Oso
18 posts
Apr 10, 2011
10:14 AM
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Ok folks, I am getting back to playing the harp and have a question for this forum.
What is the best thing to practice daily?
In my job I can practice a lot thru out the day but only for a short time everyday. I can do this multiple times a day just not for long periods at a time.
I just got a belt pouch to carry my ProMaster in the key of C so I can practice thru out the day. However now that I have access to the harp I am at a loss on what is best to practice? I carry some index cards (I know cheating) with some basic songs on them like "when the saints go marching in" and Adams first lesson cheat sheets. As you can imagine they go by purdy fast and it does not seem like I am getting as much out of it as I thought?
I strive to be a very versitile player in the blues dept. and want to be a very good harp player just not sure what the best things are to practice. I will say that I have the draws down I just cant control them yet? Does that make sense?
I have read and heard Adam talk about being able to draw a note and be able to hear the different pitches as you draw the note more. I can hear it and I can do it just not on command, I have to ease my way down just cant draw to a certain pitch on command?
I hope this is making sense? It seems as though I am starting to ramble so I will let this go and see what kind of response I get.
Thanks for your help in advance!!
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Seven.Oh.Three.
33 posts
Apr 10, 2011
10:37 AM
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Oso, when I started I made a video of Adams lesson (which ever I was working on at the time) to my phone. That way I had a reference. I also carried the tab sheet in my back pocket. Generally I was working on two lessons at a time, one I was just starting out on and another I was comfortable with and trying to get the details.
Scales are always good to be working on, look for Ricci's video on YouTube.
You'll be forced to pick up the techniques through Adams videos (ie bending, double stops, tongue blocking etc) plus you'll learn them in progressive order.
I'm not sure if this helps but it's what worked and continues to work for me.
703
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Oso
19 posts
Apr 10, 2011
12:52 PM
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Thanks for the response 703!! I did try that but on my ITouch, just one of the begining videos of Adams depletes my battery and am only able to watch it in full once?
I will look for for Jasons video, I just figured anything that Jason would have to show me would be waaayy out of my reach at the moment?
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Jehosaphat
43 posts
Apr 10, 2011
10:34 PM
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short bursts of practising can be more productive than long marathons of it..Too much of anything for a long time can get boring..
You sound like your in an ideal situation to make a decision that, eg, today you will just do each step bend on two draw,concentrating on tone,timbre and 'feel'
Next day(or two) do the same on draw three.No speed just quality notes
You could spend weeks on just the above but because you are only doing it for short bursts you won't get frustrated or bored.
Then do the hitting bends on the fly not by bending into them.And moving from(say)2draw full bend to 3 draw half step etc.
Ten sessions of that day will get you a lot further than a 1 hour one.
Plus the bonus is your (presumably) getting paid to practice,doesn't get better than that ;-)
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Oso
21 posts
Apr 11, 2011
6:49 AM
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Thanks for the tips Jehsaphat!! I actually dont get paid by the hour or a salary, I am in sales. So unless I sell something I dont get paid! And in order sell something I need a customer. Whle I wait for a customer, I can practice in-between!!
I will give your idea a shot!!
Thank you for your response.
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