RE: [Harp-L] Criticism Requested

["Chris Michalek" <Chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

No offense intended....


First off and F harp is not a good key for your body.  I can hear
where you mouth resonates and you'll never the the full potential out
of highr key harps.   Try an Ab harp for best results but the A and
Bb harp will work too.

Secondly concentrate on keeping one rhythm going for awhile.  Mental
control is more important than breath control.

Play with intention.  What you were play sounds like ok this is cool,
oh yeah, that working hmmm how about this, what was that etc... 
musicially it was confusing for me the listener. 


Get a metronome.

Listen to conga, djembe, tabla or drum rhythms and copy that.  There
is no discernable pocket in your rhythm playing.  Practice creating a
pocket and then move the pocket around.



>
>
>
>---- Original Message ----
>From: jonathan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Criticism Requested
>Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2005 17:12:23 -0500
>
>>
>>Hey all,
>>
>>I did some recording today, just on my home PC, and one of the
>tracks came out decently.  I was wondering if y'all could give it a
>listen and maybe offer some constructive criticism.  It's not what
>I'd call a "song", since I didn't plan the structure ahead of time,
>but it's a fun little jam of a type I practice with often, and it
>includes a lot of experimental tonguing and various chugging
>patterns.  The form is (roughly) blues in C in second position on an
>F harp.  This is an old Lee Oskar that I keep widely gapped for hard
>attack.  Anyway, the link!
>>
>>http://www.auburn.edu/~mettsjg/Hoedown_Blues.mp3
>>
>>Offlist feedback would be very greatly appreciated!  I'm looking for
>any suggestions on how to improve my chops on this style of music,
>since it's one of my favorites to play.
>>
>>Jonathan Metts
>>_______________________________________________
>>Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
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>>http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
>>

Chris Michalek

www.michalekstrone.com
CD Available
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/michalekstrone