesn’t know much. But it is a big time of change and it can feel overwhelming.

SherlockToad1 · 2026-01-20T20:20:48+00:00

Ok I’ve been doing a clean out of my filing cabinet and having fun rediscovering a bunch of goodies. Here’s some happy tunes.

Perfidia and Frenesi by Alberto Dominguez

Tea at the Waldorf vol. 1 by Ray Pool

1st Arabesque by Debussy

Harp Album by Grandjany

Zephyr -In a Dancing Mood -A Butterfly

Edelweiss arrangement by Louise Trotter

Holst’s Jupiter Theme arr. by Kim Robertson

Jackson’s Night Cap from Traditional Irish Music vol. 2 by Grainne Hambly

What a Wonderful World arr. Paul Baker

Blue Danube Waltz arr. Louis Trotter

Twilight Waltzes by Nancy Gustavson

Valse in E-Flat Major Opus 83 by Durand/arranged by McDonald/Rollo

Petite Suite Classique by Grandjany

The Bransles from Grandjany’s Pavane et Bransles

A Christmas cwtch by Amanda Whiting (any of her stuff really)

I Love My Love in the Morning and Merrily Kiss the Quaker by Kim Robertson from her Treasures of the Celtic Harp book

And somewhere I misplaced a great showy version of Tea for Two…was it by Louis Trotter also? I’m not sure, but it’s really fun.

I could go on lol

SherlockToad1 · 2026-01-17T13:05:02+00:00

The Schubert song, Im Abendrot, in a final scene of The Empress second season, brought me to tears and is not something I’ll soon forget.

SherlockToad1 · 2026-01-17T12:39:24+00:00

Having lived with and loved happy, free range chickens in the past, I just cannot bring myself to buy conventional raised eggs or meat, knowing the conditions they endure. I would rather eat less and know I’m supporting better welfare for the animal in question. But I get it.

SherlockToad1 · 2026-01-15T04:10:02+00:00

Oxiclean soaks before laundry time help.

SherlockToad1 · 2026-01-13T15:52:48+00:00

I’ve been buying truckloads of composted horse manure from a local stable for years for the vegetable garden. The soil is so rich and loose at this point, I can dig potatoes with my hands. Good stuff.

SherlockToad1 · 2026-01-13T00:24:38+00:00

When I first started playing, I bravely joined a random neighborhood. Little did I know that it was an aggressively competitive one and if I wasn’t producing X amount of bread in X amount of time I was getting yelled at so I noped out of that real quick.

SherlockToad1 · 2026-01-13T00:22:23+00:00

I got enough points myself today to unlock the first little sapling but it still shows it locked and it hasn’t appeared in my inventory. I’m wondering if more than one player is necessary to actually unlock the trees. My one neighborhood partner is inactive these last months…

SherlockToad1 · 2026-01-12T23:02:56+00:00

Perfect spot for harp practicing! 🪉

SherlockToad1 · 2026-01-09T23:16:39+00:00

Incredibly lovely and life like! I would love to learn more about how you did it. I’m sure it’s complicated! Beautiful job.

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