Harpist Keeping Busy During Covid-19
The first few weeks were special. I felt so free to work on projects that I never had time for before. I composed more music in March and April of …
Organization Ideas for Harpists
As a professional harpist, my career is multi-faceted and oddly specific. Over the years I’ve built up multiple systems for managing the equipment, the merchandise and the information that goes …
A Harp Weekend in Bemidji
Two weeks ago I spent a few days in Bemidji doing harp stuff.
My schedule included playing 2nd harp on Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms with the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra, giving …
The Northern Harpist’s Winter Survival Guide
Perhaps the worst part of my job is the winter-time conflict between staying warm and looking professional, flawlessly groomed, elegant… harpist-like.
The harpist’s gig prep is not a simple waltz from …
4 Things That Strike Terror Into the Heart of Every Harpist
(Being by no means a complete list of existing harpist problems)
1. The malfunctioning handicap entrance button
It lures one into a false sense of security, promising not only to open the …
On Thumbs and Appreciating 20th Century Music
You don’t appreciate your thumbs until you lose one for awhile.
Isn’t it always like that in life? You’ve got a good thing going – full use of all ten fingers …
A peripatetic part-time orchestra harpist
Why peripatetic?
Well because it’s a great word that for me it will forever summon to mind Elizabeth Peters’ thrilling novel set in 1890’s Egypt, “The Crocodile on the Sandbank,” in …
What Does a Freelance Harpist Do All Day? Part 2
The other day started out with a recording session from 9am-1pm. It’s for an upcoming album with my early music ensemble, the Ravenscroft Musicke Guild. Crafting e-mails for the upcoming …
A Tax Checklist for Professional Harpists
If you play harp and make some money doing it, the following list might help jog your memory as you tackle your taxes and take deductions!
Obligatory note: I am …
Minnesota’s Nerdy Harpist
Okay, so maybe I’m not the nerdiest harpist in the area. But I think I am the nerdiest professional harpist in Minnesota (as in, I do this and only this …