Re: [Harp-L] Are there pro harp players who do not know theory?

[philharpn@xxxxxxx]

For bending notes on pitch, one of the most important things to 
understand is that the cheap $50 electronic keyboard is key to locating 
and matching bent notes.  This gets the right note on the right pitch 
every time*.



If you can already bend to pitch, disregard the rest of this.

The C harp is the easiest example -- but the relationship is true for 
all keys.

On the C harp, Blow 1 is C; Draw 1 is D. Find the C on the keyboard 
(white key to left of double black keys) The bent note on Draw 1 is the 
black key (C#/Db--same key has 2 names). Blow Hole 2  is E, Draw Hole 2 
is G: (E is to right of two black keyboard keys) and G is to right of 
first of three black keys. Bent notes on Draw 2 are notes between 
descending-- F#, F.

The bent notes are the notes on the keyboard (and harp) between the 
blow and draw reeds. Same is true for 3Draw, 4 Draw and 6 Draw. It is 
NOT true for 5 Draw because there are no notes between E & F (check the 
two adjacent piano white keys).

Blow bends work the same way. Same idea.

*And after you get done learning your bent notes, you can use the 
keyboard to work out licks that have a lot of  bent notes on them.

And remember, music is not any more complicated than 3rd grade math.(MP 
said that!)

hope this helps
Phil



-----Original Message-----
From: michael rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thu, May 19, 2011 12:15 pm
Subject: [Harp-L] Are there pro harp players who do not know theory?


As you guys probably have figured out, I am a big believer in what I  
consider to be very basic music theory as important to reaching high 
levels of playing.  Every now and then I teach a student who wants 
nothing to do with it and we reach a type of compromise with the lesson 
plans.I have worked with a student for three years who is now a fairly 
famous harp player.  He was not into theory and we spent lots of time 
with him imitating me by ear.  Yet nowadays, 10 years of him playingin 
clubs later, he'll still say he knows nothing about theory but hewill 
speak in context using theory terms. Are there any pros on the list who 
really can honestly say they do not know what I am talking about when I 
say: Major scale Blues Scale Minor flat 3rds the circle of fifths1st, 
2nd and third positionsthe 12 bar blues progressionI, IV , V chords 
half steps and whole steps. If so, what type of music do you play?  How 
do you think about what you are doing?  Is there any kind of music you 
have a difficult time playing?  How do you find which harp to play for 
the key the band isin?And for those people into theory, what other 
theory concepts do youbelieve are so crucial that you cannot 
communicate with othermusicians or make good note choices without them? 
Thanks in advance, MichaelRubinMichaelrubinharmonica.com