Re: [Harp-L] positions you can use on diatonic

[The Iceman <icemanle@xxxxxxx>]

<<telling people you don't play notes anymore is confusing. It may have 
a metaphorical meaning, but in literal terms, it just makes people who are still 
learning about music wonder what in the hell is going on. >>

since you quoted my posting, I assume the above sentence is referring to me?


I've never said I don't play notes anymore.






-----Original Message-----
From: Jp PagÃn <jplpagan@xxxxxxx>
To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Fri, Mar 30, 2012 8:54 pm
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] positions you can use on diatonic


--- In harp-l-archives@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, The Iceman <icemanle@...> wrote:
>
> seriously now, folks, one need not orient himself to harmonica using 
"position" at all. (I actually had a ball teaching Sunny Girl harmonica without 
ever talking positions, so one can skip this aspect completely and still end up 
with an amazing result - we were talking notes).
> 
> If anyone insists that you must label your orientation on the harmonica as a 
"position", that seems to enter the realm of conceptual intellectual debate 
which may be one step removed from playin' da music.
> 

I, for one, wouldn't insist on anyone labeling anything. But it happens to be a 
useful concept just like note names are. You don't need them, they areâas you 
put itâone step removed from playing the music, but note names are useful. And 
similarly, telling people you don't play notes anymore is confusing. It may have 
a metaphorical meaning, but in literal terms, it just makes people who are still 
learning about music wonder what in the hell is going on. We're not all 
professionals yet, but for many, having handy concepts like keys and note names 
and yes, positions, help you get there.*

--Jp

*and for record, when I say "positions" I am not talking about playing 
pre-defined patterns or styles of music, and I am most definitely NOT talking 
about modes. It's just knowing that playing in A on a C harmonica is 
mechanically nearly the same as playing in F# on an A harmonica. Nothing more.