Re: paralysis by analisys outbreak warning!!!

[Pierre <slavio@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I agree you can spend too much time on the list. Also your right to say that
practice is key and and taking a course can help. But if you take a course
in a community college, you will meet other people and you soon get to know
them and spend time speaking to them and exchanging ideas. Chances are you
will end up in a bar or restaurant and discuss all kinds of things like your
favourite artists, a show you have seen etc. This also burns time that can
be used for practicing. Even worse (or better), you may even end up in bed
with a classmate which would be a great thing for your sex life, although
again not so good for your practicing. This can lead to getting married and
having kids, a house and a dog that needs to be walked and by this time you
will be down to 5 minutes a day of practicing. Such is life.

Anyways your right, practice is key and I believe formal instruction can
definitely be helpful although some people would say that this takes away
from practice time as they like getting better just by playing. A good time
management book may be the best solution to paralysis. Time management (and
motivation) is the key to practice and time on the list is one of the thing
that needs to be managed. There is a place for the list but it should come
after practicing at least most of the time.

My intention was/is to reduce my time posting such e-mails because I am a
very slow writer and I need the practice more than I need to spend time on
this list. At the same time I think the list is a great resource and thank
all those that contribute.

Respectfully,

Pierre.


- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Roger A Gonzales" <gonz1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>; <slidemeister@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>;
<harmonicist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2004 10:41 AM
Subject: paralysis by analisys outbreak warning!!!


>
> Warning warning!!!
>
> I see it happening again as it has happened so many times before.  As
these discussions continue on and on and on.....and on, there is valuable
time wasted and the dreaded disease of "Paralysis by Analysis" has time to
take effect.
>
> Granted, there is a great deal of valuable information that is found on
these lists.  However, the best information is playing.  Not just your
harmonica, but a keyboard or a guitar.  something where chords can be
inverted and reformed on a keyboard or a fretboard and not in front of the
keyboard on your desktop or laptop.
>
> For those of you who are really interested in getting better at chords and
the knowledge of them and their application, there are several books at
every level.
>
> The best suggestion is to find a community college that offers a music
fundamentals class or take private lessons.  Taking a Community college
classes is not an expensive situation and it WILL give you the correct
knowlegde in a way that you can immediately apply it to the harmonica.
>
> Please, do not misunderstand me and do not start with the flames,
> I have found a great deal of valuable information on all three of these
lists just as many of you have.  But when these conversations persist about
chord substitutions and just intonation and many other technical subjects
etc, instead of taking time to play your instrument, many of you decide to
discuss chord substitutions instead of applying them to your playing.  That
is not good for your playing and not good for the progress of the harmonica.
>
> Now I know that some of you are going to get offended by what I am saying
in this post.  But if you really are intending on consistent and persistent
inprovement on the harmonica it takes alot more than constant discussions on
2 or three lists.  It takes daily effort and practice.  There is no
substitute for practice.
>
> You want top know about chord substitutions, practice.  You want to know
about correct intonation, practice.  YOu want to know about legato playing,
practice.  You want to know about how the harmonica works and how it can
sound in ANY situation, practice.
>
> My intention is not to offend anyone by this post but to maybe wake some
of you up a bit.  Put the mouse down and walk away from the computer and
grab your harmonica and play it....alot.  take one day out of answering
email each week and apply THAT time to your practice time.  Tell me if you
do not see a difference.
>
>
> regards and respect,
> Roger Gonzales
> Fresno, CA.
>
>
>
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