Re: [Harp-L] San Francisco/Amateurs and pros




----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Hines" <billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "'Bob Maglinte'" <bbqbob917@xxxxxxxxxxx>; "'Richard Hunter'" <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 4:42 PM
Subject: RE: [Harp-L] San Francisco/Amateurs and pros



Right, but before we get on a long train of messages here denigrating
the "blues jam hacks" and others who are trying to learn, let's add that
most "pros" probably learned NOT to do this stuff at those blues jams
(or performing poorly in their first bands!). Ya gotta start somewhere,
and the blues jams are a good place to do it once you've spent the
requisite time in the woodshed learning how to play (yeah, some folks
come out too early, screw up jams, and that's wrong too).

Valid point!!!! There are plenty of those at jams who are very willing to listen and learn, but unfortunately, too often there's the ones who come on the bandstand, often loaded out of their minds just to have 15 minutes of fame, or to impress their friends/wives/girlfriends who do make it bad for everyone else. As much as a jam can be a good place to begin honing your craft, the other side of the coin is that you can also learn some really bad habits from other jammers too, and that's too often overlooked here.


I think many of these jams have become showcases where the "pros" from
various bands show up and jam with each other, rather than a place where
"hacks" can learn chops and how to perform in a group setting. It's
discouraging for the ones trying to learn, because they get the dirty
looks and other negative issues (like the "pros" don't want to play with
any "hacks" in the jam lineup). Let's keep the genre alive and support,
encourage. None of you guys were born with this knowledge, share it with
those who want to learn, be careful not to put them down in subtle ways.
Think about who took the time to help you, in a long ago and far away
galaxy...

Bill, the point, again is well taken, but at the same time, there are going to be jammers that think they're ready to be on stage with someone more accomplished and in fact, are not. It definitely does help, without question, to be among players of higher skill levels, but at the same time, one has to look at some things realistically. A more skilled player would more likely to ask you to come up and play with them if they feel you have enough skill (notice I did NOT say being a virtuoso in any way) to be there to hold your own, and often can and will help you out (oh, and yes, there are some pros that are jealous of almost everybody and everything, but thankfully, there are more that will often go out of their way to help than to be jealous). Another side of the coin is that there are some advanced level players who, even tho they may have developed tons of ability, are really awful at trying to explain anything, like how some people are really bad at giving you driving directions, for example.


Oh, and BTW, this applies to those who play other instruments, and this is not exclusive to harmonica players by any stretch of the imagination.

Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
MP3's: http://music.mp3lizard.com/barbequebob/






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