[Harp-L] Harmonica for Dummies (RE: Sorry)

[Robert Coble <robertpcoble@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:38:32 -0500> From: Garry Hodgson <harp@xxxxxxxxxxx>> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] sorry> To: Abner Galdos <cdgaldos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> Cc: 'Harp -l' <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>> >> Abner Galdos wrote:>> I have a few but Barrett seems over my head. and the dummies book seem to simple>> i'm an intermediate level player and i didn't find the Harmonica for > Dummies too simple at all.  there is an awful lot there beyond the > basics.  if you're basing this on the title, look again.  if it's too > basic for you, you're probably not the beginner you think you are.> I've been playing now for almost 8 years. (My gawd, has it been THAT long?!?)I play regularly, and I've actually been paid to play at times-sometimes withfood and sometimes (surprise!) with cold hard cash. I am (at best) an intermediateplayer too. I have shelves full of harmonica books and CDs. (I only wish I couldspend the time to study all of them thoroughly!)I bought Winslow's book, sight unseen, for several reasons.(1) I've gone over (but not even close to absorbed) Winslow's lessons on the MelBay Harmonica Masterclass Web site run by David Barrett. If you want a MASTERclass on playing chromatic, that is the best course that I know about.(2) I've enjoyed (and learned from) Winslow's posts on this forum. There are ahandful of master teachers who actively participate on this forum. All of them areoutstanding musicians AND teachers. For that, I thank you all-and that includes you too, Smokey Joe.(3) As a consequence of (1) and (2), and also knowing how hard it is for a professional musician to eke out a living (two of my brothers are professionalmusicians), I want to support excellence in music and instruction. Therefore, Ibought Winslow's book. I know he doesn't get but a small fraction of the book price, but at least it's something back in return.I can honestly say that I've found many new things to learn in Winslow's book.I expected this to happen, given the caliber of Winslow's instruction. I alsohave almost all of David Barrett's materials. Most of it still seems way over my head. That is MY problem, not David's. I actually signed up for his long-distancecourse, but only completed one lesson. Again, that's NOT David's responsibility;I simply got involved in a major software project and did not have the time todevote to it. If you want to focus on blues harmonica, I think you would be hard-pressed to find a better instructor or instructional materials.And who the heck am I to endorse Winslow? A typical harp nobody, who likelywill never be heard outside the small pond I croak in. But I do recognize skillwhen I encounter it. And since I'm a nobody, you can take my word for it thatHarmonica for Dummies will help the "nobodies" of the harp world immensely.Thank you, Winslow, for taking the time to write such a good book! I wish I hadbought it as my first book (but it wasn't available then).As for the perceived snubs, realize that most intelligent people on this list maysometimes "riff" on what has been written in a humorous (to them) way. Mostof the time, it is NOT meant in any mean way; it just comes across that wayin the written word. If you saw them say it, you would see the grin on their faceand the twinkle in their eye, and you would know they were just kidding you.Assume that someone is just having fun, unless they are explicitly rude andobnoxious. In that rare case, just delete their message or skip it (if you'rereading the digest). There are actually very few nasty people that hang around this forum for long. Our moderator does an excellent job of policing the list. Ifyou think you're getting a raw deal, write a note directly to the moderator. Iknow from personal experience that he promptly addresses list issues.All the best,Crazy Bob
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