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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Year-end review and goals for next year
Year-end review and goals for next year
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mr_so&so
614 posts
Dec 21, 2012
11:32 AM
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It's that time of year for reflecting and planning. What harp-playing-related progress did you make this year and what goals are up next for you in the coming year?
This year I was consciously working on several things:
- Singing and playing, and arranging songs to work in a solo context
- Trying to get more comfortable playing and singing solo in front of others
- Working in a lot more splits and octaves
- Getting a descent warble going
- Getting the 6 OB into reasonable enough shape to work into my playing
- Playing the whole harp in 2nd position (lots of use of 6OB there)
- Building my song repertoire (I was obsessed with Blind Willie Johnson tunes)
- Breaking out of blues/blues scale by playing major key songs in 2nd position (mostly gospel stuff)
I'm happy with my progress on all of these fronts. I keep a journal, just a short note each day about what I was working on. That has been really useful.
As for next year:
- More repertoire building (maybe force myself to learn some classic blues heads and solos?)
- More singing
- Tongue-blocked octaves above hole six
- Get a decent OB harp and keep working in more
- Learn how to work that warble into my playing (I'm crappy at that).
- Work more on other positions, 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 12th
- Do some busking
- Actually play with others once in a while
- Record myself more
- Learn how to use the cool loopers I have
- Start learning to play some guitar in open tunings with slide
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Last Edited by on Dec 21, 2012 11:35 AM
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LittleBubba
262 posts
Dec 21, 2012
12:23 PM
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Don't let Walter Tore see this post! :)
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mr_so&so
616 posts
Dec 21, 2012
2:19 PM
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Walter has no competition from me, if that's what you mean. Spontobeat is a longterm (long off) goal.
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LittleBubba
264 posts
Dec 21, 2012
3:36 PM
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Nah, I was referring to the fact that his approach to harpin' is opposite of the "goal setting" formula. I personally think goal setting is a good way to demand accountability of yourself when you want to progress.
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mr_so&so
617 posts
Dec 21, 2012
5:19 PM
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I suspect Walter set plenty of goals for himself when he was learning. I hope he can comment. What are your goals?
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Last Edited by on Dec 21, 2012 5:22 PM
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Frank
1680 posts
Dec 21, 2012
5:57 PM
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I'm gunna sing a lot more - it gives the harp parts a different perspective when I do, plus singing is another form of exercise for me...How guys and gals do it in smokey bars is beyound me?
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nacoran
6321 posts
Dec 21, 2012
8:14 PM
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Two years ago my goal was to play a 'real' show, something scheduled where we actually got to play a full set. Just before New Year we did that. There was no pay, but we opened for some friends and it went over pretty well. The coffee house owner liked us and wanted us back, and a place where we played open mics regularly offered us a 3-way battle-of-the-bands for a paying gig. Then our guitar player/lead singer got all weird on us and kept leading us on about stuff. We finally got fed up and kicked him out, after waiting 9 months on his bum shoulder to heal (he refused to see a doctor, and we told him we could bring in another guitar player if he'd sing. He just sort of strung us along and we were loyal for a long time.)
Anyway, that splattered the spirit of last years resolution, which was to get a paying gig, although I did get a dollar tip at an open mic, so my goal of 'playing for money' was, by the letter, completed.
The goal for this year is to regroup and get the remains of the band back into playing shape. The bass player and I can both sing a little, but neither of us has our former lead singer's voice. What burns me the most is while he was stringing us along we had a couple opportunities to hook up with another singer, but we didn't, because we thought we had a singer. Anyway, the goal is to regroup, and get that paying gig.
Non-harp goals, I want to knock off another 40 lbs. on my goal to getting back down to the healthy club, and I'm working really hard on some OCD stuff that drives me nuts.
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Gerry
21 posts
Dec 22, 2012
8:30 AM
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Harpwise I've had a good year. I've learned to OB and use them in a melody, although I can't say I've mastered the technique.
And I've used my guitar theory on myself and I think I've developed a good system for practicing positions.
All this year I haven't "practiced" as such, but my job allows me to noodle about with a harp most days. I'm thinking a bit of regimented practice will pay dividends.
Gearwise I shall get a cheap mic to go with my Microcube so I can record myself. Money will be tight this year but I need at least 2 new harps. And I'm fighting the temptation for a SUB30.
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Hobostubs Ashlock
1985 posts
Dec 23, 2012
5:18 AM
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Im working lessons on a Dvd playing Delta guitar,finger picked open and standard tunings,some slide but not allways.
My goal is to learn to alternate pick bass notes with thumb and melody notes with fingers at the same time and learning different grooves,(not a easy task).
