Re: [Harp-L] Innapropriate harmonica

[Grant Dermody <gdermody@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi all,

I don't chime in often but here goes.

A concert, or gig, is a performance by the musicians for the audience. 
It isn't a participatory event. It also is not a practice opportunity.
There may be times when the band asks the audience to sing along. That same invitation is not extended to you and your instrument.

Piano players don't bring portable pianos to somebody else's gig and play along from the audience. Guitarists don't strum quietly in the back of the room. Sax players don't play along at a jazz gig. Because our instrument is more portable, it doesn't give us the right to bring it out whenever we please.

Playing along, uninvited, off stage, and inflicting your musical ideas, regardless of how articulately, to one's fellow audience, and the band, is both selfish and clueless. It is a major reason why, we, as harmonica players, tend to have a bad rep among the rest of the music world, as well as among ourselves.


Real musicians, real players, don't gus. They know how to listen to and enjoy, and learn from, performing musicians, while showing some respect for themselves, and everyone else, and keeping their harp in the case.

all the best

Grant Dermody



________________________________
 From: Jim Rumbaugh <jrumbaug@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Jeremy Bustillos <jbustillos@xxxxxxxxx>; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Sunday, November 4, 2012 11:03 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Innapropriate harmonica
 
I admit the concept of "gussing" is something I have learned here at the Harp-L. I admit that I am inclined to pull out a harp and play along, though I can't remember when.

"Gussing" is what we do and how we learn at The Harmonica Club of Huntington, but then, that's what the club is for. Our sessions are NOT like a Joe Filisko circle jam where everyone is quite until their turn.

People sing along with the band, why can't you "play along"??

I do see where even singing along with the band could be wrong.  I do believe anything that is distracting from the performance and lessens the enjoyment of the audiance is "rude", as another poster said.

Perhaps, what I really think is, "anything in moderation is OK, even playing the harp".

Jim Rumbaugh
The Harmonica Club of Huntington, WV
Where everone Gusses for 7pm to 9pm to every tune every Tuesday Night