Stigma

["Robert Paparozzi" <chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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I've been reading the "Stigma-Harmonica" thread, and thought I'd weigh
in. Yes there is a certain stigma in the music world and the world in
general. Because of the size and price of this instrument, it has been =
very
easy to purchase one and not very hard to produce notes on by inhaling =
and
exhaling. Most other instruments except for the Percussion ones
(Piano,Drums,Xylophone etc.) require  a callous or embouchure before you =
can
'squeak' or "plunk' out something melodic....Most people can't afford to
purchase one of the aforementioned instruments just to fool around on. =
Thus,
the inexpensive portability of the harmonica has been sort of a culprit
behind this kind of "looking down" on the instrument.

    The earlier pioneers dealt with it, how? The Vaudevillian-Harmonicat
type groups made people laugh, but, they got the audiences' attention =
and
although they made it look easy, played some VERY difficult pieces! Some
people feel this type of act "Joke-i-fied" our instrument...I disagree, =
I
think it did the opposite, showing folks just HOW difficult this type of
playing is!

    Then our pioneers took over: Larry Adler, Deford Bailey, Sonny =
Terry,
SBW I&II, Toots Thielemans, Little Walter, Charlie McCoy, Paul =
Butterfield,
Cham-Ber Huang, Robert Bonfiglio, Tommy Morgan, Howard =
Levy..........just to
name a few.....Then the bigger vision cats: Filisko, Gardener, Missin, =
Tate, Huang, Oskar, Epping....to name just a few more, raised the price =
tag.............but NOW we have axes that support this great =
playing!...THANX ALL...........................=20
pick a =
mentor.............practice..............perform............believe......=
...
voila!!................................................the stigma is =
dissipating !,-) As that British Harp Player sang, "I've got to admit =
it's Getting Bett-er",-)

keep on keepin' on.....all the best...rob paparozzi