[Harp-L] Practice Routines

[Ron Burton]

Yeah..I hear ya Smokey.  Way too bad the environment around here has significantly lost a LOT of opportunities to play.  But I must say, it is a MAJOR loss to music lovers for you to retire from the stage.  One only has to see your YOUTUBE videos to know what I mean.  I still play despite some health issues, mostly in church but I hope the band fires up again in October (tourista season).  Now, truthfully, I play for myself, the pure enjoyment of hitting the note (sometimes LOL).  In fact I have added recently a few tunes on  a Melodica to give the audience a new thrill. It's amazing the number of people who have NEVER seen that instrument.  Practice..yep but minimal.  At 81, I'm going for the comfort now LOLOL.
Ron (west of the 'Glades)

________________________________
From: Harp-L <harp-l-bounces at xxxxx> on behalf of JOSEPH LEONE via Harp-L <harp-l at xxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2025 5:45 PM
To: robert mcgraw <harpbob at xxxxx>; David Fairweather <dmf273 at xxxxx>; harp-l at xxxxx <harp-l at xxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Practice Routines

Didn't really practice till I got out of the navy in 64. Just played. Figured why make it a drudge. Only practiced when I felt like it. Didn't pay attention to how much time. It varied.
So in 64 I joined the Pgh Jazz Society. Used to sit in with local and out of town visiting musicians. That was my practice. And like Bob, would just work on new tunes, polish, correct, etc. Btw, also played clarinet & cornet.

Moved to Fla. in 97, hosted 'the oldest original floating jazz jam' for over 20 yrs. at various supper clubs. That was my practice. Two hurricanes and Covid ripped Ft. Myers and it's beach apart. Finally laid down the harps in 2020. Why keep playing when I have nothing more to say? lolol

smojo

> On 05/18/2025 6:35 AM EDT robert mcgraw <harpbob at xxxxx> wrote:
>
>
> I practice two hours a day, all on chromatic.
> 1/2 hour on technique
> The rest I split between learning new tunes and working to polish/master tunes I already know, or at least sort of know.
> Been working on becoming a better jazz musician for a number of years, and this is how I’ve been practicing.
> Good topic! Thanks David!
> WVa Bob
>
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> ________________________________
> From: Harp-L <harp-l-bounces at xxxxx> on behalf of David Fairweather <dmf273 at xxxxx>
> Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2025 5:08:17 PM
> To: harp-l at xxxxx <harp-l at xxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Practice Routines
>
> Just curious - who has a regular practice routine?   How often and how long
> do you practice.  What do you practice?
>
> Me, I've been practicing about 1-2 hours a day.  Scales, riffs and songs.
>  Mostly using the Barry Harris method as espoused by various YouTubers,
> when I can apply it to harmonica.