Harps: Playing with Personality
Playing the harp requires dexterity with the use of the fingers as all of them except for the little finger is managed to make harp piece. As you can see, the index finger, which is too short and feeble to effectively pluck a string, can distort the playing pattern of the other fingers. Usually, majority of harps only require playing with the hands. 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 Salzedo method, developed by Carlos Salzedo-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.