Re: [Harp-L] Harmonica Content, Meta-Content

[bluesinz@xxxxxxx]

Derwood,

I respectfully disagree with your statement. I have been reading just 
about everything that I find interesting on harp-l for about two years. 
I feel that vast majority of the reviews of players work has been 
supportive and criticisms have been for the most part worded 
positively.
In the arts in general, critiques of performances are the norm, movies, 
theater, concerts, sporting events ect.etc. All public performances are 
out there for critique. Now matter how the criticism is worded, a 
performer can and should use that as a tool for improvement.

On Harp-l, to think that players of the caliber that regularly 
contribute would spend a few minutes of their time listening and 
writing about what they hear is a valuable tool for all of us and at 
all levels. And not just the pro players, we all love the instrument 
and a lesson can be learned from anybody.

Here is a link to my bands web site: 
http://www.myspace.com/jblaketheearthquake

Please, any one that has a few minutes let me know what you think. 
Don't hold anything back. How's my phrasing? my timing? an I doing 
enough with the fills or too much? Any help would be greatly 
appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help.
George








-----Original Message-----
From: Derwood <derwood.blues@xxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 9:43 am
Subject: [Harp-L] Harmonica Content, Meta-Content



OK, here I go again. I promise to drop this subject after this rant for 
at
least one more month. This list is about harmonica stuff. I play 
harmonica,
you play harmonica. But I get tired of the "harmonica related" items 
that
are about how so and so does not respect the harmonica because he plays 
in a
way that does not please me or acts in a public way that does not 
please me.
In my opinion this kind of disrespecting does not promote the 
harmonica. It
is exclusive rather than inclusive. I would suggest that to have a 
dialogue
that is inclusive we need to do less talking about who is not a "real"
harmonica player and talk more about harmonica in a humble, respectful 
way.
Honestly I am currently unwilling to put any recording of myself out 
there
on this list because I assume I will get more destructive criticism than
constructive criticism. I know I am not alone; I hear from many 
everytime a
say this stuff. And I know that some of you are thinking that I am,
therefore, not serious about harmonica and/or am not tough enough to 
face
reality. But I guess I believe that people deserve to be honored and
respected. We need a little less "speaking the truth" and a little more
"speaking the truth in love".

Or maybe I am trying to be included in the wrong group.

Derwood
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