Re: [Harp-L] accompanying--playing in a band

[Pic2318834@xxxxxxx]

So true.  I find myself as I am sure a lot of you do, saying, oh I can  
play that riff or solo, that's not hard. Or I am better than that.  But  
getting up there and trying it is a whole other story.  I also feel not  just 
listening but timing and keeping in time.  That to me is my  weakness.  I don't 
get to play often with a band so that makes it  harder. 
 
PIC
 
 
In a message dated 11/6/2009 8:48:01 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

"jim.alciere@xxxxxxxxx" wrote:
<Notes are only a small part of  playing.

Listening is the first and most important musical  talent.  Listening is 
where you find out what's good and what's not, and  it's where you interact 
with other musicians.

The biggest difference  between pro and amateur players isn't how well they 
play.  Plenty of  amateurs have technique that's more than good enough to 
get their ideas  across.  The difference is how well they listen--how well 
they put  themselves into the moment and the music, which is all about hearing 
and  responding to the other musicians onstage (and the audience too).

I  have seen an amateur get so wrapped up in his own playing that he 
continued  playing for half a minute after everyone else on stage stopped.  The 
cure  isn't more practice.  It's listening harder.

Thanks and regards,  Richard Hunter


author, "Jazz Harp"
latest mp3s and harmonica  blog at http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp
more mp3s at  http://taxi.com/rhunter
Vids at  http://www.youtube.com/user/lightninrick
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