[Harp-L] Re: Harmonica : a popular and ubiquitous instrument

["Rick Epping" <rickepping@xxxxxxxxx>]

Years ago at Hohner I was told that someone once conducted a survey to ask
how many Americans "considered themselves to be expert harmonica players."
I forget the number, but it was in the tens of millions.

It's one of the harmonicas great advantages that one can make a
pleasing sound the first time picking it up.

Rick

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> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:27:18 -0700 (PDT)
> From: David Fertig <drfertig@xxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Harmonica : a popular and ubiquitous instrument
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Message-ID: <600051.11071.qm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> I submit that, our frequent protestations here notwithstanding, the
> harmonica, especially the 10-hole diatonic, is actually one of the more
> popular instruments in Western culture.  Consider how often one hears it in
> movies & TV soundtracks, commercials, and, of course, pop, blues, rock and
> other music.  Producers love it, for a number of obvious reasons.
>
> Perhaps our (harp-players') jaundiced sense of ignominy born by the
> 20-dollar-toy (now $30!) is driven more by our experience with bands' and
> other musicians' common apprehension at the appearance of the little
> devils.  Can't blame Ãm, often they are not well played, including by me
> sometimes, for example!  But many instances of fine playing are heard in our
> media streams all the time, often in the background or as filligree, often
> in the foreground too.
>
> Given the harp's small size and range of applications, it stars
> everywhere.  I say it's truly a popular instrument that needs no defense,
> just some practiced use.   SO THERE!
>
> -Dave "No I'm not being defensive!" Fertig
>
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