Re: [Harp-L] Harp practice

["Donnie MorTone" <harp_boy@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> From: "Chris Michalek" <Chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

> I rarely practice harmonica these days.
> I've found that it's more important to get my head together than the
> instrument because after all the music comes from me and not the
> harp.  I'm to the point now where I can fluidly play what I think -
> well not everything but I'm getting closer and closer.
>
> Get your head together and you get better!

Hi Kids....Long Time No Love...

Me TOO....after all these damn years...

I just gotta agree with Chris on this...
although..it's definetly an advanced technique...
to be able to play what you hear in your head...
unless you are a natural like Chris...or Jason...
or 15 or 20 others I could probably name...but won't ;))

My point is....I rarely practice these days myself...
but when I do...it is strictly from a peice that I have studied
by LISTENING...until I know that Tune like it was my own.
And 99% of these tunes are not "Harp Tunes"...or have no
harmonica to relate to while soaking up the song...

So...listening to tunes with Zero harmonica is a great tool for
testing out just how proficiant you are with melodies, solos,
outlining vocals, riffs, etc. etc.etc......how well you know the harp
WITHOUT cheating. (Doing jive fills that just don't cut it)

Lately, for me...I've been listening to allot of what is called "Soul 
Jazz"...
which is like late 50's early 60's Prestige Label material...heavy on the
Hammond B-3 and Tenor sax....ala: Jack McDuff/Jimmy Smith/Sonny Stitt/
Johnny Hodges/Bill Jennings/Jimmy McGriff/Ben Webster/Wild Bill Davis....

I've been listening to this stuff for years...but once I layed OFF the harp 
for
a long spell...(6 to 9 months)...then picked it back up...these are the TYPE
of tunes that were in my head ...and the style that I was beginning to feel
natural about without allot of effort (as compared to when I TRIED)...

I could hear the heads, licks, riffs, molodies in my head...with the harp in
my mouth...and play them as never before...and I couln't figure out WHY?
Why was it now so easy and flowing?...as compared to when I Tried to learn
it threw the harp?

Because I stopped using the harp..and let my HEAD do all the absorbing 
maybe?

I think Chris hit it on the head in this post and previous ones...
about NOT always listening to harp players to improve...
PLUS...(Big Plus I might add) Give yourself some "Time OFF" from
the harmonica...and you might be amazed of the slump you climb out of.

Thanks Chris...you always was one Guru type thinkin Mutha....;))

~Donnie~

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