RE: [Harp-L] Deconstructing

["Chris Michalek" <Chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

My style has changed over the last few years. The first thing you
need to do is STOP listening to other harmonica players.  I rarely
listen to other harpers unless somebody sends me a CD to critique or
review... I've learned tons just trying to play what my drummer or
bassist plays.  I listen to lots of eastern vocal and flute music.  I
also listen to lots of rhythmic drumming from around the world. 
Tabla, Dumbek, Tabla Tarang, Dolki, Djembe, Kanjira etc...

IF you listen to other harp players and try to emulate that then
sounding like a harp player is inevitable.


>
>
>
>---- Original Message ----
>From: mjmeadors@xxxxxxx
>To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Deconstructing 
>Date: Sat, 07 Jan 2006 16:57:51 -0500
>
>>
>> I'm wondering if any of you have ever been in my position, and if
>so, how the situation went for you.
>> 
>>After many years of playing harp, in and out of bands, I finally got
>to the point where I was boring myself nightly.  I said everything I
>had to say in 3 songs and then just repeated the rest of the night. 
>The audience, of course, always responded positively regardless. 
>Yet, I knew, as an advanced player, that while I sounded great to the
>audience, I wasn't getting the thrill of playing like when I was
>first starting out.  So I quit.
>> 
>>It's now about 6 years later and I've picked up a new 410 from
>Sonny, got my mic and harps back in order, and am ready to play
>again.  But this time I don't want to rely on just the same old licks
>and technique.  I was always a BField fan so I always justified
>puckering instead of blocking (except for some chording), yet I was
>never TRULY happy with my tone.  I am in the process, consequently,
>of learning to play harp all over again, but this time with tongue
>blocking ala Wilson, Piazza, etc.  Its so very hard to stop falling
>back into old patterns because the muscle memory is still there. 
>Anybody else ever try just learning an entirely new style/technique
>after years of playing a certain way?  It truly feels like I'm just
>starting over.  Did any of you try to change but realize that old
>habits never go away, or have you made the change and never looked
>back?
>> 
>>m
>>_______________________________________________
>>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