I'm so glad you posted this video! I'm actually self-taught, having used UA-cam videos by various harpists as my guide. However, I play with straight fingers, and I thought that I was therefore using bad technique, because all I've ever heard is that the fingers should be curved, which doesn't feel right to me at all. This video gives me confidence that maybe I'm using good technique after all! Maybe my intuition about straight fingers was right all along!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO!!!!! As another self-taught harper, it's been so frustrating trying to find work out what "experts" say, compared to what works for me.
Interesting. I wonder if it depends also on one's anatomy? Anyway thank you for fantastic video. Please release a longer version with the teachers interviews.
I will try to upload the interview, yes, they're super interesting but very long, and I tend to have my videos short. But if there is demand I will. Other teachers might say it depends on one's anatomy, my personal opinion is that for sure everyone has got different hands fingers and bodies, but these 2 techniques can be learnt and trained by everyone, as there are movements that everyone can make.
Wow. I didn't even know that you can play with all straight fingers... I only knew about the thumb: Russian harpists play with straight thumbs to be faster. I learned to play with all curved fingers.
Hi Chiara - Thanks for sharing this. Very interesting to hear all the different perspectives. I am a mostly self-taught harper and have been thinking a lot about my fingers lately,.. While my hand position generally seems good - thumbs up, fingers down, plucking into the palm - I have noticed that I seem to be employing BOTH bent and straight knuckles, depending on the fingerings... And when there's a big stretch - like a big gap between the fourth and third finger, in a four-finger bracket - the knuckle[s] of the middle fingers[s] will often collapse. I have tried everything to stop it/them from doing so, but the only way that seems possible is to press hard into the strings with the knuckles before plucking, which I find uncomfortable. I also notice a greater tension in my hand, no matter how I try to adjust my hand position to avoid the collapsed knuckle{s} in these scenarios. Sometimes it also compromises my reach... [I have smallish hands, with short fingers] Any thoughts regarding this? Is it ever okay to play with collapsed knuckles? Thanks, E.
I learned with curved fingers. I try to stick with it because of the sound. That means, even to curv the thumb which makes it directly land where it is supposed to.. And makes a stronger sound - more strength.. 💪😊
Love it! It can be very hard when you want to learn the 'right technique' .... the main thing is doing what feels and sounds best so thank you for sharing!
@@chiarapedrazzettiarpatelie6470 Danke für den Tipp! Ich habe auch schon andere gefunden, deine Videos sind allerdings am humorvollsten, das gefällt mir sehr gut. Da ich schon älter bin und krank, freue ich mich, wenn ich dabei auch mal lachen kann. Ich kann dann auch besser über mich selbst lachen und das Lernen wird lockerer. Danke dafür, liebe Grüße aus Greifswald an der Ostsee in Deutschland. 🤗
It's really what your teacher's idea is. But in maturity you can always adjust, maybe experiment with a "cantabile" section, where you need an extra beautiful sound!
I also have hypermobility, it's just a matter of training. If you played with curved all your life you're not strong in the other way. I was training in the bus, on a table, on whatever surface available to streghten the movement since I had the switch. The proof is that with my 5th finger, which I've never ever trained or notice even🤣 it's COMPLETELY useless, I cannot bend it at all the way other fingers do.
That's Luisa's answer: with straight fingers you should be less tired, because you use both muscles. But if you play with curved and you concentrate more on the quality of the sound and not the intensity, then you can play for a long time with curved as well. My thought now: as I mention in the video, I know amazing harpists playing with straight or curved, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours...it doesn't matter, you should NEVER have strain, if you do you're doing something wrong (very often the low elbow brings problems). You always have to relax your fingers after you pluck. Then you can play for hours with stamina and no strain, regardless the technique you use.
@@chiarapedrazzettiarpatelie6470 I wonder if hyperextension of the first finger joint causes a problem in playing? I have flexible joints (like the Japanese harpist in the video) and I play with straight fingers. I wonder how I can play with straight fingers AND correct for hyperextension at the same time? Thank you!
Curved fingers! Probably because both my teachers taught me that way. If you start a student with straight fingers, isn’t there a danger that the first joints may be more likely to collapse and create a weak sound and hinder the ability to play fast eventually?
I don't think so, as Olivia said, it's a matter of training. Joints do get stronger if you repeat a certain mouvement. And you can play fast with both techniques.
Great video. Sound advice. But I think there will always be a finger war amongst harpists lol. I like your advice. The best tone comes from the meaty part of the finger. When you 70 you start to loose that too lol
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I'm so glad you posted this video! I'm actually self-taught, having used UA-cam videos by various harpists as my guide. However, I play with straight fingers, and I thought that I was therefore using bad technique, because all I've ever heard is that the fingers should be curved, which doesn't feel right to me at all. This video gives me confidence that maybe I'm using good technique after all! Maybe my intuition about straight fingers was right all along!
Yes, it's definitely an option! Have a look at other harpist's fingers when they play, you'll see all sort of positions!
Such a great video! Thank you, Chiara!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO!!!!! As another self-taught harper, it's been so frustrating trying to find work out what "experts" say, compared to what works for me.
Great advice
Interesting. I wonder if it depends also on one's anatomy? Anyway thank you for fantastic video. Please release a longer version with the teachers interviews.
I will try to upload the interview, yes, they're super interesting but very long, and I tend to have my videos short. But if there is demand I will.
