Re: [Harp-L] read music? NO to potential $

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Reading music on diatonic has gotten me gigs that I wouldn't have landed 
otherwise.

It's unfortunate that the idea of writing transposed parts for harps in 
different keys never took hold like it did for things like Bb and Eb 
saxophones,but learning to transpose isn't as hard as it sounds; there are a few 
nifty tricks that make it much easier, as I discovered when I had to learn the 
music for the musical Big River.

Winslow
 Winslow Yerxa
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




________________________________
From: JWilliam Thompson <landcommentary@xxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sun, January 30, 2011 8:47:35 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] read music? NO

I have to disagree with the chorus of voices advocating reading music
for the diatonic. If you are learning the diatonic, I think it won't
hurt, but it won't help either, because of the tone layout of the
diatonic and the fact that you switch harps when you switch keys.
Diatonic is really an ear player's instrument.

If you are learning harmonica, you probaby have limited time to put
into practicing. There are at least a dozen things that would be a
better use of practice time than learning to read.

In case you are wondering, I do read music (for another instrument).

Bill in DC