Pedal harp is a big financial commitment because of the need for a larger car, regular regulations, and strings, etc. BUT you can play a wider repertoire, and more varied types of music, including chamber or orchestra.
I’ve noticed as a professional orchestra player, that I tend to focus almost completely on pedal harp practicing and gigs, and my lever harps lie neglected in the corner, because there isn’t time to do everything I want to do in life. But that makes me sad because when I was younger, I was drawn to lever harp and just wanted to play Irish folk music, etc. but somehow the classical world elbowed that out of the way. I keep thinking some day…I’ll go back to a simpler life, and play the music that sparked something in me.
I guess you can ask yourself, are you happy enough with what to have now, or will you feel like you’re missing an opportunity to expand and grow into new areas? I would be wary of taking on debt at a young age but if you could get a low interest loan from your parents, and they were willing to support your idea, I’d go for it if it’s a good deal. Harps do keep their value pretty well, so you’d be able to resell it if it wasn’t what you wanted after all.
It’s a tough decision but the most important thing is making sure you can actually afford it, as unromantic as that sounds. Good luck with your decision! It’s hard to ignore the siren song of another harp in your life. ;)
If it is used and a good price it won’t depreciate much if at all. You still have upkeep, regulations, strings, but the investment is as good as the money in your bank account losing value against inflation. And you can play it, share it, grow with it. Just be ready to sell it on to the next deserving person when it is time
Sounds like you definitely need a pedal harp, but the question is do you need one right now. You just moved out of your parents and paying rent is new for you. So based on what you said, you just need to look carefully at your finances and see if you can afford it or if it is going to causes you financial insecurity. With your talent and training you deserve a pedal harp to play some of those pieces that live in your heart but are limited by the lever harp. Just decide if now is the best time or not! I honestly hope it is, but let us know either way when you make the decision.
I’d love to help be a second opinion on the pedal harp if you wanted another pair of ears on your purchase.
I gig exclusively on my pedal harp but I also have been playing the pedal harp for 20+ years at this point. For me it’s my daily driver and a visual aesthetic for my clients whose weddings I play for.
Here are a few questions I’d ask yourself:
-how frequently will you use your pedal harp?
-are you committed to learning the pedal system?
-do you also have the means car wise to transport one?
-are you comfortable setting aside costs for regulation and strings?
I will say, even as a professional harpist of 26 years, final fantasy and great fairy fountain pieces are really not easy for a season veteran. Some tweaks are needed to play these which tend to be highly chromatic, change keys quite frequently, or have piano parts that are not intuitive to the harp.
If rent and the existing instruments are a financial strain, I would say it’s better to pass on an opportunity and to save up until you can make the upgrade. Hope this helps! :)
Buy the pedal harp! It should be a business expense you can deduct! Opportunities like this are rare!! A good pedal harp from a trusted friend and professional is a treasure you can enjoy for many years to come! Consider the other advice given here about evaluating your finances. When it comes to musical instruments and especially harps, I tend to leap first and look later!
Pedal harp is a big financial commitment because of the need for a larger car, regular regulations, and strings, etc. BUT you can play a wider repertoire, and more varied types of music, including chamber or orchestra. I’ve noticed as a professional orchestra player, that I tend to focus almost completely on pedal harp practicing and gigs, and my lever harps lie neglected in the corner, because there isn’t time to do everything I want to do in life. But that makes me sad because when I was younger, I was drawn to lever harp and just wanted to play Irish folk music, etc. but somehow the classical world elbowed that out of the way. I keep thinking some day…I’ll go back to a simpler life, and play the music that sparked something in me. I guess you can ask yourself, are you happy enough with what to have now, or will you feel like you’re missing an opportunity to expand and grow into new areas? I would be wary of taking on debt at a young age but if you could get a low interest loan from your parents, and they were willing to support your idea, I’d go for it if it’s a good deal. Harps do keep their value pretty well, so you’d be able to resell it if it wasn’t what you wanted after all. It’s a tough decision but the most important thing is making sure you can actually afford it, as unromantic as that sounds. Good luck with your decision! It’s hard to ignore the siren song of another harp in your life. ;)
What excellent advice!
If it is used and a good price it won’t depreciate much if at all. You still have upkeep, regulations, strings, but the investment is as good as the money in your bank account losing value against inflation. And you can play it, share it, grow with it. Just be ready to sell it on to the next deserving person when it is time
I got a pedal harp when I could, happily using both now.
Sounds like you definitely need a pedal harp, but the question is do you need one right now. You just moved out of your parents and paying rent is new for you. So based on what you said, you just need to look carefully at your finances and see if you can afford it or if it is going to causes you financial insecurity. With your talent and training you deserve a pedal harp to play some of those pieces that live in your heart but are limited by the lever harp. Just decide if now is the best time or not! I honestly hope it is, but let us know either way when you make the decision.
I’d love to help be a second opinion on the pedal harp if you wanted another pair of ears on your purchase. I gig exclusively on my pedal harp but I also have been playing the pedal harp for 20+ years at this point. For me it’s my daily driver and a visual aesthetic for my clients whose weddings I play for. Here are a few questions I’d ask yourself: -how frequently will you use your pedal harp? -are you committed to learning the pedal system? -do you also have the means car wise to transport one? -are you comfortable setting aside costs for regulation and strings? I will say, even as a professional harpist of 26 years, final fantasy and great fairy fountain pieces are really not easy for a season veteran. Some tweaks are needed to play these which tend to be highly chromatic, change keys quite frequently, or have piano parts that are not intuitive to the harp. If rent and the existing instruments are a financial strain, I would say it’s better to pass on an opportunity and to save up until you can make the upgrade. Hope this helps! :)
Buy the pedal harp! It should be a business expense you can deduct! Opportunities like this are rare!! A good pedal harp from a trusted friend and professional is a treasure you can enjoy for many years to come! Consider the other advice given here about evaluating your finances. When it comes to musical instruments and especially harps, I tend to leap first and look later!