Cut your nails for next lesson. Cut your nails for next lesson. Cut your nails for next lesson.

You've all heard me say it in lesson, and most of you have seen me write it down for you to accomplish at home. Why do we need to cut our nails to play the harp?

First of all, it makes your sound so much cleaner. You aren't constantly hitting other strings accidentally, or buzzing because your fingers are longer than they should be.

Secondly, it helps your speed. We play on our fingertips right? Well if you always have to readjust your hand to reach your fingertips on the strings, you're going to lose the rhythm and tempo you should be maintaining.

Thirdly, glissandos. A good glissando has movement, momentum, and a strong tone. Whispy glissandos sound nice in the studio by yourself, but with an orchestra, on a stage, or in a piece that is triple forte, you need strong glissandos (glissandi?) to make it work, as Tim Gunn would say. To make a strong gliss, you have to hook your finger, right? How can you hook and drag your fingertip without breaking your nails?

Some harpists leave their pinky nails long, and only cut the nails on the fingers they use. I don't do this, because it inevitably drives me crazy to only have one nail. So keep those nails short, and your harping will sound much better. And on the plus side, if someone wants you to open their pop or untie a knot, you can always say, "can't! I have no nails!"