Re: [Harp-L] Re: SPAH convention and Jon Gindick's Jamp Camp

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Jon's camp is about one thing - teaching and learning from beginner to roughly intermediate level. And Jon does that very, very well. I've taught there a couple of times and enjoyed the experience immensely - Jon really delivers the goods.

The SPAH Convention, on the other hand, is whatever you want to make of it - it's a huge, rich bazaar of *everything* related to the harmonica.

If comb tests sound like a dull subject, don't bother with that. You've got tons of other choices during that same time period. You could: 

- Go to a different seminar scheduled at the same time.

- Visit the vendors and see the cool new harps and talk directly to the manufacturer, or try out an amp or microphone

- Participate (or just hang out and absorb) in a hallway jam for blues, or bluegrass, or jazz or just playing melody on the oldies.

- Get a one-on-one lesson at the teach-in, or informally from someone who you happen to meet.

Additionally, each night there are concerts, often involving the best in the world on a particular type of instrument and/or in a particular style. And those same stellar players are there during the day, hanging out and jamming, and are approachable if you want to ask them a question.

Admittedly, this could be overwhelming. But it's an amazingly rich set of possibilities, and the choices among them are entirely yours. 

If Jon's Jam Camp appeals to you, do it; you won't be sorry. Once you've gotten your sea legs a bit, you may feel more ready for the amazing variety that the SPAH convention has to offer.

By the way, I should point out that SPAH is not just an event. It's a club that you join, with a quarterly magazine, and it's yet one more way of connecting with other harmonica players worldwide.

Winslow Yerxa
Entertainment Director, SPAH
Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
Harmonica instructor, The Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance
Resident expert, bluesharmonica.com
Columnist, harmonicasessions.com

--- On Mon, 9/6/10, Tim Bete <tim@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

From: Tim Bete <tim@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: SPAH convention
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Monday, September 6, 2010, 3:17 AM

I've never been to SPAH but the sales info I've read makes it sound like a huge convention that would be intimidating the new, casual player. 
I think Jon Gindick is on the right track with his Jam Camps. Jon is getting people who have never played before to spend a grand to come to his camps. I think he's successful partly  because of how he describes the experience:
"A Limited Enrollment 5 Day Jamming and Learning Vacation...with a Focus on You"
"the Fundamentals of Blues and the Joys of Jamming"
"We love all levels of harmonica players. Raw Beginners: we have a strong program for you.. Including preseminar phone lesson. Advanced and intermediates: no worries, we offer separate classes on separate levels."
"Let Jon Gindick and some of the world's most talented player/ coaches help you go there and beyond."
I realize Jon's program has a narrower focus than SPAH but I think he's on to something. Jon's all about enjoying playing TODAY, even if it's the first time you've picked up a harp. People want immediate gratification and Jon delivers that combined with a long-term focus. When I hear about things like comb tests, it makes me think of high school science class, which doesn't conjure up memories of "fun." ;-)
I haven't been to Jon's Jam Camp yet but I'm saving my money. For me, the description of SPAH just isn't the same.
Tim