Other teachers might say it depends on one's anatomy, my personal opinion is that for sure everyone has got different hands fingers and bodies, but these 2 techniques can be learnt and trained by everyone, as there are movements that everyone can make.
Wow. I didn't even know that you can play with all straight fingers... I only knew about the thumb: Russian harpists play with straight thumbs to be faster. I learned to play with all curved fingers.
Isn't it great to always learn something new! Yes Russian harpists have this very efficient thumb that we have to imitate! 😀
Hi Chiara - Thanks for sharing this. Very interesting to hear all the different perspectives. I am a mostly self-taught harper and have been thinking a lot about my fingers lately,.. While my hand position generally seems good - thumbs up, fingers down, plucking into the palm - I have noticed that I seem to be employing BOTH bent and straight knuckles, depending on the fingerings... And when there's a big stretch - like a big gap between the fourth and third finger, in a four-finger bracket - the knuckle[s] of the middle fingers[s] will often collapse. I have tried everything to stop it/them from doing so, but the only way that seems possible is to press hard into the strings with the knuckles before plucking, which I find uncomfortable. I also notice a greater tension in my hand, no matter how I try to adjust my hand position to avoid the collapsed knuckle{s} in these scenarios. Sometimes it also compromises my reach... [I have smallish hands, with short fingers]
Any thoughts regarding this? Is it ever okay to play with collapsed knuckles?
Thanks, E.
Hi! You're probably too far away from the strings. Try to put your hand closer and the knuckle shouldn't collapse anymore. Let me know how it goes!
Thank you thank you!!!!!
Ohhhhh thank you so much!!!! I was wondering if I was wrong or right! I am team curved finger because my fingers are short!!
Happy to help! You're not wrong! 😊🎵🤙
I learned with curved fingers. I try to stick with it because of the sound. That means, even to curv the thumb which makes it directly land where it is supposed to.. And makes a stronger sound - more strength.. 💪😊
Love it! It can be very hard when you want to learn the 'right technique' .... the main thing is doing what feels and sounds best so thank you for sharing!
There are some rules, but knowledge is power!
Danke, danke, danke, deine Videos sind soooo hilfreich für mich als Anfängerin. 🤗
There are other YT channels for beginners, mine is not specific for the basics, but sometimes I do share technical topics. Have fun learning!
@@chiarapedrazzettiarpatelie6470 Danke für den Tipp! Ich habe auch schon andere gefunden, deine Videos sind allerdings am humorvollsten, das gefällt mir sehr gut. Da ich schon älter bin und krank, freue ich mich, wenn ich dabei auch mal lachen kann. Ich kann dann auch besser über mich selbst lachen und das Lernen wird lockerer. Danke dafür, liebe Grüße aus Greifswald an der Ostsee in Deutschland. 🤗
@@sabinelower1524 Wenn du willst, wir können ein Masterclass organisieren, und ich werde dich viel zum Lachen bringen 😁😁😁
@@chiarapedrazzettiarpatelie6470 Vielen Dank, aber das überfordert mich im Moment. Du bist echt toll! Liebe Grüße 🤗
merxi beaucoup pour ce vidéo!!!
C'est un plaisir!
Fascinating! I was taught to keep straight fingers. Its more difficult but worth it.
It's really what your teacher's idea is. But in maturity you can always adjust, maybe experiment with a "cantabile" section, where you need an extra beautiful sound!
I wonder if the harpist in Japan has hypermobility, as her fingers go backwards so easily?
Really interesting, Chiara
I also have hypermobility, it's just a matter of training. If you played with curved all your life you're not strong in the other way. I was training in the bus, on a table, on whatever surface available to streghten the movement since I had the switch. The proof is that with my 5th finger, which I've never ever trained or notice even🤣 it's COMPLETELY useless, I cannot bend it at all the way other fingers do.
I too would love to see the whole interviews, if you have time to upload them. It's really interesting.
So from an occupational therapist’s perspective, which type of fingers is better in terms of more stamina and less strain? Thank you!
That's Luisa's answer: with straight fingers you should be less tired, because you use both muscles. But if you play with curved and you concentrate more on the quality of the sound and not the intensity, then you can play for a long time with curved as well.
My thought now: as I mention in the video, I know amazing harpists playing with straight or curved, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours...it doesn't matter, you should NEVER have strain, if you do you're doing something wrong (very often the low elbow brings problems). You always have to relax your fingers after you pluck. Then you can play for hours with stamina and no strain, regardless the technique you use.
@@chiarapedrazzettiarpatelie6470 I wonder if hyperextension of the first finger joint causes a problem in playing? I have flexible joints (like the Japanese harpist in the video) and I play with straight fingers. I wonder how I can play with straight fingers AND correct for hyperextension at the same time? Thank you!
Curved fingers! Probably because both my teachers taught me that way. If you start a student with straight fingers, isn’t there a danger that the first joints may be more likely to collapse and create a weak sound and hinder the ability to play fast eventually?
I don't think so, as Olivia said, it's a matter of training. Joints do get stronger if you repeat a certain mouvement. And you can play fast with both techniques.
Great video. Sound advice. But I think there will always be a finger war amongst harpists lol. I like your advice. The best tone comes from the meaty part of the finger. When you 70 you start to loose that too lol
Finger war is a must! haha!
Very interesting! I am a beginner, but it’s good to know there are some choices to be made later on.
💪💪knowledge is power!