Re: [Harp-L] does anybody NEED another book on playing Chromatic Harm

[Eugene Ryan <ryan.eugene@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Jon,

I appreciate your witty posts - as to whether we need another chromatic
harmonica book, I think that your argument assumes that you already have
all the tools and knowledge of how to play a musical instrument available
when starting out.  This might have been true for you after a the benefit
of experience of a professional career playing saxophones and other
instruments, but I don't think it holds true for many people.

I think people starting out just don't know what or how to practise.  A
book or teacher could help with this.  We don't need a rehash of what's out
there, but I think we disagree on the value of a good tutor / book.

There are next to no graded repertoire or etudes designed for chromatic
harmonica.  Yes, you can do flute studies like you've done, studies
tailored for each instrument.  But think of any other instrument, you can
go to any music shop, pick up etudes for the instrument, ask for and find a
teacher of that instrument who is expert on that instrument and who can
guide you in a series of exercises of gradually-increasing difficulty.You
can't do that with harmonica, except for a few lucky players.

Yes, you do have to do the work yourself no matter the instrument.  It
takes real determination to do all this on chromatic in the face of
practically no educational material or system. The guys who can really play
after all that adversity, well, I take my hat off to them (I'm trying to
get there too).  Why do you think there are so few? Why do you think that
some of the best players often have had a mentor, family support or a very
strong background on another instrument?  I think it's because they get
started in the right direction a lot sooner than the average unguided chrom
player.

So no, we strictly speaking don't need another chromatic harmonica book,
but a beginning / intermediate player does need a path.

Well, you did ask.

Eugene