Re: [Harp-L] Re: Howard Levy School vs. David Barrett School?

[Bob McGraw <harpbob@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well said...
WVa Bob

Sent from my iPhone

On May 5, 2010, at 10:08 AM, Buddha <groovygypsy@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I think inexperienced players should enroll in both schools.  As you  
> get
> more advanced, I think you really need to get away from ALL harmonica
> players and listen to other musicians to form your own sound.
> I had a close relationship with Howard for many years but I never took
> formal lessons from him. You can't help but learn something from  
> Howard just
> by hanging around him and watching how you do things.  I've only  
> briefly
> checked out Howard's school and while I think any and all players can
> benefit from enrollment, I don't think you will learn the things  
> that Howard
> really has to offer and the things that will really help skyrocket  
> your
> playing.
>
> Both Howard and Dave are great players with a lot to offer but in  
> the end
> all they are really teaching is how to play notes. When I say notes,  
> I'm
> lumping together theory, harmonica and general technique(note  
> production).
> Learning to play notes is one very small part of playing music and  
> to me,
> playing the right note isn't even the most important aspect of playing
> music.  Your audience doesn't care about about notes, what and how  
> you are
> playing, they care about what sounds good and how you make them feel.
>
> I learned more about music from hanging around Howard than I ever  
> learned
> any form of technique. His approach, what he listens to, how hard he  
> works,
> how dedicated he is, his lifestyle, how he lives etc is all far more
> important in terms of getting somewhere with your instrument. Over  
> the years
> I have met other "elite" musicians and I have noticed many  
> similarities.
> Being good at what you do, regardless of whether or not it's the  
> harmonica,
> has more to do with lifestyle than notes.
>
> That's my two cents.