Re: [Harp-L] Harp practice

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Jul 28, 2005, at 4:35 PM, Chris Michalek wrote:

> If you want to get out of your rut then stop listening to other
> harmonica players.  If you really want to get out of your rut then
> stop playing for a few weeks.  Practise writing with your opposite
> hand, learn to cook, learn to play another instrument do something
> creative that is not playing harmonica.
>
> I guarantee that you will have a fresh set of ears when you return to
> the instrument
>
>  *It was Chris that made that statement, and I echo it whole 
> heartedly. As an EX multi instrumentalist, I would advise you that 
> listening to harp (and harp ONLY) is not going to get you as far as 
> covering the whole spectrum of instrumenti.

 When I was talking to Chris about 6 years ago, he allowed as how HE 
had hit a rut in the road. I told him it would pass, and we agreed 
(mutually) that a short respite from harp was the answer. I allowed as 
how working on something to go along with Zither or Sitar might be 
beneficial as well as some African or Eastern modes of tone. He, 
apparently, did take a short break and then came back like 
gang-busters. And boy did he EVER come back.
smo-joe