RE: [Harp-L] What makes a good player?

[paul hoffman <phoff45@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

 Great thoughts in all directions on this topic. I think Scott summed it up quite well. I've met booksmart musicians that could'nt come up with an original idea to save there lives and musicians with less knowledge, tricks, chops etc, that have great sense and creativity. No doubt that a person will benefit from learning all they can but at the end of the day good music moves a person not musical gymnastics.

                       Paul H.
 
> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:50:39 -0800
> From: scojo@xxxxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: [Harp-L] What makes a good player?
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> 
> I profoundly disagree with John's wrap-up statement that "having fun" is all that it takes to make a good player, or even that it belongs on the list.  By that standard, my two-year-old son is a good player (and was good even when he was ten months old).  He enjoys it, and I think he is in fact good for his age.  But I wouldn't book him for a studio session (yet).
>  
> However, there was more than a grain of truth in John's post.  I, too, think that some players get too wrapped up in specific techniques, gear, aspects of theory, what Little Walter would have done etc.  It's not that all of these discussions aren't useful, and obviously the more tools in one's box, the better.  But one can have all of those techniques, volumes of knowledge etc. ... and yet they still sound clinical, joyless, blah.  Are they "good"?  Sure, but only in the sense that one checks off requirements for being "good".  Not in the sense that really matters, where you don't even have to ask yourself... you just know the moment you hear them play.
>  
> I think the Iceman came closest to capturing this idea in his comments about moving an audience emotionally.  But Robert Bonfiglio was right, too... the more you can learn, the better you're going to be.
>  
> SAJ
> --- 
> 
> "Umbrella Man leaves no stone unturned. Scott Albert Johnson's debut mixes blues, rock, folk and jazz, unified by first-rate harmonica playing." (Maureen Palli, Relix)
> 
> MORE INFO: www.scottalbertjohnson.com
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