Re: [Harp-L] out of the rut

[<jruss433@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I agree with Chris.  Pursuit of education goals, family things, 
relationships, looking for a job, relocating... In 33 years since my 
starting to play (acquiring "the virus," as Toots Thielmans calls it), I 
have had dry spells.  I just keep coming back and picking up where I left 
off - whether that meant starting with a new band, music project or just 
learning a new tune or licks.

It is true, however that getting into something else (other than playing) 
helps one to get over some hurdles upon return and approach from a different 
perspective.

And the hurdles - they are all relative.  I always figure that outdoing 
myself is the greatest contribution I can make to my playing.  It feeds "the 
virus."  So when you do impress yourself, use the energy to feed the virus 
and push yourself to another hurdle!

Development is ongoing for everyone.  I just saw Toots recently in St. Louis 
and when I went to talk to him and buy his CD with Ken Warner where they 
play "Autumn Leaves,"  I mentioned that I was working on the song.

At that point he replied with a smile, "So am I."

Mark Russillo
(a.k.a. The Rhode Island Kid)



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Michalek" <Chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <fsstov@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2005 10:32 PM
Subject: RE: [Harp-L] out of the rut


> If you're in a rut it's because you think the same way about
> everything you play.  If you put your intrument down for awhile
> you'll find that you'll most likely forget about the little stuff
> that was bogging you down. Like working on a large puzzle, sometimes
> you just can't find the peice you want and then after you focus on
> something else and come back, you find that it was always sitting in
> front of you.
>
>
> > ---- Original Message ----
> > From: fsstov@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: RE: [Harp-L] out of the rut
> > Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 22:24:48 -0600
> >
> > > I had the great pleasure to be energized at Jam Camp last spring.
> > Great
> > > plans, good practice ideas, I improved a lot.  Then this fall I had
> > some
> > > severe employment concerns which left me unable to concentrate at
> > all on
> > > the harp.  I stopped playing for several months.  Last week I got
> > > together wih the guys to jam.  I felt that I played better than I
> > had
> > > for a long time, even though I hadn't picked up a harp for months.
> > > Although I don't have the tape to prove it, I got rave reviews.
> > So...
> > > Any chance that taking a extended break can improve your playing  I
> > > think Chris M has suggested this in the past.  This runs counter to
> > my
> > > teacher's advice to always play a little every day.  Maybe not
> > playing
> > > helped me focus on the bare essentials which I picked up again..  I
> > > relate it to not playing golf over the winter, then having my best
> > round
> > > of the year the first time out.
> > >
> > > So maybe if you're in a rut, give it a rest.
> > >
> > > Cheers to you, Doug T!
> > > Fred S
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> > > Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> > > http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
>
> Chris Michalek
>
> www.michalekstrone.com
> CD Available
> http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/michalekstrone
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l