RE: [Harp-L] "I don't feel ready" to join a Jam

[Scott Hicks <dscotthicks@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

When I started playing a couple years ago, I had just picked up a harp to play for just one or two songs with a band I sang in, didn't really know much about it at all. I didn't have designs on being a harp player, just really goofed around a little. About 5 or 6 months later, I was at a really loose open mic and whipped my harp out (I had only one, and I had done very little practicing), and about that time, a real harp player walked in with his own harp mic and a slew of harps. He joined us for an extended jam, then sat down with me afterwards and not only gave me real, honest encouragement, but some real honest advice (about laying back). I began to get more serious about harp after that, and I have never forgotten his advice. I guess my point is, although I didn't play particularly well, I never would have gotten that advice or encouragement if I hadn't gotten up there, "ready or not."

Scott

> On Tue, May 1, 2012 at 7:54 AM, John F. Potts <hvyj@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> > I think the most significant "jam ready" consideration is whether the
> > player hears music in his or her head.  That is, as music is played do they
> > "hear" something they feel they can add to it.  If so, it's just a matter
> > of getting sufficient technical control over the instrument to be able get
> > it to come out of the harp, and jamming is a step in that process.
> >
> > Theory knowledge is a very helpful roadmap to assit the player in finding
> > the notes he/she hears in his/her head. But if the player doesn't have
> > anything in mind they want to play, I think the player will struggle more
> > in a jam setting using purely theory to figure out what to play. In a jam a
> > player has to be able to go with the flow--it's not like playing to a
> > pre-recorded back-up track.
> >
> > I am of the opinion that (assuming a beginning player has at least
> > rudimentary skills) a beginner will learn more in 20 minutes playing live,
> > onstage with other musicians than they will learn in a month of practicing
> > alone at home.
> >
> > FWIW.
> >
> > JP
> >