Re: [Harp-L] Working on groove

[John Jordan <hooktool@xxxxxxxxx>]

That was no waste of two minutes, it was quite helpful. I teach woodturning
for a living, and basically give the same advice that you just did-over and
over and over again. As a recently returning, intermediate harp player
trying to get better, its good to be reminded that I already know the
answer-"get (more) better".  LOL

John


On Fri, Aug 30, 2013 at 6:37 PM, JON KIP <jonkip@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
> > Often the technical difficulties of playing the harp get
> > muck up the execution of my groove despite my feeling for the groove
> being
> > good. So, how does one work the execution?
> >
> > MusiCal
>
> the simple answer to "how does one work the execution?" is : Get Better.
>
> A more useful, but still not magic, answer is to ...oh, yeah, never mind,
>  it's the same, but more: "Get (more) Better"
>
> You want to have Reserve Skills. That means that if you have skills that
> are WAY more than you need, then playing anything below that level is a
> piece of cake, and for that stuff, you have room to relax and add
> musicality. A Plus, in my book. You're not "just hanging on for dear life",
> you're letting the music happen...
>
> And the goal becomes to play the music, rather than playing the harmonica.
>
> By definition, It's hard to play just past your comfort zone, on any
> instrument. You just have to work every day to push that to new levels....
>
> So,  you gradually find more and more difficult passages to really learn,
> and gradually, what used to push your limits, won't, and you'll set a
> higher bar. Then you can relax, groove intact, and make music.
>
> The chromatic machine can be studied just like the expensive instruments,
> and the learning techniques apply just the same. There are a few physical
> differences, but mostly the learning techniques are the same.
>
> But I think most chromatic players skip that part, enjoying the immediate
> fun times. And, if it fits your goals, that's just fine. One can have great
> fun at many skill levels.
>
> On the other hand.... It's a really good feeling to look at a passage and
> say "that USED to be difficult for me, I can't for the life of me, remember
> just WHY".
>
> Chromatic Harmonica is easy to dabble on, but really difficult to achieve
> the levels of skill that Players of "Regular" instruments can achieve.
> There are hundreds, if not thousands, of clarinet players able to do great
> things with (and, at times, against)  Mozart, but a much smaller group of
> Outstanding Chromatic Harmonica players able to raise The Bar.
>
> It's not easy. But it's the musician's job to make it sound easy....
>
> kind of a fun process, for me, anyway.... I'm a late starter on harmonica,
> and have never had so much fun.
>
> HINT: Being retired with time really helps.
>
> ok, I"m done.... that's about two minutes of your lives you'll never get
> back...
> jk
>
> http://jonkip.com
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