Re: [Harp-L] 5th position

["Chris Michalek" <Chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

If you truly want to go where no man has gone before - play the music
that's in your head. Listen to the tone, flavors, rhythms, colors,
shapes that come to you naturally.  DON'T think of notes, that's a
bigger trap than thinking in positions.

There is nothing wrong with "thinking" in positions and in fact
Howard will tell you to think that way until you're comfortable
playing through changes.  Thinking "positionally" is a step beyond
thinking in notes.

When I'm playing I don't think anything, I see colors, textures,
waves of rhythms in my head.  That's what I play.  If I need do break
it down later and figure out what I played I can but what would be
the point?

The basis of all music is Rhythm.  Play the "right" notes out of
rhythm and it will sound like crap.  Play the wrong notes with rhythm
and people will think you're a genius.

The bottom line for me is listening,  I need to focus all of my time
listen rather than thinking.  Thinking involves fear and hesitation. 
That will kill your sound and connection to the cosmos faster than
you can say " I truly want to play where no man has gone before." 
Listen to any live improv performace, you can litterally see and hear
the difference bewteen when one is thinking, listening and feeling. 
You can't feel when you think but you can when you listen. Don't
think notes, just be an empty resonate cavity that is ready to to be
filled.

Usually Larry has great advice but he's way off the mark here.  



>
>
>
>---- Original Message ----
>From: icemanle@xxxxxxx
>To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: [Harp-L] 5th position
>Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2005 09:28:06 -0400
>
>>If you wish to truly go "where no man has gone before" (except
>Howard Levy -but he doesn't count because he is not-of-this-earth -
>and a few of the other musically savvy OB'ers), stop thinking
>"position" and start focusing on "notes".
>> 
>>Just play the notes, wherever they lay. Strive for the level where
>you truly don't know what "position" you are playing in - get to the
>point where it doesn't even matter.
>> 
>>For instance, I will not hesitate to play in D Major in "3rd
>Position" on a Bb harmonica, picking the correct notes out of the
>harmonica as needed. I don't consider it "3rd Position", but merely
>that my reference point, or tonic, is on 2 hole exhale/5 hole exhale.
>> 
>>The Iceman
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>>

Chris Michalek

www.michalekstrone.com
CD Available
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/michalekstrone