Re: [Harp-L] Whistle it, play it

[Ray Beltran <raybluemax@xxxxxxxxx>]

This has been my experience, and it is what I teach my students. 

The physical manifestation of musical thought, idea or expression can be exercised by grunting, moaning, humming, or in my case, whistling. You don't need an instrument to exercise that part of your musicality.

I've loved to whistle tunes since I was a kid. And what it's done for me is to exercise my musical creativity anywhere, anytime, always.

Once you've learned the mechanics of an instrument, the skill of playing it, then you marry the two. It doesn't always sound so great at first. Remeber it took a while to learn to speak correctly in order to communicate verbal ideas.

Once the connection is made, it begins to flow from the instrument.

Perhaps the subject of "I think diatonically" is an offramp discussion here. I seem to recall those postings several years ago perhaps?

Anyway, whistling, preferred, yes.
Ray.



On WednesdaySep 4, 13, at 8:58 AM, harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> As a youth I learned to whistle simple tunes to people singing and music on the radio. At the age of twelve I got my first Marine Band in C. I was eventually able to play almost any song I could whistle, disregarding bends, flats and sharps. <br/><br/>As I added to my MB all-keys arsenal my accuracy became much better until I was able to play almost every song I whistled. Sans switching keys within a song. I always played first position. <br/><br/>Charley McCoy became my favorite player but I really never "got" how he played notes unavailable on my harmonicas.  Years of frustration passed before I learned about positions     and new doors opened for me. I am enjoying these position challenges and am diving into uncharted waters with renewed interest and hopefully expanded talents. <br/><br/>Only time, and my wife's patience, will determine my pinnacle. <br/><br/>Whistling is my learning preference. <br/><br/>Lockjaw Larry<br/>Renewing techniques
> daily<br/><br/><br/><br/>