Audio Links

It appears that for now most of my audio links have to be downloaded onto your computer before they will play.  At least that is what is happening on my computer.  They used to play automatically without downloading.  Technology is changing and I have not been keeping up as I should.  I have no clue why they used to work immediately and now they don't.  I have been investigating an audio player to insert into my blog but haven't found one that works for me yet.  I haven't been actively working this blog for some time so bear with me for the time being as I try to bring things up to date.

Refurbishing my old autoharp Part 4 Fine (pronounced "fee-nay" in musical language) which means FINISH or THE END

There all the chord bars are in place.

Now I want to show you why I cannot use my old chord bar cover

See the cracks and broken places...old and brittle

Nice new padded replacement

Now then I started to place the chord cover onto the chord bars and discovered something I neglected to do.  I hadn't marked the exact place on the bars that the buttons should have been sitting in relation to the configuration on the chord bar cover( The buttons are loose and come out of the chord bars when not constrained by the cover).  So it took some wiggling and maneuvering several times to get everything lined up correctly.  Now once that was done it was time to screw the chord bar cover in place.  

I discovered something else.  The new brackets which were fastened under the plastic combes were not going to work.  The new screws just slid through the holes instead of grabbing.  And the brackets were not tall enough and angled in such a way as to allow the cover to sit all the way down to the instrument top as it should.  Sooo now my husband helped me take things back apart to install the old brackets and then use the old screws to fasten every thing properly in place.

So I had to remove all the chord bars

  Removed the new brackets and re-installed the old ones

Some of the irritating new ones

Checked to be sure the holes will line up and the cover will sit all the way down next to the instrument top.  It appears it will work.

Yes!! Praise the Lord!  I am finished!  Thanks to my husband for his help and encouragement when in disappointment I feared we wouldn't be able to finish without contacting the supplier.

With the new felt in place the Autoharp truly does play more easily.  

I found my old receipts recently for the Autoharp purchased October 30, 1978 for $86.30 and the case later March 6, 1979 for $15.34 for a total of 101.64.

I checked Oscar Schmidt website to see what a similar one would cost today.  $479.90. http://www.oscarschmidt.com/products/autoharps/os21c.asp

 I spent $87.78 for the parts to refurbish my old one.  Even if a few of the parts didn't work, I still was able to complete the job.  

This is what I have left of the pieces and parts.  10 feet of felt for future use as needed.  Dyo spot remover I purchased seperately.  I purchased this at a shoe repair shop.  I worked in shoe sales and shoe repair for 13 years so I was aware this product would be good for removing the residue of adhesive.  And the screws and brackets that didn't fit.  I am not unhappy with the supplier.  Autoharpworks.com has most everything you need.  I think there are many brands of autoharps out there and it may be difficult to be sure you have the right pieces.  These folks were very responsive to my initial order.  I had ordered springs seperately and they wrote me right away and said springs were automatically included when you buy the plastic combs so they had cancelled that part of the order and reduced the cost total.  Since my brackets and screws were still in good shape it didn't seem necessary to contact them about this matter.

Progressing

Nearly finished...7 more chord bars to go :-)

Refurbishing my old Autoharp Part 3

I have been working at removing felt and putting the new felt on chord bars.  I started out tracing the original pattern on paper, but I discovered that it wasn't really necessary if I marked the bar carefully and followed the arrows for the V-cuts in the felt to recreate the gaps needed.  I have 6 done so far and have gained new confidence with each bar.

As I finish each bar I place it back on the correct posts, press the bar down and strum the strings to see if it sounds sour or sweet.  In other words that the right strings are ringing and the right strings are silenced or dampened.  So far so good.

Pressing down the bar and looking at where the strings should be free to vibrate.  Also checking that there is plenty of felt to silence the correct strings.  If the V-cut is too angled(to the obtuse side or greater than 90 degrees) you may allow a string free movement unintentionally.  So far there seems to  be enough felt in each spot to silence the strings properly. A 45 degree cut is about right.  If I make a mistake, I do have enough felt to redo a bar if necessary. 

