Family Venues for the Harmonica (was Re: [Harp-L] RE: Buckeye Cancelled)

[George Miklas <harmonicat@xxxxxxxxx>]

Bill,

Your post is near and dear to my heart on two counts.

1.) I have started my children playing the harmonica very young.  My
daughter at 11 years old, took off in leaps and bounds.  I fully agree that
we need family-friendly venues to promote harmonica playing to our younger
generations.  Here is are links to some videos of her playing..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YszeIYy23Rw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0f3fVNjRJQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F29Bbn-BYT0


2.)  I play in church.  A.) In my home church, I play diatonic with the
worship team / praise band.  B.) My family also travels to present musical
concerts in other churches...I play chromatic, diatonic, and bass
harmonicas, my wife plays chord harmonica, daughter plays both chromatic and
diatonic, and my son plays polyphonias and other specialty harmonicas like
the Rhythm & Blues, Vinetta, and Chordette 20.

Blessings!
George



On Tue, Apr 19, 2011 at 10:03 AM, Bill Kumpe <bkumpe@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> I have long suggested that the harp community needs to encourage family
> friendly playing opportunities and performance venues if they want to
> attract a new generation of players.  Let me explain my logic.  In order to
> want to play, you have to hear the instrument played and played well.  I
> can't speak for other cities, but here in Tulsa the best harp playing is
> usually heard in venues that are inappropriate for children.  (I frequently
> have a hard time getting my conservative and or/religious ADULT friends to
> attend performances at clubs, bars, etc. No matter who is playing, there is
> just no way are going to amble on down the local biker bar even if Charlie
> Musselwhite is playing.   So, I would suggest the harp community divert
> some
> effort into developing squeaky clean, local, family friendly venues.
> Further, there are not a lot of harp playing opportunities for young harp
> players.  You may have a promising twelve year old kid who could use
> performance experience who would also encourage other young players.  But,
> you certainly aren't going to invite him out to play the weekly jam at
> Bluto's Blue Note Bar and Grill.  You'd be breaking the law by sneaking him
> in and no kids would hear him.  We need places where kids this age can
> mingle, learn and  be mentored by older players.   A lot of kids start
> their
> music career/hobby in church.  But, when was the last time you heard harp
> played in church?  I have heard it once in the past twenty years and then
> it
> was not a particularly good performance.  So, perhaps we need to encourage
> gospel harmonica as well so that venue can open up to young harp players.
>
>
>
>
> Just some thoughts.
>
>
>
> Bill Kumpe
>
> Tulsa, OK
>
>