[Harp-L] FW: Average vs. Pro Harp Playing

["Bill Kumpe" <bkumpe@xxxxxxx>]

  _____  

From: Bill Kumpe [mailto:okbizlaw@xxxxxxx] 
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 8:05 AM
To: 'harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx'
Subject: Average vs. Pro Harp Playing

 

Derwood Blues said:

 

> I would suggest that music is a public activity that is meant for the

> people and there is room for many levels of player.

 

Music is also very much a private activity.  Only a few generations ago, the
only way to have music in the home was to play it yourself or have a guest
play it for you.  It was amateur music certainly but without radio,
television and the internet to expose the population to the very best of
professional musicians it was greatly appreciated.  I came from a family
where music was part of the society.  Everybody played something, some
better than others certainly, but a typical family get together always
included dragging out the instruments and getting down with some bluegrass
or country or later some rockabilly.  And these folks spent many a quiet and
peaceful evening at home with a guitar, a mandolin or a harmonica to pass
the time.  This "front porch music" as I call it was not pro quality by any
means but it was entertaining for the family and even therapeutic in its own
way.  A few people are blessed with extraordinary skills and they are to be
admired for it.  But a lot of people can enjoy an instrument, even if it is
only for themselves.  Rest assured, if Hohner or Suzuki only sold to pros
who could do their instruments justice very few harps would get sold and
they would cost a thousand dollars apiece.

 

Bill Kumpe

Tulsa, OK