A closer look at the felt and gaps.

Here is the link to the Oscar Schmidt website "helps and tips on replacing felt"   

Refurbishing my 21 Chord Oscar Schmidt Autoharp Part 2

As I said before removing and putting the new combs in place would be simple and it was.  The only glitch with this was I tried to use the new screws provided and they were not wood screws and were too thin.  So I used the original screws, no problem. One side done and now the other.

I also decided to install the new metal brackets instead of keeping the old ones.

And now the new springs go in place.

Done

Now was time to start replacing the felt on the chord bars.  I discovered this takes some time so am doing a few a day for a while.  I wanted to be sure I got the gaps placed properly on the particular chord bar I was working on, starting with E flat Major chord the first in the row of chord bars.  I traced the chord bar first on a piece of paper.

Then I took a  fine tipped black marker and marked the spaces on the metal bar. (By the way, these chord bars are covered so it doesn't matter if I mark on them this way.  If your chord bars are visible you will want to use a dry erase type marker so that it will wipe off.)  Just to be sure I remembered which were the gaps, I placed an arrow pointing upward to signal this was the gap.  As you can see I had started to remove the old felt.  If you are very careful sometimes you can get the knife under the adhesive layer under the felt and pull most of it off as a whole.  The key word is "sometimes".  Otherwise pull the felt off and carefully with the knife scrape, roll, peel, the adhesive layer off.  This metal seems to be soft aluminium and will scar easily.  So one must be careful not to dig into the aluminum with the knife.  I used some spotting solvent to get the final bits of adhesive off and clean where the new felt will go.  This must not be an oily solvent or you will not be able to get your new felt to stick.  So if you try this only use the slightest amount of liquid and then dry it off well so there is no residue of solvent left. The new felt comes with an adhesive backing.

Progress

I didn't show the cleaning step.

The felt can be purchased already cut to length to match the chord bar or you can buy a 25 ft length.  I decided on the uncut length so that I would have extra should I need it in the future and the cost is maybe a couple of dollars more.  It seemed like a good idea.

I pulled the paper backing off the adhesive a little at a time to expose the sticky side and slowly place it on the chord bar.

To cut the felt you use a single edged razor blade and just push through the felt (do not saw back and forth)

Finished with applying the felt

Now....it is time to start cutting the gaps from the felt.  It is recommended by Oscar Schmidt "helps and tips" to use a v-shaped cut rather than cutting away the gap as the original had been.  Some how the V cut gives more strength to the felt over all.  The instructions were to angle cut 1/16th of an inch to the outside of the marked edge of the gap angling toward the center of the gap.  Same from the other side.

This is the first chord bar I did.  I placed over my tracing and it is accurate

The V cuts got better as I proceeded and looked more crisp and even.  I have 2 chord bars done as of this moment.  I won't be able to get back to it until next week.  So stay tuned and check back next week for Part 3

Refurbishing my 21 Chord Oscar Schmidt Autoharp

Back in May, I was using my autoharp to help my sixteen year old grand-daughter in a Shakespearian play.  The play was "Much Ado About Nothing".  She sang two songs in the play and I accompanied her with the autoharp.  There were 3 performances on successive nights.  After the last performance I noticed a plastic piece rolling around in my case.  Upon closer examination I discovered that a number of plastic posts on which a spring sets and the chord bar rides upon were broken loose or missing altogether.  

This autoharp has been used off and on since my daughter was in Brownies back around the late 70's.  That same daughter recently voiced a desire  to someday have this autoharp passed down to her.  I mentioned that there were some problems with it and she said "tongue in cheek" that I must fix it up first before passing it along.  Well, I really want to be able to use this autoharp for voice lessons that I have been giving two of my grand-daughters.

Sooo I set about searching for information about possible refurbishing this instrument.  I found a website called autoharpworks.com  with all the pieces and parts I needed to do the job.  Oscar Schmidt.com also has some helps on how to replace the felt on the chord bars.  

