#273: More About Playing Perfect Octaves

If you have been playing the harp for any amount of time, you will have already discovered the key truth about music study: whatever you have learned, whatever you have practiced for however long you have been practicing it, you will have to do it again. That’s not a prophesy of doom or meant to discourage you. It’s simply the way music works. 

Music is an art of the moment. We play a piece one day, and we have to play it again the next day. The instant we pluck a harp string, the sound begins to disappear into the air. It is ephemeral and elusive. 

So today we are revisiting a topic I’ve talked about before on the podcast. In fact, every week during the month of August, I will be reposting an episode that has information that I think needs repeating. Today we begin with a very basic but key technical skill. We’re talking about how to play octaves. Basic -yep. Important in just about every piece we play - you bet.  

The episode you are about to hear is from episode #62 of the podcast, first broadcast on July 25, 2022. If you heard it when I released it four years ago, it’s definitely worth a revisit. And if it’s new to you, I think you’ll find it helpful. And at the end of the episode, I’ll be back live with you to add a few more things for you to consider about how to make your octaves sound just the way you want.

Links to things I think you might be interested in that were mentioned in the podcast episode: 

• Learn more about the Chrysalis Chamber Music workshop.
• Why Chamber Music Is Different blog post
• Harpmastery.com

Get involved in the show! Send your questions and suggestions for future podcast episodes to me at [email protected]

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