May 1997: Why So Many Positional Problems?

Have you ever noticed how long it takes (it never seems to end) to accomplish a reasonable playing position? Well take heart, a good part of the reason is due to some very simple facts of life at the harp. When seated at a harp the base of the instrument is usually centered on the body while the remainder of it is swivelled to the right and rests against the players right shoulder. Thus:

1) There is weight resting against one side of the body but not the other.

Uneven weight on the body effects the general sense of balance and it's natural mechanisms fight to reestablish that balance. This can result in very odd sitting positions; shoulders hunched up, arms hugging the sound box, and back muscles straining to withstand pressure that is pushing the player backwards. With smaller instruments these problems are minimal but larger instruments present more hazards IF not positioned properly. SOLUTION: The player should sit close enough to the harp so that weight against the shoulder is minimized but also so that he/she can move arms and shoulders freely without the harp returning to upright position on its own.

2) The player's vision is not "straight on" .

The strings are to our right so we turn our heads and often our left shoulder toward them. By so doing we are adding to the unbalanced position of the body, we are straining shoulder muscles and we are increasing the differential between the right and left sides of the body. All of this can present problems regarding the players' visual abilities. Many people find that strings blur. Others have difficulty focusing. SOLUTION: Hold your head straight up, chin in and centered squarely on the torso. Turn it toward the strings so you are seeing them in a somewhat peripheral manner. DO NOT turn your left shoulder toward the harp. If you have problems with focus or blurring that do not gradual accomodate with time, then you will have to consult your eye doctor for assistance.

3) The right arm reaches around the instrument where the left does not.

My students often ask why the position of one hand is more difficult to establish than the other. Yes, of course, most of us are dominant on one side but added to that is the fact that the right arm reaches around the harp which subtly effects the use of that side of the body. SOLUTION: Now that you are aware of the fact, the only solution is practice.

See you next month.

Stephanie

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