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