[Harp-L] practice

[karen mass <kdmass7@xxxxxxxxx>]

i was lucky enough to count jerry murad among my family friends.   in his
later years him and his wife alice would spend a week or two staying at my
parent's house in california during the summer.   because of this i got to
see something relevant to this conversation:

jerry had a relationship with his harmonica.  it was his best friend i
think.   no matter where he went in the house there was a harmonica within
arm's reach.  and if he hadn't done anything or spoken to anyone in three
or four minutes, he'd pick up one of his harps and play.  a lot of times
he'd do exercises like playing gallop of the comedians or some other song
in all twelve keys, one after the other. he preferred difficult songs for
that exercise.  sometimes he'd play scales, sometimes songs.  he'd play
single/octave notes in a song in alternating or other patterns.

i think jerry just loved the harmonica and loved the act of playing.    he
wasn't practicing, he was spending time with a dear friend.

perhaps this kind of attitude would help others.

iowaplayer