[Harp-L] Gifted Players, Who I Play For

[Will Vogtman <will_vogtman@xxxxxxxxx>]

Gifted Players . . . .
   
  I consider myself a strong, intermediate to beginning advanced level player.  I am nowhere near some of the talent on this list.  However, I often feel uneasy when people complement me in certain ways.   When people approach me and say, "I could never play like you--I'm not that gifted/tallented," I thank them and show my appreciation.  But on the inside, I am nearly offended and I can't help it.  I wasn't given the gift of muisc.  I earned it through a great deal of work.  Stating that a musician is musically gifted is nearly dismissing the hours of work that go into earning the gift.   I know the compliments are well-intentioned, but they rub me the wrong way.  I don't think I am particularly gifted, I'm just obsessed.  I may have to develop the first 12 step program for harmonica.  Calling Popper and Miller "gifted" belittles their obsession and work ethic on the instrument.  Also, calling another musician "gifted" allows a person an excuse not to aspire to that level.
   
  Who I play for . . . .
   
  I presently have a day job (and probably always will).  I play an average of 3 times per month.  When I play, I am not putting food on my table or a kid through college.  I play for my own enjoyment.  I feed off the crowd input and interact with them, but untimately, I satisfy myself.  If I get the opportunity to quit my day job, you better beleive that I'm going to play what the audience wants to hear.  But in my current situation, I feel I deserve to play for myself most of the time.   I do adapt to the situation, but I put myself first.
   
  " . . . they could care less if we played a flatted fifth, or a ruptured 129th . . ."
  Dizzy Gillespie
   
   

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