[Harp-L] re: a good musician

[jim.alciere@xxxxxxxxx]

There is nothing wrong with learning riffs and playing music as a hobby. I
believe everyone should play in a garage band, drive across the country in a
junky car, and write a novel.  If you have an aptitude for music, and a real
drive to get better at your instrument  why handicap yourself? Get all the
help you can get. Not only learn the riffs, but learn why the riffs work.

If you know basic music theory and you play a pop tune you'll know you can
switch from 2nd position to 1st position to play the bridge. Once you figure
out how Sonny Terry plays a major pentatonic scale, it doesn't take long to
realize that you can play Allman Brothers music and old Grateful Dead with
the same notes (try playing Dark Star Sonny Terry style--it's fun).  And of
course, if you know the 2nd position major pentatonic, you know how to play
the relative minor scale as well. Bingo, instant 5th position. Knowing
theory allows you to be more flexible and have more fun--you can play more
styles of music, and jam with different bands.

Some of the best harmonica players never learned to read music because they
were bind, because of poverty, lack of education, and segregation not
because they were hip and magically knew what to do.

Hendrix couldn't read music. When Miles wrote a composition with Hendrix in
mind, Jimi couldn't play it. Miles was teaching him how to read music when
Jimi died--way too soon. Think of what jazz would be like today if the two
of them successfully collaborated.

Also, get out and play with other people. Music is a language. It's meant to
be performed. It's the interaction of many people which makes it different
than any other art form I can think of. A good teacher can be an excellent
coach to help you play live.

Rainbow Jimmy
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1372404/dhoozh_chapter_1.html
http://www.myspace.com/theelectricstarlightspaceanimals