I had already removed the chord bar cover.  You can see the broken plastic post lying on top of a couple of the chord bars.  I should have taken the pic before removing the cover but didn't think about posting about this until after removing the cover.  

After removing the chord bars you can see the broken posts are all on the "comb" on the right or the treble end.  Not sure why that is the case.  I am assuming the plastic has become brittle because of age and that is the cause so I plan to replace both combs.  This is simple because they are just screwed onto the body of the instrument.

This is the under side of the chord bars.  The felt silences the strings that you do not want to sound.  I wasn't sure at first if I should replace the felt.  However in researching a bit I discovered that when the felt has the imprint of the strings imbedded in the felt it is harder to play.  You must keep pressing harder to silence the strings.  Look closely at the grooves in the felt.

Here is an extra E major chord bar that had never been installed.  You can see the difference.

For a really close look at any of these photos, click on the photo and it will enlarge.

This is an enhanced chord bar cover.  It has felt linings at strategic places on the underside to keep the chord bars quiet when playing.  You should not have extra thumping going on as the bars spring up and down while playing.  It cost a little extra and I hope it was worth it.

These are all the new pieces and parts I need to refurbish my Oscar Schmidt 21 chord autoharp.  I have never had a string break and they still seem to be in good shape so I am not changing out the old strings.

Next post I will show how I am doing with the refurbishment.

New Project for SandyKaye

My husband and I have been attending an Exclusive Psalm singing church which follows the Regulative Principle of Worship as our Scottish Forefathers did believing that it was the Biblically directed way to Worship the one True God, Jehovah.  We use the Split paged Psalter, "The Scottish Psalmody" published by the Free Church of Scotland, The Scottish Metrical Version of The Psalms (1650).  Pastor has asked if I would help the congregation in learning to sing parts as we sing the Psalms.  In doing that we are creating single page versions with the words placed between the staff of the musical score as in hymn form.  That way it is easier to read and follow the notes as we read the words and sing in parts.  I have been using a free version of Musescore on the computer to write the music and lyrics in this form.  It has been a challenge and given me a sense that I am using my gifts for the Lord.  When we came to the conviction that Psalms only should be sung in Worship, I was confused how I could use my gift of music in God's plan of things.[I had been involved in special music, choirs, director of choirs,soloist, etc.  But He has provided this way for me to use my skills and I am thankful to Him for that.  When you follow the Regulative Principle of Worship, Worship is extremely simple.  No Choirs, no instruments, Prayer, Scripture Reading, Preaching of the Word, and singing Psalms by the congregation.  Who is worship for?  It is for bringing Glory to our God.  He has commanded how we should do it.  Worship is not for us although we do benefit from the hearing and teaching of God's Word.  Worship is God's, it belongs to Him and we are commanded to give it according to his specifications. It is our duty in obedience and gratitude for His Mercy to us of Redemption through Christ.  This sounds extremely strange to most of the Christian world but it was the conviction of great learned men of the Reformation.  Men who knew their Bibles because they were not distracted from them as we are today by the diversions of the Modern World. Worship generally has become man centered and entertainment for man, sadly.
Anyway I just wanted to post how my life has changed and how Great our God is!

Blessed Assurance-Duet with self

Blessed Assurance

Amazing Grace

I am not sure why but at the end of phrases, especially that end with a vowel sound that is being held, the sound is distorted.  Not happy about that.  I will see if I can find out why.

At the Cross

I like to sing the old Gospel songs. I did this one today as a solo and then harmonized with myself on the second one.

Little Orley and the Cabbage Worm

I just discovered this album cover on Facebook.  I did not know that Uncle Lumpy was Mr. Greenjeans on Captain Kangaroo in later years.  I referenced having this record in my post "looking for a yellow 45 rpm record.  This was a yellow record.  Thank you to my brother Bob for directing me to the internet to find this information.  I thought it was too obscure but I guess nothing is too obscure for the internet. :-)

Yesterday

Well, it is more difficult to record a song a day than I thought at first.  I may have to make up on days I have more time.  Today I have completed the Beatles song "Yesterday".  Pretty easy to do.  I am learning how to do it better as I go. See below.