I want to work up a few standards of Delta tunes
I want to have a few tunes worked out in open D or G so that i can have some material to do when on my resonator guitar or cigarbox guitar,(most times i have them tuned to open tunings,But i dont know alot of songs in open tunings yet.
Build and sell more CBG's
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Hobostubs
Last Edited by on Dec 23, 2012 5:20 AM
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Michael Rubin
705 posts
Dec 23, 2012
7:28 AM
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This year I got real obsessed with 100% tangue blocking. I also got into transcribing Gary Primich's entire Travelling Mood album as well as performed two of his chromatic instrumentals at a tribute. I also transcribed the entire song Victory in Jesus by Mike Caldwell. When I say I transcribed, I mean I could play it up to speed as well as written down the notes and timing.
Two of my bands recorded CDs. We'll see how long it takes to actually produce the finished products. I also did session work for a lot of bands, some who had me on the entire album. I did my first Theremin session.
I got hired to teach every Saturday at a resort hotel. Hopefully it keeps going, the money is good but sometimes not a lot of guests sign up. I also continued to teach an Informal class at UT and my private students. I put out a lot of Meat and Potatoes videos but slowed way down, I don't feel inspired to do them lately.
Next year my vision is improving my bass harp playing. I am working on sight reading bass clef. I am pooling my holiday money together for a nice bass amp that George Miklas says is the way to go. I have been the bass player for a band on harp for 2 years now and we are about to record a CD, I want to sound a lot better.
I also started singing lessons this year, I intend to keep it up, write a bunch of tunes and put out my own blues CD within the next few years.
Also, there was discussion at SPAH of putting together a for SPAH only band with me on harmonetta, of course we would have to practice hard in different cities for the next 8 months for it to come together.
And for me, I go where the wind blows. Wherever my harmonica and music interest feels like, that is what I will practice. It is exciting not knowing what the year holds.
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robbert
182 posts
Dec 23, 2012
8:00 AM
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2013 goals?
I'm trying to get harps I love to play, by working on them myself, or getting customized ones, whenever budget allows.
Get some low range harps, as part of a strategy to become a more effective back-up player.
Persist in grasping and utilizing position playing beyond 1st, 2ond, 3rd. to increase versatility.
Get back to work on "C" chromatic to expanding the number of keys I feel comfortable playing.
Continue to play locally in my current three bands, polishing my own musicianship, and focusing on the ensemble work, with an eye to increasing professionalism.
Longer term goals:
learn to play solo, as a singer and harp-man, or front a band.
Vastly increase music reading skills.
Even though I'm passionate about playing music, and performing live with my musical associates and friends, it's still a lot of fun for me. All these goals are ones that I've been working slowly towards for years, as I guess we all do. A lot of short term goals crop along the way, as my understanding of the art, craft, and practice of music and of being a harp player evolves.
Best wishes to everyone this coming year with all your music/harp explorations!
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robbert
183 posts
Dec 23, 2012
8:00 AM
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2013 goals?
I'm trying to get harps I love to play, by working on them myself, or getting customized ones, whenever budget allows.
Get some low range harps, as part of a strategy to become a more effective back-up player.
Persist in grasping and utilizing position playing beyond 1st, 2ond, 3rd. to increase versatility.
Get back to work on "C" chromatic to expanding the number of keys I feel comfortable playing.
Continue to play locally in my current three bands, polishing my own musicianship, and focusing on the ensemble work, with an eye to increasing professionalism.
Longer term goals:
learn to play solo, as a singer and harp-man, or front a band.
Vastly increase music reading skills.
Even though I'm passionate about playing music, and performing live with my musical associates and friends, it's still a lot of fun for me. All these goals are ones that I've been working slowly towards for years, as I guess we all do. A lot of short term goals crop along the way, as my understanding of the art, craft, and practice of music and of being a harp player evolves.
Best wishes to everyone this coming year with all your music/harp explorations!
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mr_so&so
618 posts
Dec 23, 2012
8:51 AM
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Thanks guys. It's interesting to see where everyone is on their harp/blues journey, and that it is a journey for everyone, even pros like Michael and accomplished players like Frank. Hobostubbs, I've enjoyed following your progress, especially, on this forum.
It's good to look back and see that we have been moving along, to take a moment to see where we are, and to anticipate where the next step might take us.
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mr_so&so
621 posts
Dec 28, 2012
10:55 AM
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Getting closer to the new year. Anybody else want to put some harp resolutions out there?
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2chops
102 posts
Dec 28, 2012
11:10 AM
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Planning on working more diligently on 3rd pos. I do some now, but I want to up my game. Also making more effort to learn theory and how to incorporate it into my performances.
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I'm workin on it. I'm workin on it.
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