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

[Tall Paul <tallpaul14@xxxxxxxxx>]

This is in response to both posts below (and I have been working 14 hour days so haven't had time to read the Harp-L posts after this one, so if it was supposed to have stopped, I apologize, but don't think I am out of line here):

If you want to be better at anything, you have to be willing to take criticism.  The criticism thrown at Nicky Shane has been valid.  If you're going to claim to be some great player, be on TV, be in the Guiness Book, you better have the chops to back it up.  It's not about being inclusive and loving everyone.  When you step up like he did, you gotta be playing something, and most people agreed that he wasn't (maybe I just can't hear that fast).  Michael is right, when you coddle people, you are not bringing out their potential.  I have a sports background, and I was taught at an early age, if the coach wasn't on your case and yelling at you, he didn't care if you got better or not.  When I have been at SPAH, I have learned the most from people like Michael Peloquin who will give praise, but also tell you where you are not getting a concept or just don't get it, and he doesn't always sugar-coat it to make you feel all fuzzy inside.  I enjoy having
 Michael be the 'tough love guy' because even though it may hurt the ego at the moment, it makes me a better player if I learn from it.  Michael summed it up way better than I have, so re-read his post down below.  Thank you Michael for being an inspiration for me and continuing to make yourself available to anyone who goes to SPAH and isn't afraid of being told something other than 'you're the best harmonica player I've ever heard'

Paul



Derwood posts:

> 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.


I must assume that you are referring to the discussion about the comedian that owns a harmonica and inhales and exhales through it at a blinding, record setting rate.


I happen to think that we as a group ARE valid in discussing this and also exposing this for the fraud that it is.



I think that when most people play and try they are given the benefit of the doubt more often than not if they are truly trying to play the instrument. This is by my abservation, almost to a fault. This is pervassive PC-ness that runs all through American society. ie: making every kid in school Student of the Week, every kid on the sports team gets a trophy and on and on. 



I also think that if the gloves were taken off and a few more people told that they really need to hit the woodshed and don't come back until they do: then we would have a much better musical populace.



Michael Peloquin 
http://www.harpsax.com 
http://www.myspace.com/peloquinharpsax