Re: Fwd: [Harp-L] Gunslingers

[mikefugazzi@xxxxxxxxx]

I am competitive by nature, but have really been working hard to let that  
go in regards to music. I've chosen to do this because it takes all of the  
love out of music for me. I am sure lots of us hear someone online or watch  
them on YouTube and then have one of the two following thoughts:

1. I suck and will never get to the level of playing I wish to be at.
2. They suck and will never get to the level of playing they wish to be at.

The reality of it is, who cares? I would much rather just listen and enjoy  
the music. So how do I handle the urge? I try to be mindful of my thoughts,  
adjust my thinking, and stop trying to compare apples to oranges.

Or I woodshed like mad...currently I am trying to work on chordal vamping  
in the hopes of being able to do a breakdown like Kim Wilson, Magic Dick,  
or Jason Ricci. That skill in and of itself is sort of an ego driven jam,  
but I understand its place in a set and how enjoyable some people can find  
it. It is also a technical skill that I can use in my regular playing  
besides.

I like to listen to musicians who don't show me all their repetoire every  
single song. In fact, I love the idea of not hearing "everything" they play  
so that the next time I see them, the music still feels fresh. There is a  
time to shred, but it doesn't come as often as the time to just be musical  
and serve the song.

Locally, I run into harp players that don't want to give anyone else credit  
or any sort of compliment. Lol. I try not to sweat it, but part of me  
probably rests easy because, at least in the blues scene, if they sat in  
with my band I could make them look dumb, and if all else fails, I can  
probably play "flashier" than they can. Ha! When I first started playing, I  
had my rear end handed to me a few times...I haven't felt the need to go  
back out and prove myself, but if the situation came about, I wouldn't fret.

The biggest competitive road block for me has been not being heard. It is  
frustrating to try and network like crazy and have bookers and musicians  
ignore you. Then months later when they finally hear you, they are  
surprised that you don't suck and, in fact, are part of a pretty good band.  
So I guess my competitive side comes out more on the business end then  
playing end.


> --- In harp-l-archives@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, robert mcgraw wrote:





> We've covered this territory many times before on harp-l, but why not  
> again? A couple of thoughts:



> 1] When I play music with a gunslinger approach, the music suffers. It's  
> when I lose my ego that the magic happens...



> 2] Competitiveness comes naturally to human beings; it is a part of our  
> nature, I would argue. If you think Charlie Parker and Dizzy and all  
> those be-bop guys were never being competitive at those late night jam  
> sessions...



> 3] So I agree, music is not a competition; but people are competitive [as  
> well as cooperative]...it's a dilemma I think.



> So let me pose this question: If you feel competitive, how do you deal  
> with it in terms of music? How do you let go of it? Or maybe you don't,  
> or maybe you aren't competitive?



> WVa Bob



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