Re: [Harp-L] Re: Harmonica Ensembles in America

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Jun 30, 2007, at 2:12 PM, Tom Baehr wrote:

> Hi, John,
>
> I wonder whether you're painting too rosy a picture of what's  
> happening in the US. I get the impression that Asian harmonica  
> groups consist of many youthful players. Let's say the average age  
> is 20, for argument's sake.

Europe & Asia engage in sponsorship. The U.S. doesn't. Here's how it  
works with dixieland aficianados. Sweller heeled people will put up  
money in the form of a donation. This donation will go into a fund  
for the musicians (most of whom have real day jobs) to be able to  
afford to travel to the various festivals.

The money can go into a general fund OR to individual bands OR  
(here's the one 'I' like), to individual  musicians. Now, granted  
there are thousands and thousands of people in the dixieland  
preference group, and therefore it would never work in the harmonica  
community. Main reason: the dixieland group is NOT instrument  
specific. You are backing a genre, not an individual instrument. I  
have toyed with this for years, and concluded that it wouldn't work.  
Too small a participant sampling.
> Of the few harmonica festivals I've attended so far, the average  
> age among participants seems to be closer to 70. Perhaps a slight  
> exaggeration, but not by much.

Good point. My answer would be that anyone younger than (say) 64  
would still be working. Another thing, while there are wealthy  
harmonica player, they are not numerous. Many musicians I have met  
who play 'other' instruments ARE. Example: In the group I associate  
with, several are retired (and working) doctors, dentists, real  
estate millionaires, stock traders, former owners or executives of  
companies. The few harmonica players I know are: a retired cop,  
salesman, truck driver. It costs money to go to conventions.
> This does not bode well for sustainability. There is no organized  
> educational system for teaching harmonica to America's youth.

I (personal opinion) feel that harmonica will never be recognized.  
Players of other instruments are a part of the 'music in crowd'. They  
feel they have paid their dues on THEIR instruments, so that's what  
they want taught. The teachers of these other instruments are merely  
protecting their rice bowl. Since there's no national competition to  
push harmonica (like the Van Cliburn, the Paganinni, etc), it ain't  
gonna happen.

smokey joe & the Cafe s (at 'The Lighthouse, Sanibel causeway, Ft.  
Myers Fla). Notes:
 1..... bring a co-signer for the check
 2..... bring $6.oo toll for the causeway
 3..... you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll kiss $95.oo goodbye