Re: [Harp-L] How many?

[billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Well, really often the problem is NOT that the person doesn't like a particular instrument. It could be that they just don't want to hear music right then, or that type of music. They didn't sign up for that when they went grocery shopping, got on the bus, went to the library, went to work, etc.

Some people just have a habit of putting music into people's faces whether they like it or not (not unlike smoking, aside from the health issues being much more grave for the latter). Some folks learn to play harp and just bust it out in every situation - on buses, public places and on and on, without realizing how annoying that can be to others. 

Maybe someone is under stress, just lost a loved one, has some other thing on their mind, or just trying to concentrate on what they are doing at the time, or just doesn't want to hear music at that point while they are shopping or doing whatever. 

It can be very annoying to have it forced upon you, so given how *easy* it is for harp players to do this given our instrument is a "pocket" instrument, we should respect that and be sensitive. No matter how many folks say they "love it" or dance around when you bust the harp out in the grocery store, there are probably  just as many silent ones that  are annoyed - no matter how good you are. Imagine if kazoo players and others did this. I think it gives our instrument and "harmonica players" a bad name in many cases.

Bill Hines
Hershey, PA

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Bob Laughlin" <rlaughlin@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> How many of us would be encouraged to play, even to excel at harp, while in the 
> learning process, if all we heard were negative comments concerning our style of 
> playing. 
> 
> How about if we heard that someone somewhere had heard us play, and was 
> spreading it around town that we "sucked", and that our style of playing "made 
> them vomit"?
> 
> Apart from all of the praise and admiration I get at work, even from my 
> superiors, and from their superiors, as well as many of the customers who happen 
> upon me while playing, either in the men's room (great acoustics,,I've got to 
> bring an H2 or H4 in there sometime), or in the aisles, when a tune comes on the 
> PA that I happen to have a harp for (I usually carry at least two, if not four 
> on me at all times,,D, Eb, E, and F),,,
> 
> apart from all the kids who grin when I play for them,,
> 
> apart from the customers who bring me CD's of their favorite harp player,,
> 
> apart from all the other employees who get a kick out of my playing,,
> 
> there's this one girl in the deli, a very LOUD girl, who tells me abruptly to 
> "put that harmonica where the sun don't shine",,or that it makes her "vomit" 
> whenever she hears my playing,,
> 
> I KNOW my playing isn't that bad. I've never had anything but return invitations 
> when playing with any band, or artist I've played with.  I'm timely. I'm frugal. 
> I know how to accompany tastefully. I wait my turn. I create good tone, 
> exciting, steady and innovative licks, and have decent vibrato.
> 
> but she just can't stand harmonica, for some reason.
> 
> So I adjust, for her sake, and allow that somewhere in her past she may have 
> been traumatized by a harmonica player, or some musician, or someone or 
> something associated with music, or with harmonica in specific. I make 
> accomodations for her, and avoid playing around her. 
> 
> I've tried approaching her in jest, saying something like,,"Hey,,ya wanna hear a 
> tune?", knowing what her response would be. Once while I was outside, and her 
> hubby/boyfriend was dropping her off, I said, jokingly, "She always loves it 
> when I play my harmonica". He responded by saying "You should make her a CD!", 
> laughing. He obviously was aware of her distaste for the harmonica. His humor 
> was refreshing. 
> 
> She seems to be softening, compared to her strong attitude of disgust at first, 
> and we banter and joust a bit when we see each other now. It's become a running 
> gag, but I still wouldn't play if she were in earshot, out of respect for her 
> feelings, right or wrong. I don't have to have that freedom in order to feel 
> good about myself or my playing. There are enough of the others, who do 
> appreciate my playing. I make it a bridge of introduction at times, and bring 
> music into the store. 
> 
> If everyone were like that girl,,I don't know if I'd really want to continue 
> playing, at all. I mean, I'm not out to irritate, but to entertain. I'm having 
> fun, I enjoy playing, and I'm hoping I can spread the fun.
> 
> I know I'm confident in my playing, at the level I play. I picked up my first 
> harp in the mid-sixties. I know I can coax some good things out of my harp, no 
> doubt. 
> 
> but I also know that if there weren't so much support, all along the way, it may 
> have turned out differently. Decent and palatable playing doesn't happen 
> overnight. It takes time, and some encouragement, either internal, or external, 
> or both.
> 
> As to youtube,,sure,,criticism helps, but mostly if it has an instructional 
> element, a positive suggestion, and not just "eeeeeeuwww,,it makes me vomit,,". 
> Or "did you hear that guy,,,he's creeepy",,,
> 
> To each his own, as far as taste is concerned. Chaqu'un son gout.
> 
> It's a big world. We really don't style police to tell us what we may or may not 
> enjoy. We just need to know our options. That's what demonstrations, examples, 
> exhibitions are for. Here's the real deal, as I see it. Like it or don't, and if 
> you don't, that's fine too.
> 
> BL
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