A song a day?

I have just subscribed to Singsnap Gold for a month.  I want to get my money's worth :-)  I may or may not be able to do a song a day but I am going to try.  Today's song is As the deer panteth for the water.  See the bottom of the page for the recording.  I also added Old Rugged Cross duet with myself.  Fun!

The Old Rugged Cross

See the new song posted at the bottom of the page.  This is a song that I was singing as a youngster when it suddenly hit me that God had given me this gift.  I knew that I wanted to serve Him with my voice however He wanted to use me.  He has given me many opportunities to do just that.  I thank the Lord and praise Him for all His Mighty Works and Deeds and for His choosing me to be His child.

Love's Old Sweet Song

Fifth Grade Song  I learned Circa 1956-57 

Once in the dear dead days beyond recall,
When on the world the mists began to fall,
Out of our dreams that rose in happy throng,
Low to our hearts love sang an old sweet song.
And in the dusk while fell the firelight's gleam,
Softly it wove itself into our dreams.
Just a song at twilight,
When the lights are low.
And the flickering shadows,
Softly come and go.
Though the heart be weary, sad the day and long
Still to us at twilight comes love's old song,
Comes love's old sweet song.

Click here to listen

Sweet and Low

I think this song was one we learned in fourth grade. I have sung this lullaby to all of my children (3) and nearly all of my grandchildren (soon to be 14). I love it.

Sweet and Low, sweet and low,
Wind of the western sea,
Blow, blow, breathe and blow
Wind of the western sea.
Over the rolling waters go,
Come from the dying moon and blow,
Blow him again to me,
While my little one, while my pretty one sleeps.

To Listen click here

Tell Me Why the Stars do Shine

Tell my why the stars do shine,
Tell me why the ivy twine,
Tell me why the sky's so blue,
And I will tell you why I love you.

Because God made the stars to shine,
Because God made the ivy twine,
Because God made the sky so blue,
That is the reason why I love you.

Oh Mister Moon, moon, bright and silvery moon,
Won't you please shine down on me, on me,
Oh Mister Moon, moon, bright and silvery moon,
Hiding behind that tree.
I want to shoot that possum with my big shotgun,
Shoot that possum for he starts to run,
Oh Mister Moon, moon bright and silvery moon,
Won't you please shine down on, please shine down on,
please shine dooowwn on me--shine down on meeeeeeee!

Click here to listen

Stars are the Windows of Heaven

Stars are the windows of heaven,
Where Angels peep through.
Up in the sky, they keep an eye
On girls and boys like you.
They cry each time you are naughty,
Their teardrops are the rain.
But when you're good they are smiling
And they shine again.
Stars are the windows of heaven
Where Angels peep through.

My mother says, Angels have a book,
They make a mark each time they look.
A cross when you're good,
and an X when your bad,
Their the best friends that we ever had.

They cry each time you are naughty,
Their teardrops are the rain,
But when you're good they are smiling,
And they shine again.
Stars are the windows of heaven,
Where Angels peep through.
Click to hear vocal.

I listened to an Anne Murray version of this on You Tube and it has more words than the rendition that was on the old record we had.

Looking for a pic of a yellow 45 RPM record

I am getting ready to sing a song requested by my sister, Roxie. I decided I would like to find a picture of a yellow 45 RPM record. I recall this song being on a 45 RPM yellow record in our home. On one side was Here Comes Peter Cottontail and the other side was Stars are the Windows of Heaven but I do not know who sang them. In my search I came across an article by Norm Katuna about RCA and some history about the RCA record company. They had a color code for their records. Black was for Pops, Green was for Country, Yellow was for Children's songs, cerise for Blues and Rhythm, midnight blue for Pop Classic, sky blue for International. The first 45 RPM record was released March 31, 1949. We had a green record also that was a Homer and Jethro of Put that Knife Away Nellie and flip side Pizen Pete which was released June 1950. Another yellow record was a storybook type called "Little Orly". Little Orly was a cabbage worm. One other one that comes to mind was "The Teddybears' Picnic.