“The margins are too small”
“I can’t turn the page”
“The score is too cluttered”
“What are those notes?????”
Why are harpists so picky about music formatting?
There’s a few very big reasons:
Harpists sit slightly further away from the music, compared to other instrumentalists
Due to the shape of the harp, music stand is placed to the side, rather than in the direct line of sight
Harpists have to watch their hands while playing (rather than playing by feel). This means having to quickly glance back and forth between music, hands, and conductor (if applicable)
Bottom line: Harpists need music that can be read from slightly further away, can take in all the information very quickly, AND be able to glance back and forth without losing their place.
Want to learn more? I’ll be sharing a harp formatting checklist with my email subscribers next week!