RE: [Harp-L] Was Help! now 1st jam session advice

[Michael Posey <harrpoe@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I completely agree. No guts, no glory, but go in as prepared as you can be. As far as giving the instrument a bad name, I believe bad players give all instruments a bad name. I know some guitar players who have great equipment but can't play very well and think that good tone is associated with high volume. A lethal combination. I make sure to let them see me put the plugs in my ears.

 

I guess it comes down to what you want to accomplish and of course, its relative to the talent level of your jam partners. 

 

Ignorance is bliss. If you dont know you sound like a shrieking cat at the end of life #9, you will never try to get beyond it. Sometimes, the only way to find out is the hard way. 
If they are serious, time and money invested in lessons, reading, understanding, listening and practicing should come first. What motivated me to do all the aforemetioned was the fun of playing and making music with a band in front of a crowd. I needed to know if it was fun and if I liked it enough to make those investments. 

 

It was and I did. That led me to the quest to improve and this list. If I had read some of these posts before I went up there the first time, I don't know that I would have had the guts to do it at all. 

 

It's supposed to fun right? For Jason, Rubin and few others, its thier livelyhood. The 99.9% of the rest us are glad to have our day jobs and play for enjoyment. Who am I to tell a newby they have to complete the prerequisites before they can have a little fun on stage? If asked, which we were, I will happily provide them with some of the basics and advice I wish someone had given me. 

 

 

Brgds

It's miller time! 

 

 
> From: anthony@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> To: harrpoe@xxxxxxxxxxx; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Was Help! now 1st jam session advice
> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:47:13 -0400
> 
> The point I was trying to make is a simple one. If you are asking what key
> harp to play a song in when the band is in the key of C, and you don't have
> even the basic understanding to ask about a certain position (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
> then I would guess you don't need to be on stage yet and might need to pay
> one of the fine teachers on you tube. Not never, just not yet. I wouldn't
> want my comment to discourage someone from learning how to play but there
> are plenty of horrible harp players out there that give the instrument a bad
> name. If you are in clubs you have to know this is a true statement. Isn't
> that Right Wezo? 
> 
> With that said, even the guys that have more guts than talent can eventually
> be great with enough practice...Jason Ricci is a perfect example! I saw a
> video on you tube when Jason was really young and played horribly. Today,
> many moons later he is one of the hottest players on the planet. Now, I
> think I remember reading on this site where someone mentioned an instructor
> told them they had the guts to take chances and would be great one day. I
> think taking chances is a good thing and it will help you grow but some
> basic understanding should be obtained prior to getting on stage with a
> group of musicians or you're not helping anyone.
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of Michael Posey
> Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 7:07 PM
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [Harp-L] Was Help! now 1st jam session advice
> 
> 
> Wezo,
> 
> 
> 
> Appreciate your reinforcement. It's easy to come across as high & mighty
> without meaning to. While some of the other posts may have sounded that way,
> I dont think they were meant to either. This list is full of great info from
> great players that continually amaze me with helpful information regarding
> our instrument of choice. 
> 
> 
> 
> That said, I think we have to keep all levels, inclusive of novices and
> beginners, engaged as well. You never know who's gonna step up and purchase
> the next Megatone, Cruncher or Harp Gear or be the next Ricci or Wilson. We
> all started somewhere and had that 1st gig whether we thought we were ready
> or not. I know I certainly would have rather gone in with some sound advise
> and encouragement than with a tongue lashing. Truth be told, us harpers take
> enough abuse from "real" musicians as it is. The dressing-down of one of our
> own, especially the new ones, isn't conducive to keeping the list growing or
> the manufacturers of our instruments and its accessories in business.
> 
> 
> I will always remember my first "performance dissection". It was not pretty,
> nice or eloquent. I will also remember the first time a seasoned player gave
> me some solid pointers and encouragement to improve without making me feel
> like the hack I didnt even know I was. Both motiviated me to improve in
> very different ways. 
> 
> 
> 
> Given the opportunity to provide some advise, I always go with the latter
> form. Pay it forward..it always comes back!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Just got the news..RIP Mr Jackson.
> 
> 
> > 
> > Message: 4
> > Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:59:44 -0400
> > From: "mike wesolowski" <mwesolowski@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Harp-L Digest Vol 70 Issue 80
> > To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > Message-ID: <438878B0C3B94B808C33C6FE07A8FAD0@pc1>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
> > 
> > Michael Posey,
> > That was extremely elequently put when you were talking about learning to
> play a little before you go up to the bandstand. I beleive that you came off
> sounding extremely friendly in your advice to a novice player. I have been
> searching for a way to say exactly what you said.
> > I haven't voiced my views on the subject because everything I thought
> about writing would make me sound real mean. Thank you for putting your
> advice so thoughtfully.
> > And.....................as Gary Primich put it.... "Don't be a Harmonica
> Nazi"
> > Mike "Wezo" Wesolowski
> > www.myspace.com/harpwezo
> > www.megatoneamps.com
> > www.bluesworldorder.com
> > 
> >
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