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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Harmonica Collective Wrapup
Harmonica Collective Wrapup
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MargieNYC
2 posts
Jun 04, 2014
4:43 AM
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The Harmonica Collective was held last week in Indy, and it was truly inspirational -- the talented "greats" Jason Ricci and Magic Dick, Richard Sleigh, Winslow Yerxa, James Conway, Buzz Krantz, Dan Ridgeway and Deak Harp were all willing to share their love of the instrument, their knowledge, their own fears and their feelings about practice, performing and confidence. I s[peak for me, but I know EVERYONE who attended notched up not only their playing, but their confidence. I remember Jason from Hill Country two years ago -- he gave us raw beginners our first lesson and, for a lack of paper, drew on the side of a cardboard box. I didn't understand a word he said or wrote; but this time, I soaked up every nugget he and Magic Dick and the others offered: it's not about playing a wrong note, it's about groove, it's about taking chances, it's about loving the instrument. It's about REALLY listening -- and not just to harp players but to every kind of instrument. There was one "wow" moment after the next. I have come away with so much enthusiasm and finally, I WANT to practice. I will be writing a story on this and will send the link -- it won't be for a while, though, because will be traveling. AND FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN TRI-STATE AREA:Ronnie Shellist will be at Sam Ash NYC June 24 @4-6 demoing Hohners. Be there.
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barbequebob
2581 posts
Jun 04, 2014
10:09 AM
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Everything you've just learned is what I've been saying for years, but too often a lot of harp players are just too damned hard headed to listen. That advice can help you avoid being just another jam hack harp player no one cares about to becoming a REAL musician whose instrument just happens to be harmonica. Again, everything you've just learned and posted is what I've been saying for YEARS!!!!!
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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Littoral
1086 posts
Jun 04, 2014
10:38 AM
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Bob, understanding what we hear and actually assimilating it is a tall order. The best some teachers can ever conceive to teach is to just show someone or say it in the very best way they can think of. Admirable as that is it falls far short of what is often necessary to learn, especially something difficult.
Last Edited by Littoral on Jun 04, 2014 10:39 AM
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JInx
792 posts
Jun 04, 2014
10:49 AM
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BBQ everyone knows you're the man when it comes to all things music and harmonica, but the "I told you so" thing is really getting old!
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Sun, sun, sun
Burn, burn, burn
Soon, soon, soon
Moon, moon, moon
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The Iceman
1695 posts
Jun 04, 2014
11:09 AM
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BBQ - of course you post good information.
However, very few actually read/apply what they read in discussion groups to its fullest extent.
The most impact is made in live teaching situations, collective, conventions and camps.
(tee hee, Winslow)
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The Iceman
Last Edited by The Iceman on Jun 04, 2014 1:56 PM
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WinslowYerxa
601 posts
Jun 04, 2014
1:31 PM
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Thanks, Iceman. It'a always true that face-to-face, "now YOU try it" is what really brings it home to the learner.
However, I'd like to point out that there is only one Harmonica Collective. Referring to "collectives" like it's a generic term as Iceman has done on a few occasions, when no-one else has used this name or term, is not helpful to our event.
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Winslow
Find out about the 2014 Spring Harmonica Collective!
SPONSORED BY
Lone Wolf Blues Company
Rockin’ Ron’s Music For Less
BlowsMeAway Productions
Slim’s Custom Cases
HarpGear
Seydel & Soehne
X-Reed Harmonicas
MasterHarp tuning tables
Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Jun 04, 2014 1:57 PM
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MargieNYC
3 posts
Jun 04, 2014
7:51 PM
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Yes, there is only ONE Harmonica Collective -- the one Winslow and Jason run, which was in Indy, so we could visit Jason's home turf -- and well worth it! Even got to ride a pacer bike all afternoon before it started and got to St. Elmo's to clear out my sinuses with their spicy shrimp before our conference/jam/university/fun-party began. And, BBQ Bob-- EVERY great harp teacher will tell you "what you've been saying for years," but only when the student is ready, will she/he listen, and only when the teacher is GREAT, do we hear.
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WinslowYerxa
608 posts
Jun 04, 2014
8:15 PM
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Thanks, Margie.
I also want to say that Barbecue is one of the most knowledgeable, on-the-money commentators out there. We've only met once, about 20 years ago, but I remember talking long into the night on that occasion. Since then, my initial impression has only been deepened with every post he makes.
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Winslow
Find out about the 2014 Spring Harmonica Collective!
SPONSORED BY
Lone Wolf Blues Company
Rockin’ Ron’s Music For Less
BlowsMeAway Productions
Slim’s Custom Cases
HarpGear
Seydel & Soehne
X-Reed Harmonicas
MasterHarp tuning tables
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barbequebob
2584 posts
Jun 05, 2014
10:59 AM
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Winslow, that was at the very first House Of Blues in Cambridge, MA, along with my friend and harpman extraurdinaire Pierre Beuaregard, one of the finest diatonic players I've ever met (and I never give out compliments easily) and I remember some bits of that meeting and that's when you introduced me to a Jo Filisko custom with a double reed plate and extremely tight reed slot tolerances, and that thing played amazingly loud and you mentioned don't played that hard at all or you risk blowing that thing out in a NY minute. The notes damned near exploded in my face and I could easily see why you mentioned it and why I would never recommend the average player using one because the average player has a tendency to play far too hard all the time.
That was back at a the time when The House Of Blues was actually a real blues club back then.
Winslow, I never hesitate to tell anyone that yo're one of the most knowledgeable people about the instrument I've ever been in contact with in my life and again, I do not give out compliments easily to anyone.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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WinslowYerxa
613 posts
Jun 05, 2014
4:03 PM
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Yes, I remember that evening in August 1993. Pierre assembled quite a party that included you, Annie Raines, Jimmy Gordon, and many others, all of whom I was meeting for the first time. I arrived fairly late because I was down the Cape with my wife and sister-in-law and couldn't rush their family visit. The next morning I flew off to the SPAH convention in Detroit.
I still have that early double-thick Filisko G-harp. He made those for a few years and then stopped; I think they simply tore up reeds too quickly even in the hands of good players, and were probably a pain to make.
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Winslow
Find out about the 2014 Spring Harmonica Collective!
SPONSORED BY
Lone Wolf Blues Company
Rockin’ Ron’s Music For Less
BlowsMeAway Productions
Slim’s Custom Cases
HarpGear
Seydel & Soehne
X-Reed Harmonicas
MasterHarp tuning tables
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Littoral
1092 posts
Jun 05, 2014
4:28 PM
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PT. Got my first lesson from him in 79. Powerhouse days and lots of CHO fun.
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