Thursday, June 18, 2015

Harp

The protagonist of my work-in-progress has a giant, impractical dream. She wants to attend the Julliard School as a harp major. Will she get there? Probably not, but my character will become a harp major at some college or conservatory. Many of the students I tutor dream impossible dreams as well.

As I worked on my manuscript, I realized I didn’t know much about the harp, so I contacted a local harpist and asked if I could hire her as a consultant. She agreed and told me I should take harp lessons as well. She offered to lend me a small folk harp for practicing. In the two lessons I’ve had so far, I’ve learned far more than I expected.

Here’s a progress report:
  • It would have been better if I’d learned to read bass clef as a child. I’m getting better.
  • My rendition of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” is often recognizable.
  • Sometimes when I see notes on the treble staff, my fingers still feel imaginary clarinet keys. (I played clarinet for about ten years.)
  • The arthritis in my left thumb makes it lazy.
  • Jeremy and his friends love to remind me to practice.
  • Most importantly, I’m learning which questions to ask my teacher to improve my manuscript. 

3 comments:

Buffy Silverman said...

This will be the perfect author photo for the book jacket (yes, I am occasionally optimistic!)

Ann Finkelstein said...

Thanks, Buffy. That's very kind.

Ann Finkelstein said...
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