Re: [Harp-L] Getting Good and Getting Even Better

["Thomas McGovern" <tmcg@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dan:
Here, here.  Your points are well taken.  But point number 2 got me thinking
" if the guys in our band keep telling me I suck, then I must be doing
something right!"

Tom McGovern
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan" <billybudd1313@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2006 10:45 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Getting Good and Getting Even Better


> Dear List,  I was pleasantly surpised this morning to check email and find
this thread started by Ken Deifik. Perhaps it's because my "day job" is in
science, and I like the way he writes.  Perhaps it's because I identified
with most of the points so far.  I'm not going to go on and on re-hashing.
Instead, I offer my own philosophy on "Getting Good and Getting Even Better"
Take it as you will.
>   To me, three keys to continued improvement are:  1. Self Awareness
>   2. A certain degree of insecurity (inability to be satisfied)
>   3. A Willingness to take risks
>
>   1. One of the developmental points that differentiates (in my mind) a
beginning harp player from a "good" or seasoned harp player is their self
awareness.  Many people either cannot or will not listen to their own music
as if it was someone else's.  To truly grow, I believe in studying one's
self.
>
>   It pays to question everything  (this sort of speaks to the obsessive
nature of genius mentioned in earlier posts).  What did I just play?  Why?
How did it sound compared to X?  How did the audience react?  Am I doing the
same thing over and over?  How can I improve?  How can I improve?  How can I
improve?
>
>   I used to think that I thought about harp alot...  until I spent some
time chatting with Jason Ricci.  One of the many reasons he is SO good, is
that he really thinks about the harp and what he's doing with it.  (makes me
want to crawl under a rock, he's so damn good)
>
>
>   2.  Why is it that the "good guys" are so quick to tell you they suck,
but the "guys who suck" are the first to tell you how great they are?
>
>   Enough is never enough if you want to keep getting better.  It's cliche,
but you've all seen that poster that says,  "Somewhere out there someone
else is practicing right now... Someday you'll meet them in competition and
they'll beat you".  That's a sport reference, and I'm not suggesting music
is or should be competition.  The point is that in my experience "it's not
good enough" is a great motivator.
>
>    Reaching for the un-attainable goal of some imaginary level of
excellence and never being satisfied ensures greater progress.  Being too
happy with one's current status precludes further development. (IMHO)
>
>   3. My wife jumps horses over fences.  She currently tops out in the 4ft
range.  Her dream is to be in the Olympics where they jump 5ft plus.  It's
downright CRAZY to me to jump a horse at all, let alone that high.  I
instantly think about the potential for serious injury.  She thinks nothing
of it, I believe, because she starting jumping as a kid.  As kids we are too
naive to even know we're taking risks. Ever watch kids ski?  They're bloody
fearless.
>
>   Playing music (in front of  others) takes a bit of risk.  It's scary to
put one's soul on display for others to comment on.  I think many of us take
some initial risks, but quickly find a comfort zone and then choose not to
take any more risks.  As such, we stagnate musically.  It gets harder and
harder to take risks as we get older.  We've simply seen too much.  We have
too much baggage.
>
>   If one wants to keep getting better, I belive that one has to continue
to risk a few failures, in hopes of growing a little.
>
>
>   There's more, but I'm stopping at 3.  This is how I think, and what has
lead to my improvement over the years.  I think I've improved drastically,
but who knows huh?  I'm really not that good, and I have a ton I need to
work on.
>
>   Thanks,
>   Dan G.
>   www.edbluepills.com
>   www.jdbone.com
>
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