[Harp-L] Hunting for a bucket of ice in the Summertime

[Buddha <groovygypsy@xxxxxxxxx>]

Icemaker writes:
"Most of what I've heard from harmonica players has been, get through the
"head" of the tune in some fashion and then let me show my stuff - speed
patterns, use of OB's, big vibrato, wah wah, hands waving in the air, etc."

http://www.suncoastharmonicaclub.org/Video_Clips/ICE/index.html


Larry, you talk about being or not being "harmonicaeee", on that point
I totally agree with you. However, maybe you've improved your
"harmonicaeeeness" since this video clip of summertime but you're not
demonstrating how you are playing outside of the harmonicaee box. Yeah
you're note choices are correct but that doesn't always make for a
great performance.

Ice Block also writes:
"Since diatonic is expanding into areas beyond blues changes, it
behooves those brave souls at the fore front to upgrade their
knowledge along with their chops. Why not take 1/4 of the time spent
on patterns, chops (those that have mentioned they have the luxury of
spending 6 - 8 - 10 hours/day practicing their diatonic) and expand
horizontally with studying music. 4 hours on those speed chops, 2
hours learning to understand the language of music, for instance. With
the same dedication to showing how much a gunslinger can fire 1000
rounds, that gunslinger can learn to fire less bullets and
consistently hit the target more often dead center in the bullseye."


I'll take passion and energy over "bullseye" notes any day.
Christelle may not have the musical knowledge that others possess but
she has feeling in her playing and that's what does it for me. Her
passion cuts the air like a knife and it's infectious.    Look at all
of the people that are blown away by Popper and Yonnet...  great
energy and passion in their playing... phrasing and note choice is
often iffy at best. Fans are drawn in via energy not bullseye notes.


Why not take 1/4 of the time spent on telling people how to stop being
so "harmonicaee" and expand vertically with learning a few patterns
and speed chops so you can hit the correct target.  A bullseye in the
center of a tree ain't no good when you're hunting deer.