Another potential cause for wardrobe stress is footwear. As some of you may know, the harp has seven (yes, seven!) pedals, each of which needs careful quiet negotiation. Each pedal has 3 different positions too, which means A LOT of different combinations (maths was never my strength). All harpists have different tastes in footwear and some even play barefoot. I have tried this and found it hideously uncomfortable. Ballet pumps don't do it for me either. I have a pair of lowish wedge heels that I can pedal in and are comfortable enough to walk in, although not all day, but until now my favourites are 3 inch heels. I recently bought a pair of black stilettos that have taken me a while to break in both for walking and playing but I really like them. Standing at a not-so-towering 5'3" I find the additional height gives me a comforting confidence boost when I perform. I always turn up to rehearse and perform in comfortable walking shoes, and I'm sure people must think "is she really going to play in those?!?" Much as I have tried, I cannot safely unload and move my harp in heels! In the before and after photos you can see why my shoes need replacing regularly.
Before (there was clearly a lot of pedalling...)
After (better get practicing!)
