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

[John Neff <soulchicken@xxxxxxxx>]

"Yet nowadays, 10 years of him playing in clubs later, he'll still say he knows nothing about theory but he will speak in context using theory terms."
 
This sounds to me like the fact that, even if you know no theory in the beginning, as soon as you start interacting with other musicians in a band context you are almost forced to learn some theory in order to communicate and interact in that setting.
 
I agree that spontanious improvisation is better when the mind is free from overthinking theory, but in the context of playing with others in an organized structure like a band, it is still neccesary to know some basic theory to function. (ie what key, I-IV-V changes in the blues, etc.) So it seems to me that it becomes impossible for a musician to avoid learning any theory unless he spends his entire musical life as a solo player.

 
> Date: Thu, 19 May 2011 11:15:43 -0500
> From: michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> 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 playing
> in clubs later, he'll still say he knows nothing about theory but he
> will 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 fifths
> 1st, 2nd and third positions
> the 12 bar blues progression
> I, 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 is
> in?
> 
> And for those people into theory, what other theory concepts do you
> believe are so crucial that you cannot communicate with other
> musicians or make good note choices without them?
> Thanks in advance,
> Michael Rubin
> Michaelrubinharmonica.com