Re: [Harp-L] Re: What else do you do - New here

["David R. Fertig" <dfertig@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear "EGS1217",

Please don't be discouraged by the highly technical stuff raised on this 
list, I don't get most of it myself, and I've been blowin' "harpmonica" for 
nearly 35 years (harpmania?)

Folks typically approach harp in a manner very unique to themselves - it 
is, I think, the most personal, sensual and intimate of musical 
instruments, short of voice.   Thus some strong feelings emerge and by the 
nature of the instrument harp players are, usually, not shy folks.

So if some here on Harp-L talk about fancy stuff like different tunings and 
adjusting reeds and overblowing and using tuners to measure the accuracy of 
their bent notes to get them spot on, it's from a passion for a very simple 
instrument, it don't mean they ain't also playing with guts and heart, 
which in the final analysis is my own personal measure of success* on the 
darned eighteen-dollar toy.     *(Not forgetting little things like rhythm, 
dynamics  and harmony, of course!)

There's a feast of info and insights on this list, "Take what you need and 
leave the rest."  Have at it and keep playin'.

Oh, and seriously, try tongue-blocking, it opens up whole new doors in 
terms of rhythm, chords and effects.

And please go to a local blues or folk jam and embarass yourself, I do 
whenever I can.  It's the best experience to go out and play with other 
mostly very good musicians (and the occasional plunker) to develop those 
interactive skills and callouses from messin' up on stage, and learning how 
to be a productive contributor to spontaneous musical expression.

We all benefit from more women in the mix, as always!

-Dave Fertig





At 11:50 PM 12/3/2004, EGS1217@xxxxxxx wrote:
> Hi:  this is my first time  posting.  I'm a woman harmonica player.  Sorry,
> can't get used to  calling them "harps" since to me that's something that 
> sits
> on the floor with an  Irish lass plunking strings while staring dreamily off
> into space.  A  harmonica for me is much more earthy than a "harp" and 
> playing
> one is akin to  breathing, though  I'm not sure I do that all that well
> either.  I  grew up in Scotland, was handed my first small Hohner at age 4 
> during
> our first  rainy seaside vacation just to keep the brat occupied and 
> astonished
> everyone by  playing something recognizable so was hooked from then 
> on.  Being
> a  terribly shy and gawky kid, I hid behind my harmonica while playing it for
> my  friends.  I entertained at parties and school while growing up.   Stopped
> playing years later for no reason I can now think of.   Guess life got in the
> way.  Just recently fun an Echo my mother bought  for me in '93 and tried
> playing it again.  Suddenly I'm completely into it,  and now want to play 
> jazz,
> blues and anything else I can get to come out of  those little holes, 
> lol.  My
> problem is that most of what you all are  talking about here is sailing right
> over my head and I'm no dimwit.  Just  bought a chromatic which I'm about to
> have overhauled.  I  always was  a stickler for getting in every note, and
> these two were the harmonicas I owned  growing up.  I don't know all your
> techniques, have been playing by ear  most of my life (:))  From the 
> little reading
> I've done lately, suppose I'm  using the "pucker" method.  One of your 
> guys told
> me about this site, so I  decided to check you out.  You're all absolutely
> amazing, but I fear too  advanced for me.  It's also a bit intimidating, 
> given
> that you're  mostly the opposite gender.  What I do otherwise is reside in NY
> with 14  (yes, strictly indoor) cats and one dog.  I stopped working due to a
> bad  back injury which, strangely enough seems to be getting better by the 
> day
> lately  - possibly attributable to my harmonica playing?hmm   I 
> read  anything
> and everything, play keyboard, write poetry, knit, paint astonishingly
> beautiful glass ornaments and sing at the top of my lungs when no one 
> can  hear.
> My wish is to eventually be brave enough to actually play for more  than an
> audience made up of just my husband, family and or a friend or  two.
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