Re: VS: [Harp-L] Musical theory

[icemanle@xxxxxxx]

I disagree that this is something inborn and if you don't have it, you don't.
 
Teaching the last 15 years has brought many students my way who are timid because some teacher in their past has told them this very thing.
 
Bad music teachers have ruined a positive musical experience for many people.
 
In most cases, I've been able to help these students overcome this obstacle and find joy in themselves and an attachment to music.
 
We don't do "musical theory" in a textbook sense. My approach is that, everyone who has working ears and has lived in Western Civilization already knows all about music theory from constant input of correctly played music in the environment - TV, movies, elevators, grocery stores, radio, CD's, etc. What they may not know are the textbook terminology attached to the music when discussed by teachers, critics, musicians, etc.
 
Eventually, most serious students will want to educate themselves in this area for their own purposes or acceleration at learning, or perhaps to speak more musicfluently when talking to other musicians.
 
Here's an example of my organic approach. Blues Shuffle = rhythm of your hearbeat. An attachment to the rhythm of your heartbeat is often enough for students to "get it" without resorting to musical notation, terminology, listening to recordings, transcribing solos or understanding time signatures.
 
The Iceman
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: harri.haka@xxxxxxxx

 Playing by ear and with feeling means the ability to 
perceive, distinguish, and understand what one hears and to further this into 
singing and playing. This is something which is inborn. Practice helps but if 
you don't have it, you don't.
Harri
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