[Harp-L] Subject: Who Decides Who is Bad or Good?

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Okay -- to respond to the many replies to my post re "Who decides who  is Bad 
or Good" (Harp player).  Surprisingly, the only responder to  fully 
understand where I was going was fjm, our very smart team leader  (list-owner). 

I wasn't asking for advice on "how to be a better  harp player" (but for 
those who responded that way privately as well as on the  list, your very 
well-intentioned and sincere advice is appreciated and I'm happy  to accept it as 
such, thank you!).

Being so misunderstood then  makes even more imperative a 2nd round of 
"culpas" to Bobbie for a prior  response <g>.....

A few responders actually answered my other  question: "Who first told YOU 
you were Good"?   When the answers then  alluded mostly to getting feed-back 
from an audience, I realized I hadn't made  myself at all as clear as I'd 
thought.  There is a huge gulf (and much  time) between noodling on the harmonica in 
one's home - to finally gigging in  front of an audience. 
 
 In order to end up playing with a band or up on a stage, one must  
necessarily have been given some sense of one's abilities long before.  So  my question 
should have been phrased better:  "Who was the FIRST person  ever -- when you 
began playing harmonica, who told you YOU were 'good' enough  (to then want 
to continue practicing/playing)"?

I used my own experience  purely as an example of someone growing up without 
contact with other  harpists  having absolutely no feedback about whether or 
not anyone other  than  friends and family would like to hear more of what one  
does.

I play to please myself and when it falls into place and I  get lost in the 
music and it's all cooking, there's no better feeling (well  almost <g>). 
Having no one to 'high-five" (I practice mostly  when alone), I've even 
danced around the room afterwards (you had to be  there).  Again in my case I will 
attend a Jam Camp and teaching seminars  and rely thereto on what I'm sure 
will be my instructors' objective feedback as  to any progress I might be making. 
   

My whole point was  that  people here -- amateurs, semi-professionals and 
professionals were  making dismissive judgments about OTHER players being "BAD 
harp  players".   In my very humble opinion no one has that right to make  what 
is an exceedingly subjective opinion about another musician.... and   I'd 
wager that the very top players (the living ones anyway) would not be so  small as 
to elevate their egos by calling other musicians "bad".  Can  anyone imagine 
Clapton making a similar comment about a fellow  guitarist?

Most of the feedback/advice I got referred to how to become a  "good" or 
"better" player.  Not ONE used the word BAD.   Yet that  was the phrase used here: 
 "A bad harp player is BAD despite his gear" (I'm  paraphrasing). 

Actually in today's thread vis-a-vis gear, Dennis  Gruenling said it best. 
"However, the better your playing, the more you will get  out of good gear."  
Succinct and logical.

I've been listening  to music my entire life.  If I'm not enjoying a 
particular piece of music  or  artist I change the station or replace the CD with one 
more to my  liking.  I can honestly say I've never described another musician 
as a  "bad" guitarist/pianist/saxophonist, whatever.  Perhaps their style 
isn't  to my taste, perhaps I'm not evolved enough to appreciate where they are 
going  with their music but the connotation that I would somehow have the right 
to  judge his/her playing as "Bad" is anathema to me.

I have no ambition to  being anything more than I am:  an amateur harmonicist 
thoroughly enjoying  my return to it rather late in life.  I play piano but 
certainly not good  enough to gig with a band, however I don't play my music or 
write my songs for  anyone else's enjoyment but my own. And yes, I really 
have been able to achieve  "blowing with Soul".  Believe it or not we are legion 
-- us  amateurs.   I absolutely LOVE singing and making music -  all  alone 
with no one around to hear.  The few times I've had an admittedly  very small 
audience (a family house party) it was pleasant enough to have them  enjoy what 
I was doing, but also stressful (due to my inherent stage  fright) and took 
away much of my personal enjoyment of what I'd achieved.   When I can get close 
to arriving at the music I hear in my head, that makes me  happy.  These small 
pleasures afford a level of contentment.  I'm not  looking for much more.  
For some unknown reason my attitude seems  sacrilegious to those who feel you 
have to be "professional or what's the  point?".  I'm not in it for 
"competition" or trying to better someone  else.  That isn't what music is about.

What bothered me though, is  that I'm sure there are beginning or other 
newbie harp players in similar  situations as mine who MAY be looking to become 
more professional, to perhaps  eventually land a gig with a band.  A lot of the 
dialogue that went on  could subdue or even chase away some young (or not so 
young) player who may be  the next "Phenom" but is shy and has no way to judge 
their own abilities....and  that would be a terrific shame.   I anticipate the 
argument then -  that one has to be "tough to make it in this business".  
Undoubtedly so,  but again IMHO that's really just an excuse certain individuals 
have  developed as a reason to use  bullying in the guise of "doing  good".

Elizabeth