This book was designed to help harp players develop and maintain strength, suppleness, and agility in the fingers and hands. It is intended for use by players of all levels. The repetition of patterns common to the harp should enable the player to perform with greater ease and confidence. A few pieces of music have been included where additional practice of the skills involved seemed helpful. The exercises are arranged in a rough sequential order, however, you will probably wish to skip around in the book. The pieces, exercises and etudes are in the key of C tuning with only one exception which requires one sharp. Beginners should be sure to start out playing one hand at a time in the exercises which combine two staves. Relaxation is very important. Pause between exercises, shake the hands out, especially when playing the more complex scales and four-finger patterns. Remember that you're striving to increase agility as well as strength and speed. Also be sure to keep your playing at an even tempo. Play at a speed at which it is possible to maintain this. Exercises are great for warming up, varying your practice, and moving your playing to a new plateau. We hope you get much good use from this book.
CONTENTS
TWO NOTE CHORDS
Scales
Exercises With Two Note Chords
Combining Intervals
"Twll Yn Ei Boch"
"Annie Laurie"
TWO FINGER EXERCISES
THREE FINGER EXERCISES
TRIADS AND INVERSIONS
With One Hand
Key of C Major Triads-Two Hands
Descending Triads
Exercises With Triads
Etude
FOUR FINGER EXERCISES
PLAYING WITHOUT THE THUMB
4-2-1 PATTERNS
FOUR FINGER ARPEGGIOS
Arpeggios in the Key of C
Descending Arpeggios
Arpeggios in A Minor
Arpeggio Exercises
More Arpeggio Exercises
Overlapping Arpeggios
ROLLED CHORDS
Three Finger Chords
"The Trees They Do Grow High"
Four Finger Chords
"Mwynen Ceiriog"
Playing Chords and Single Notes
Rolling Chords and Double Notes
SLIDES
Thumb Slides
Fourth Finger Slides
Slides With Chords
Exercises With Slides
CROSS-OVERS AND CROSS-UNDERS
Preparation
One Octave Scales
Exercises for Crossing Under
Exercises for Crossing Over
Scales With the Third Finger Crossing
Extended Scales
Scales With the Second Finger Crossing
Exercises With Cross-Overs and Unders
Cross-Over Arpeggios
JUMPS
FINGER INDEPENDENCE
THEME AND VARIATIONS