Do lever changes on the harp bring you out in a cold sweat? Just like learning to drive a car, trying to do multiple things at once on the harp can be disorientating at first, but Lever changes are just another layer of coordination that you have to work into you playing. Learning to shift levers can be a challenge, but once you learn some basic tricks, it becomes second nature. Here are some tips to help you master them more easily! You can also check out the Lever Changes chapter in my Technical Exercise for Lever Harp book for some exercises.
My harp teacher used to also was say that lever changes are ‘management, not music’ and it’s totally true! It’s all down to having a plan for when and how they will happen, and practicing them into the piece.
As a general rule, one should incorporate lever changes immediately into the learning process. Think of the lever change as if it were an extra note in the piece – it has to come ‘in time’ with the rest of what you’re playing. Put the lever change on a specific beat so that it becomes part of the the piece, and you play in the same place every time. The lever change is an integral part of the piece, and as such, has to have a specific timing.
You need to focus on the lever you’re aiming for with your eyes, so make sure your Right Hand is totally fluent so you don’t need to be looking at those strings when your Left Hand is changing the lever.
Practice moving up to the lever and increasing the speed at which you can get there and change it. If you have very fast lever changes, keep the Left Hand near the levers so there is less distance to cover.
If a string is still ringing when you change the lever, it can create a buzz or you can hear the sound of the pitch change before you want it. Avoid that by gently touching your finger against the string right before you change the lever, to damp the sound, and get a clean change.
In summary, there’s no magic to changing levers quickly - it’s just a matter of keeping calm, and always having them in the same place. It can be temping to avoid them, but the music you play can become so exciting once you master them that you’ll never look back!
FREEBIE! Here’s a free arrangement I made of the traditional strathspey Miller O’ Hirn which features 4 lever changes! Have a go and see how you get on!
