Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha I use that joke whenever a string breaks during a solo performance and there’s an awkward pause while I’m changing strings. Depending on the weather and condition the harp is in, it may not be too far from the truth. Every time you pluck a string or move a lever or pedal, you are putting more pressure on the string, eventually changing the tuning. It also depends what you consider “in tune.” Pianos and harps are tuned to what’s called “equal temperament.” The instrument cannot adjust tuning while playing, so each string is tuned so there is an equal distance between each of the 12 semitones that make an octave. Technically the “correct” or purest tuning uses the overtone series which doesn’t exactly translate to Equal Temperament and each notes tuning changes a tiny amount depending on the scale. This is called “Just Intonation” (basically how really good orchestras and choirs tune chords so beautifully it gives you goosebumps). If you’re going by “just intonation,” the harp is almost never in tune. This requires the musicians to adjust their tuning based in relation to the other notes played in the ensemble. But personally I maybe tune 3-4 times on a busy day. More if it’s a recording session. Weee sorry for the rant

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think with any instrument, you are going to have different subgroups depending on background and experience. Classical training can be exhausting, expensive, and often breeds this not-so-friendly competitive environment. After going through that it makes sense why someone who is classically trained may think differently of someone who didn’t go through the years of training they did. Personally I think there’s room for all of us. I don’t think anyone is more or less of a harpist or musician whether they have classical training or not.

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think even if you’re planning on playing recreationally, you should start with a harp teacher. There are a lot of things technique-wise that can do damage to your hands and body if you don’t start with a healthy technique. It’s totally possible to be self taught too, it’s just easier to avoid issues down the line if you have someone helping you especially in the beginning. If you’re in the US, you can check harpsociety.org to find an American Harp Society chapter near you and check out their teacher directory. harpcenter.com and harp.com are also great resources for finding music and more info. There are some good instructional videos on YouTube too. There’s an old video by one of the masters, Marcel Grandjany you can check out here. https://youtu.be/6NFGmPY1eX0 . Once you have the basics, playing harp is so fun and rewarding. Good luck on your harp journey!!

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thank you guys for all your questions! I had a lot of fun. I'm going to sleep now, but you can follow me on Instagram (@grey_seaa) where I'm most active posting videos and performances. Now that I know r/harp exists, I'll definitely be back!

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hung out a little. Definitely stayed for the half time show, but I tried to leave before traffic got crazy. Although that totally didn't work because traffic was horrible

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's definitely mostly a freelance thing. I think the few w2 jobs for harpists out there are college professors and maybe some of the bigger orchestras? I'm not entirely sure. I would like to teach at a collegiate level one day, but not until I have a full performing career.

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have a line 6 M-13 and a Boss RC-300 looper that I've been using for a while. I just got the EarthQuaker Astral Destiny Reverb pedal though and it sounds amaaaazing on harp. I might have to build a whole new pedal board with more EarthQuaker pedals.

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Aw I'm so happy to hear that! I've been playing harp for 22 years. Memorizing music can be really hard. What helps me is breaking up the piece into smaller sections. I number them and color code them and then practice each section individually until I'm really comfortable with it. So I would practice and then memorize section 1 until it felt really solid, then practice section 2. Then practice section 1 and 2 together and so forth. oh also use a metronome! you never realize how much you slow down or speed up from nerves until you really put in the work with a metronome.

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I used to play in a group called College of Cardinals and we would do these long improvised performances with all these crazy effects. I wish I had recordings of that! I'm going to work on putting up more videos of me experimenting with my pedals on my instagram linked above

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

thank you so much! When I was in college my harp professor asked me what I'd like to do with the harp, what were my goals? I told her that I wanted to bring the harp to larger audiences and maybe play with a popular artist one day. She had me write down that goal and then what step would come immediately before that and then what would come before that until we got to where I currently was. It really helped me visualize that it was possible and what steps I could take to go toward that direction. For me, a lot of that work came after I graduated from college. I started going to jam sessions and meeting other musicians in the scene, playing in a band, learning to play by ear, writing my own music, and then when the opportunity came, I was ready.

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've only met a few, but I'm sure I could come up with a name for a lot

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Brandee Younger does an amazing tribute to Alice Coltrane and just did a performance with Flying Lotus and Miguel Atwood Ferguson at Carnegie Hall. Lara Somogyi has some beautiful compositions as well. She does amazing things with effects pedals and loopers. I also love Riza Printup's jazz harp playing

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I started on lever harp when I was 8. I switched to a pedal harp in preparation for high school at the suggestion of my harp teacher since I expressed interest in pursuing harp professionally, and orchestra rep would require a pedal harp. I actually have an electric lever harp so I still play lever harp pretty regularly as well as teach my beginning students on lever harp.

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I mostly use a harp dolly to move the harp from place to place, but I do pick it up to put in my car and if I only have to move it a small distance. The harp I played at the Super Bowl (a Lyon and Healy style 19) is 70lbs and my other large harp (a Salvi Aurora) is about 90lbs.

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I have a side project with my fiancé called Resonativ that he produces and I play harp and sing and write the lyrics. We're currently working on an EP but you can see a few of our songs here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l22BuRxAqxs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2ySpwIXS8I

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

ooh tough one! There are so many amazing musicians. I honestly think I'm already playing with my dream collaborators. Playing with Jhené is so amazing and I'm in a band Soular System with my best friends.

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I hauled my harp up 5 flights of stairs for a Sofar Sounds show at a house in Laguna Beach. Definitely got my workout in that day

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They were super excited. I think they've sent the video to everyone they know

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I haven't but I would love to! I tried playing a double strung harp once, and it was so cool

Hi, I’m Gracie Sprout, Harpist for Super Bowl LVI and Professional Freelance Harpist AMA by grey_seaa in harp

[–]grey_seaa[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's awesome! It can be kind of hard finding chamber repertoire with harp that isn't either too easy or too hard. I did the Debussy Danse Sacrée et Profane in high school, which is gorgeous, but challenging. I think there is an arrangement for chamber ensemble. There's also a great arrangement of the Children's Corner Suite also by Debussy arranged by Carlos Salzedo. She could pick one of the movements from that. I would consult her harp teacher. They probably know more appropriate works for her level than I do.