Re: Fwd: [Harp-L] Define

[Michael Fugazzi <mfugazzi67@xxxxxxxxx>]

This whole thread about harmonica and musicians has
gotten out of hand.  I wonder if a different person
had posted the original comment if we'd be so upset
(and over a very truthful statement, no less)?

The bitter truth is most "musicians" don't know as
much about music (regardless of insturment) as they
could.  

There was a post that even highschool kids can sit and
read music.  Heck I have 5th grade students that can
read better then I do.  Does that make them better
musicians?  No.  But there are a lot of people out
there that can read music and play.  They are better
musicians then I (they have more control over the
artform and a higher understanding of the art).

Some of us need to admit that learning more about
music would make us all better musicians and that
playing by your gut/ear/whatever isn't always the
right answer (and therefore we're limited in our art).
 For example, you might be the world's best harp
player on a I IV V...everybody in the world could love
every note you play.  Does that make you the world's
best harp player?  

Not if you can only play a I IV V.  What about other
types of music???  You may be content with being a
great blues player, or great jazz player, but that
doesn't make one a well rounded or great musician.

Therefore, I would agree that MOST harmonica
players...probably the majority...are not good
musicians.  They are good harp players, or good
bluesmen, or good bluegrass players, etc.- but not
good musicians.  Most musicians aren't good musicians.
 There are only a few great musicians out there in any
relam.  One trait they share is the ability to move
from genre to genre with their own voice.  For us mere
mortals, theory and understaing of music will aid us
ni that quest.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.  Like I
said, most players of music aren't great musicians. 
They great at limited areas.

--- mfugazzi67 <mfugazzi67@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> --- In harp-l-archives@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Chris
> Michalek" <chris@...>
> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> Perhaps the terms artist and musician are being
> confused? I know that
> I have considerable prowess on my instrument and I
> know I can connect
> to people on an emotional level using music. That's
> an artform. Ask me
> what I played and how I do it and I'll tell you with
> all the
> confidence in the world "I don't know"
> Ask a guy like Howard Levy and he'll say "Yeah Man,
> that was just the
> locrian mode played relentlessy over a Bm7b5 chord,
> hey can you hold
> this for me or go get me a cup of coffee? Where my
> back pack? Did you
> ask me a question? Hmmmmm Hmmmmm, Yeah I play
> keyboards really well too"
> Howard is a steller musician AND artist. As are
> people like Rob P and
> Rob B etc...
> I am a crap music and artist and there's nothing
> wrong with that
> unless you need to be able to communicate your craft
> to others. You
> may be the greatest psychobluesgrassjazz player on
> the planet playing
> a cool 1st position Jimmy Reed style blues but then
> somebody else in
> the band is jamming along and suddenly says go to
> the flat six for two
> and then a drop a half step for your solo, when
> you're done, then vamp
> on the five then start playing summertime in that
> key. Are ya gonna
> know what to do? Do you switch harps? Your playing
> and your solo maybe
> the most incredible moment on planet at the time but
> I bet most of you
> would be stopped in your tracks even if the song
> were your favorite
> blues tune.
> 
> 
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Mojo Red [mailto:harplicks@...]
> >Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 09:22 PM
> >To: Harp-L@...
> >Subject: [Harp-L] Define "Crap" (terribly long)
> >
> >Hi all you Harp-Lers out there!
> >
> >I've been out of town for a few weeks, now trying
> >to catch up on my e-mails, and have really enjoyed
> >reading the flood of responses that my pot-stirring
> >friend Chris Michalek spawned with his seemingly
> >effortless comment. Bravo Chris! :-)
> >
> >http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
> >
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@...
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
> 
> --- End forwarded message ---
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 


Mike Fugazzi
vocals/harmonica
NiteRail

http://www.niterail.com
http://www.myspace.com/niterailband

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com