Re: [Harp-L] Re: Standard embouchures

"Robert Laughlin" <harmonicaman1968@xxxxxxxxxxx> · Mon, 01 Sep 2014 17:15:43 -0700

You're right. A teacher that has the ability to explain in detail the physicality necessary to create the sounds has a leg up. That teacher would also have a feel for the student's learning style as well as his ability. Everything, just about, can be taught, having gained the heart of the student.

And even a student that is taught in a way that is foreign to his/her learning style can adapt it eventually to his/her own. It just takes more time, and some degree of personal epiphony. Motivation is a factor.

Some people get "motivation" from their parents. The cello teacher I mentioned tried to "motivate" my parents to keep me in lessons, but my parents' parenting style didn't suit that kind of discipline. So they let me go,,

I don't blame them. They were under the influence of Benjamin Spock, a reknowned child psychologist of the time, who encouraged parents (at that time) to "Let the child discover things on their own". Later on, he began to encourage a more "hands-on" approach, involving "guidance".

One thing that made me love the harmonica is the fact that learning it was all on me. My parents didn't care much for it,,lol. To them, it just wasn't a "classical" instrument.

There just isn't enough "respect" out there for the harp, amongst opera singers,,lol.

RL

----- Original Message -----
  From: The Iceman
  To: harmonicaman1968@xxxxxxxxxxx ; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
  Sent: Monday, September 01, 2014 4:26 PM
  Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Re: Standard embouchures

  Can't tell you how many students I've had in which I discovered that a lousy music teacher in their past totally screwed up their desire to play or pursue more.

  One may want a more flexible teacher, of course.

  However, a teacher that is really an expert at effective teaching and conveying concepts will work as well, without having to have lots of different teaching approaches.

  -----Original Message-----
  From: Robert Laughlin <harmonicaman1968@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  To: Warren Bee <wbharptime2@xxxxxxxxx>; Randy Redington <rwredington@xxxxxxxxx>
  Cc: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
  Sent: Mon, Sep 1, 2014 7:16 pm
  Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Re: Standard embouchures

Plus, the fact is that all of our anatomical details aren't precisely the
same as one another's.

Then, depending upon the individual, we all have unique learning styles.

I had an "old-school" cello teacher, Dutch as I recall,,"Mrs. Tass". I
learned well, only because of my own talents and effort. However, her
teaching style impeded my progress, hampered my desire, and eventually, I
lost any interest in continuing with cello lessons, after 4 years.

During that time, my parents (who sang opera professionally) tried getting 
me to be more interested by: 1) putting me in a youth orchestra; 2)putting 
me in a chamber group

It just didn't stick, as far as my motivation was concerned. Neither my
parents nor the teacher really knew how to reach me, what I wanted to learn
most (I really did enjoy cello, and when the teacher brought hers, and we
did duets, it was a good night).

After my parents finally conceded to my requests to quit lessons, I got
caught up in the music of the day, Canned Heat, John Mayall, Cream, Hendrix,
Credence Clearwater, etc. Played guitar mostly, and harmonica.

I regained interest in cello, only when, due to passage of time and a change
of venue (moved to college), I began to try things on it, and found my own 
liking for the warm tones of the cello hadn't disappeared entirely.

But at that time, I went on an "odyssey", and the cello became victim to the
circumstances of that trip, sadly.

I can assuredly say that, if the teacher had been less rigid, more adaptable
to finding out about my likes, and focusing more on what I wanted to learn 
and play (Bach mostly, and Debussy), and IF I'd have been more forthright, 
less shy with my opinions, I'd probably be a concert cellist today, instead
of spending 25 years in civil service as an electrician.

Or, I could have branched off into jazz on my little 4-string bass.

I mean, I could only take so many little statuettes of Beethoven or other
composers as rewards. I'd rather have had a pair of swim fins, or a new
skateboard,,lol.

I think it's a good thing when a teacher is flexible, and has more than just
"one way" to learn.

RL

----- Original Message -----
From: "Warren Bee" <wbharptime2@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "Randy Redington" <rwredington@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "harp-l" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, September 01, 2014 2:38 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Re: Standard embouchures

> thanks Randy. we all are built different and learn different. the spice of
> life and all that stuff.
>
>
> On Mon, Sep 1, 2014 at 4:25 PM, Randy Redington <rwredington@xxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
>
>> This makes perfect sense to me Warren.
>> I have discovered that when someone tries to over dissect something to
>> me,
>> it actually impedes my learning. But when I can take the time to freely
>> explore on my own, I find out how it works by the feel.
>> Otherwise I become too distracted by mechanical explanations and I get
>> lost trying to duplicate the mechanical action.
>>
>> The problem with too detailed of a mechanical explanation (for me) is
>> that, when I try to translate them into action, I tend to over exaggerate
>> the behavior.
>> During my practice time, I generally take some of the time to explore
>> what
>> happens to the sound when I play around with my mouth and lip shapes and
>> air dynamics.
>> Its amazing the variations of sounds I can produce. I can even make the
>> harmonica growl during a bent draw.... but to explain to someone else how
>> I
>> do it... I'm not sure I could do that.
>> I just learn by playing around until it happened. (what ever IT is...) I
>> know that some direction needs to happen to teach, but to try to be too
>> precise on the mechanics, usually doesn't help me.
>> I need general directions on how to get there, and at that point, I might
>> just need to feel around a little bit untill I hit that sweet spot.
>> Ive had instructors who were too quick to try and correct me. - and that
>> chokes me up.
>> That's just the way I learn.... I think we all probably learn in
>> different
>> ways.... that's why there are so many different approaches.
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Sep 1, 2014 at 2:06 PM, Warren Bee <wbharptime2@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>> every subtle movement of the mouth tongue and throat is more dramatic
>>> with
>>> an airtight heavy fleshy seal over a single hole. each breath can gently
>>> explore the turf for desired results. over thinking impedes progress.
>>> being
>>> told exactly how to do something that is very individual is a formula
>>> for
>>> frustration and tension. lead the horses to the water and encourage
>>> figuring out how to drink with broad mental concepts. it is when firing
>>> on
>>> 6 or 7 cylinders that I like to step in and fine tune with my
>>> methodology.
>>>
>>> wb
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Randy Redington
>> Surrendered...
>>

---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection
is active.
http://www.avast.com

---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.
http://www.avast.com