Re: [Harp-L] Projection

[Ken Deifik <kenneth.d@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> But like Robert says : do the work !

I'm with Chris and Robert.

At every stage of one's development as a musician (or in any other endeavor 
for that matter) it's the stuff that's HARD to learn that provides the 
great breakthroughs to the next level.

When you hear people say they're in a rut, or bored stiff or that there's 
nothing left to learn, it is because they no longer want to experience the 
great discomfort of trying to learn something that's so hard to learn that 
your first impulse is to throw whatever it is out the car window.  After 
you get pretty good at something, lots of stuff is alot easier to learn, 
and your self-image brightens up, and tells you you're talented enough to 
have had those breakthroughs that you've made already, and you're not 
having a rough time getting better.  Now, when you identify something that 
is hard to learn, it is very nearly an experience of revulsion: 'I thought 
I was past the hard stuff! I'm outta here before I get really depressed.'

This is one of the few ubiquitous human situations, as far as I can 
tell.  I have never met a person who doesn't hit those comfort-zone stages 
all through their lives, me more than most.  But I have come to relish the 
sensation that I'm not smart enough or talented enough to learn a thing 
without a great deal of unpleasant effort, because I'm now fully aware that 
that's the prelude to a breakthrough - the perfect time to plow on.

It's the people who really, REALLY, want to excel that learn to not duck 
away from the unending surprise appearances of Hard Stuff To Learn.  I love 
those stages where I seem to grow and learn effortlessly, just by 
practicing every day, but I get really suspicious after a while, that I 
have entered a rut even if it doesn't feel like one yet.

I didn't really follow this thread when it was about something 
mechanical-sounding in chromatic harmonica, I think, as that observation 
seemed pretty subjective, and was in an area where I had nothing to contribute.

But now that it seems to be about learning how to play one's instrument so 
that it doesn't sound mechanical, well I've thrown my hat in the fire, as 
Ted Baxter once said.