Re: [Harp-L] Just have fun with it!

[Elizabeth Hess <TinLizzie2009@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Forgive me for saying so, but to this newbie, your message is 
reasonable, but your delivery is unnecessarily sarcastic.

Different people learn differently.

My learning style tends towards the deductive:  Teach me the rules and 
the theory, first, and then take me from there to the particulars of 
notes and licks.  Or teach me a lick, but tell me  *right away*  why it 
works.  I love harmony, and reading, and scales, and all the rest.  I'm 
not yet advanced enough (imho) to do much with orchestration, but I get 
it that working on tone is important, and I think I'm on the cusp of 
wanting to learn to read and write charts.

Some people, though, really do seem to learn inductively:  Teach them 
the particulars, get them playing licks and having fun and sounding 
good, then lead them from there to the abstract concepts that will help 
them expand their repertoire and skill.

I've met one very phenomenal player in particular (I think he wouldn't 
want me to share his name, so in the spirit of discretion I'll omit it) 
who can't for the life of him put into words what he knows.  He can't 
read music.  But I can hear in his playing that he knows this stuff 
inside and out.  I want more than anything to teach this guy how to 
teach someone like me, because I really want what he's got.  (I have 
teaching credentials in a completely different subject, and a keen 
interest in teaching and learning independent of subject matter.)

I believe that Mr. Hegedus was sincerely sharing what worked for him.  
Sometimes when I get wrapped around a post with the theoretical stuff, 
it really does help to be reminded to play and have fun.  Sure, in  
*addition*  to the investment I'm making in scales, etc., but still.  I 
welcome his reminder to do so even as I search for the next 
"age-appropriate" bit of theory to focus on so as to get the most bang 
for the buck given my current level of skill and experience.

Elizabeth


On Nov 19, 2009, at 6:07 PM, Robert Bonfiglio wrote:

> > I suggest you listen to your
> > favorite players and practice there licks and before you realize it,
> > you will be coming up with licks of your own. What makes a good
> > player? Is the person having fun? That to me makes a good
> > player........
>
> Damn, I wish I read this before I was so stupid as to go out and learn 
> harmony, and reading, orchestration and writing charts, etc. and then 
> scales and articulation and tone.  Boy was I dumb.  And I just don't 
> have any fun playing the harmonica because I learned all that stupid 
> stuff.  And all those other musicians that play sax, guitar, piano, 
> etc.,  boy they are also really dumb for learning all that music stuff 
> and with teachers and lessons and music school, wow what a waste of 
> time.
>
> My suggestion is just to pick up a violin and just learn all the 
> fiddle licks you can.  That makes a great fiddle player for me.  Just 
> have fun with it and above stay as ignorant as you possible can of 
> anything that smacks of learning about music.
>
> Harmonically yours,
>
> Robert
> http://www.robertbonfiglio.com
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