Pretty sure I first came across harpist Adrienne Knauer via Instagram (also, are you following me?). She uses a loop pedal, has cool shoes, & posts cool pictures to her IG. I mean, can it get much cooler?
I asked her if she’d be interested in doing an interview via email for the Fischarper blog. Well, she agreed & here it is!
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Your bio says that you weren’t a huge fan of playing music on the piano at first. What changed?
I started playing piano very young so I don’t have many early memories except having temper tantrums and crying at the piano. To me it was viewed as a chore rather than something I chose to do. It wasn’t until I was probably 12 or 13 that I started to enjoy it and only because then I had actually had a decent skill set from practicing for so many years. Honestly I remember playing pop music when I was in middle school and it finally started being “fun.” One of the first songs I learned was Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby” and I thought that intro sounded super cool on the piano.
You use a loop pedal quite a bit in your Instagram videos. What are a few tips for getting started with one?
I highly recommend the Boss RC-30 looper. You can do SO much with it that a basic looper can’t (my first one was the Ditto Looper). My only regret is waiting so long to get it. It’s pricey but so worth it. It also is able to run on battery so you can use it for busking or not have to worry about finding a power outlet at a gig. I create preset percussion “beats” on my harp and now use it for all cocktail hours. Percussion adds support and a fullness that enables me to create upbeat harp music.
To use a looper, you need a mic pickup in your harp – I use the Fishman SBT-HP Harp and Piano Soundboard Transducer Pickup because it was affordable and really easy to install. If you can afford it, I’d get the Dusty Strings pickup because it amplifies every string more evenly. Then you just need an amp – I use the Fishman Loudbox Mini Bluetooth and I can’t recommend enough getting a amp that is able to work off battery if need be. Then you need 2 1/4″ cables to connect it all and you’re ready to go!
Do most brides want the loop pedal or just the harp played traditionally?
I don’t use the looper for processional music – but I will add it for recessional to give it a more “upbeat” feel with percussion if they request a pop song such as “Happy” by Pharrell. Since this is new to me too and I’m still testing it out and getting feedback, I send brides 2 samples – one with the looper and one without to see which one they prefer. Most of them choose the one with the looper 🙂 For cocktail hour I’ve just been adding the looper and the response from the guests is that they’re really impressed with it.
You’ve got some cool shoes showing up on your feed. Advice for gigging and harp-moving in potentially uncomfortable shoes?
Thank you! Well – to be honest I play all weddings in nice black, pointed leather flats. I gave up on heels at weddings a long time ago. Sometimes at other gigs I’ll wear heels but bring them in my bag; I only move my harp in flats – maybe the occasional boot but never anything crazy!
How do you find cool spots, lug your harp to them, & then get Instagrammable pictures?
This question makes me laugh 🙂 Sometimes I have to have a friend help me carry it – if say we’re out in the desert and I can’t wheel my harp there. It is not easy – there’s usually a lot of sweat and dust involved…but it’s worth it.
I’m lucky to live in such a beautiful place with gorgeous landscaping – whenever I’m out driving and I see a great spot I just screenshot it on my phone and save it for later.
I love using the graffiti wall art in Phoenix as a backdrop. I’ll take those pictures myself – I simply have a mic stand with a flexible phone tripod attached and I set the timer and take selfies. One of my goals this year is to buy a nicer camera – I wish I had done this when I was younger! Since content on social media is so important and it’s expensive to always hire a photographer, I can’t recommend enough that musicians learn how to take good photos of themselves.
And now please excuse me, while I go look for a looper pedal…hehe.
Be sure to give Adrienne a follow on Instagram & Facebook! And check out her YouTube channel too!
-Barbara
Fischarper interviews may be edited for accuracy (spelling, punctuation, etc.), sentence flow, space, etc. Interviewee views are not necessarily endorsed or shared by Barbara Fischer or Fischarper, LLC.
Adrienne Knauer is a professional harpist based in Phoenix. Even though she is classically trained, she has a diverse musical background; her repertoire includes everything from Bach to the Beatles to Bieber. Adrienne has had the opportunity to perform in world-renowned concert halls such as Carnegie Hall, Heinz Hall, the Kennedy Center, The Kimmel Center, and the Mann Center. She has performed with The Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, The Reading Choral Society, The Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, The Lansdowne Symphony, and the Williamsport Symphony. Adrienne completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from Penn State University in 2009 as well as a Professional Performance Certificate on Harp from Penn State in 2010 and a Masters of Music in Harp Performance degree from Temple University in 2014.
Barbara Fischer runs Fischarper, LLC and loves her job as a harpist and private music educator. She enjoys blogging about various aspects of the music field on fischarper.com/blog. For more music resources, check out the Fischarper store. Find out where you can find Barbara on the interwebs here. And you can sign up to receive Fischarper updates by joining the email list.