October 1997: Seat Height

Finding the correct height of your seat at the harp is a difficult problem.

FOR ALL HARPS: If you are too low the natural position of your hands on the strings will be below center and your elbows will droop allowing the hands to point upward in a prayer-like manner. If you are too high the position on the strings may be centered or a little high but you are also likely to develop soreness in the region of the shoulder blades. If you are sitting too close or too far from the instrument this will also affect the height requirements. So here are a few suggestions:

1) Sit at the proper distance from the harp (see April LOM in the archives)

2) Relax and hang your arms at your sides.

3) Quickly raise the hands and place them immediately on the strings with your elbows parallel to the floor. Be sure that your shoulders are not lifted. (This is only a test position- it does not imply that you will play this way).

4) Note where the hands "fell" on the strings. As stated above, if they are below center your seat probably needs to be higher. If they are above center you need to sit a tad lower.

FOR PEDAL HARPS: Another factor in the equation is the distance of the feet to the pedals and this is dependent on the length of the legs and torso. Since this is so complicated start with the four steps above then continue:

5) Maintaining the position you have found, grab the body of the harp with your knees. If they touch the harp at about the center of the sound box, you are probably in the proper position. However, if you have longer or shorter legs than average you may have to adjust.

6) With your hands and arms not touching the harp in any way at all, move the E and B pedals from position to position, then the A and D pedals. You need to be able to get A and D into the sharp position without reaching out so far as to lose your leverage. At the same time moving E and B must be possible without straining the feet and legs inward. Remember, do not at any time touch, hold or hug the harp with your arms or hands. You need to be able to move the pedals freely without any assistance from any other part of the body.

7) Make whatever adjustments necessary both in distance from the harp and in seat height, to find the most reasonable compromise among the many interwoven factors listed above.

See you next month.

Stephanie

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