Re: [Harp-L] godd or bad haprs?

["Rob Paparozzi" <Chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Iceman,

    Breathing and attack IS everything, I agree wholeheartedly. If the original poster is ruining his harps after a few songs then he probaly is blowing and drawing inproperly. No, I don't blow out my harps after a few songs. My approach goes from very subtle and soft to...triple Forte-->LOUD.

To me a versatile player should be able to hit either spectrum without ruining their instrument.

I guess what I'm really trying to say is you can't "baby" your axe. YOU are in control, if you want volume + passion at a given point in your performance, you have to hit it....BUT use the proper technique in doing so...Control your Volume using your Diaphragm and Throat and Hands accordingly and a GOOD instrument will respond. It took me many years to develop this approach without FRYING my harps.

I think your advice is good and we are actually on the same page...

best,
rob p
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: IcemanLE@xxxxxxx 
  To: chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx ; mktspot@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 9:07 AM
  Subject: Re: [Harp-L] godd or bad haprs?


  In a message dated 7/11/2007 8:38:33 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
    Hard" vs "Soft" is a style or approach, not a
    "Right or Wrong" technique.....I push a lot of air thru mine at times as
    well....sometimes those lil' buggers just wanna be spanked!!!,-) 
  Do you blow out a harmonica after a few songs, too, as did the original poster? Does Steve Guyger go through numerous harmonicas every performance? I didn't think so, but I could be wrong, never having directly asked this question of Rob P., Steve G. or fjm. (By the way, this email is asking that direct question to Rob P and fjm).

  My feeling and educational approach is, if you ruin a harmonica after a few songs, you are using too much force. Much more is to be gained in control, tone, range of emotion and faster learning if you breathe the harmonica. Blowing is for birthday candles. Sucking is for that last piece of spaghetti. Drawing is for visual artists or those dipping buckets into wells and lakes for water.

  The Iceman





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