Subject: [Harp-L] Harp Dream (My answers and take)

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Hi Abner:
 
I wasn't discounting anything John said about the subconscious mind at  
all..he made some excellent points with which I agree absolutely...only I didn't  
think he was aware that you had just begun playing harmonica a couple of months 
 ago while recuperating from neck surgery....and so was addressing only that 
part  of his post about trying to get a specific 'lick' .  
 
The only trouble with keeping a recorder handy, is that under the  
circumstances you describe, your wife probably would have been unable to get to  it to 
depress the button with you parked on her chest as you've said <G>,  and unless 
the microphone was especially good you might very well have been  
disappointed with the playback. 
 
Better that your memory of the event is what you have to go by  ;)    
....although for future practice, recording is definitely  something we all could 
benefit from according to many people here. 
 
I have wanted to suggest...no matter what genre or style you wish to play,  
perhaps acquiring (depending on your budget), some of the Book/CD play  
alongs...either the Hal Leonard (the ones I like best) or Jamey Aebersold.  
 
I don't restrict myself to harmonica books, but get ones for flute,  
saxophone and even piano..since the tracks which leave IN the instrument then  become 
great backing tracks for me to play over. :)  
 
I've found good on-line sites where I've bought (new) book/CD combos for  
Jazz, R&B, Rock and even some Country (I have wide-ranging tastes in  music).  
It's a lot of fun playing along, but I also use my CD collection  of Jazz 
Instrumentals downloaded onto my new Ipod (I've decided to join the 21st  Century) 
as 'backing tracks' as well.  
 
If you're stuck in bed using a lap-top, try playing along with your  server's 
online radio station...or google (or let me know the genre you're  interested 
in and I'll find some for you)...radio stations you can click on to  have 
play all day if you want to play along. 
 
 I'm working up to finally getting ready to videotape myself  
playing...perhaps even on my keyboard which I've never before thought of  doing despite 
having both camcorder and keyboard for umpteen years, and since I  have a Zoom 
recorder too now, might try that as well.   I acquired it to tape other people's 
performances....never thinking of  recording my own.
 
I did get a huge chuckle out of your wanting "to make it as  the first 
sleeping blues player..."
 
You have a whacky sense of humour which I quite enjoy.
 
Elizabeth

Abner writes:
good question, and unfortunately my wife thought I was joking  until I 
started playing facing the corner of the room.  I wish we had some  kind of recorder.
She explains that my music was "melodic" .  When I first  started and did not 
know anything about how to pucker or draw I would just make  noise and listen 
and did what I liked...She called it "melodic" yet not hitting  the single 
notes cleanly.  This so called sleep waking did what I started  just cleaner. I 
not sure if I'm making any sense..
I can tell you know, that since that night hitting the single  notes is now 
an understanding and muscle learning. also since that night I  listen the songs 
and their beats.
Someone wrote on this site about just that... 
listen. 
now I'm understanding....
I'm still wondering how the neck brace fit in all  this..
 
I have always believed in dreams being a strong part of ones  life, its just 
hard to understand them. 
Dream walking or playing or what ever I did was the first for  me. And it 
showed me a lot.
 
I still have a  long journey in front of me and it will  last a life time.
 
abner (Blueyes, still  dreaming  

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