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

[philharpn@xxxxxxx]

Mike raised the issue of basic music theory. He did not mention the 
dread topic of READING MUSIC.
(708 words-if you're counting)

There are several levels of reading music -- but they are frequently 
lumped together. People who read music usually fall into the following 
categories, any of which is better than not reading at all. Not because 
it makes you a better person, but because it saves time.

This includes the ability to:
1. read the music (know what the notes are),
2. play the notation (know where to sound the notes on an instrument 
(linking C musical staff with Blow 1 on C harp)
3 sight read (play music notation off staff at performance speed) -- 
all ability for interpretation/expression (and no doubt improvisation) 
is lost. NOT.
4. connect the keyboard to music notation (the piano is the perfect 
graphic representation of how music is set up.)

There was a time when musicians had to make the choice between 
classical and pop. Pick one. Not both. Nowadays, kids come out of music 
school  (trade school, conservatory, university) proficient at both.

I find the ability to read music -- (sorry, I wanted & took piano 
lessons for 5 years as a kid) -- to be an advantage when switching 
between harmonica, piano, guitar, ukulele because it is a universal 
language.

However,  knowing how to play the piano will not TELL me where to play 
the notes on the harmonica or guitar -- I will have to figure it out or 
use a chart until I learn (own) the information. But at least I have a 
starting point.

The combination of knowing the harmonica note layout and the ability to 
read music tells me at a glance when I look at a sheet of music whether 
it is playable on a 10-hole harp with/without bent notes, requires a 
SlideHarp (Richter-tuned button chromatic), Hohner XB-40, half-valved 
Suzuki or half-vaved Seydel.

Pick your genre -- there is sheet music and lead sheets out there 
galore -- classical, pop, blues, country whatever. And if you can't 
find it, you need a better search engine.

Also, a small amount of piano information (training) can go a long way: 
the ability to read a treble staff Every Good Boy Does Fine for 5 
lines; FACE for 4 spaces between lines -- will help your harp playing 
because you can SEE scales (modes, blues scales etc) and chords and 
spell them C chord (C E G), C7 (C E G Bb).

And if you are a great ear player, you're in a better position because 
you can now SEE what you are playing.

There are certainly many pro harp players who don't read at all-- but 
they certainly know most of the theory Mike listed. And they can 
probably play anything Mike could think up. They may know the Bb is a 
minor third on a C harp in crossharp, or the Bb is the flat 7 on C 
chord (subdominant) or they may just know those sounds as the first 
bend on draw 3.

David Barrett has more than 60 book/CD sets, most of them published 
through Mel Bay in one of the most comprehensive collection of learning 
tools available today. Find a music store, you can find his stuff. 
David started out with an Associate's Degree in music,  as I recall 
from my early work of 17 years with American Harmonica Newsletter 
(later Newsmagazine). He not only understood the theory but the 
practical experience and since he had both he was in a great position 
to launch his career. And understand and explain what he was playing so 
that both musicians and aspiring musicians could understand.

I've always regretted I didn't live close enough to David's California 
location (4 day drive from Michigan) to take his complete course of 
study.

What's next? Want to learn fast? Get that harp tab under control. Run 
into a plateau after a few months? Get somebody to show you how to read 
keyboard so you can pick up new tunes faster.

The short answer to the question: Are there pro harp players who do not 
know theory?  They KNOW it they just don't know that they know it.
Remember, the first step in learning is confusion.

Hope this helps
Phil