Before the discussions start about how we can improve things for HPC4, it would be good to know why some of the members didn't take part in any of the previous challenges.
That way maybe we could take the reasons into account and make future events more popular amongst the forum membership.
For me it's just simply a case that I have no desire to enter any musical competition or "challenge". Music for me is a way to express myself via a positive outlet.
So what could be done to make you want to participate? How could the format be changed?
It isn't really a challenge against others, it's a challenge to ourselves. I'd love to hear what you play like but there's little chance of me attending one of your gigis. ----------
Last Edited by on Feb 09, 2010 6:27 AM
For me nothing could entice me to enter. This kind of thing by it's very nature means that people are judged against each other. Which for me is not the point of playing music. I fully understand that some people really enjoy this aspect of it and the perceived thrill of the competition. It's just not for me that's all.
As for hearing me play. You can always listen to my YouTube Channel BbMarineBand
I'm also on another persons channel filmed at various jam sessions. Storemanbst
Like Kingley, I'm just not interested in entering into a musical challenge, whether it's against other people or myself. I have enough challenges in my life right now!
I didn't vote either, but I did enjoy many of the videos a great deal.
Ditto Kingley, sort of. I hesistatingly let tooka put an in-retrospect horrible video of me doing a total improv jam as my entry, just to show what I was up to at that particular moment, but I'm not one to compete musically. If i was serious, I would have rehearsed something or played something I've done hundreds of times. However, as a community, it is nice to put faces with names and see what we all bring to the table. I also have noticed marked progress in some of the 'new' players by watching their older and new vids.
I'd like to see Kingly and others do their thing, but not to judge them. They might do something I want to learn, or may possibly be making a mistake I can help with, not that I'm a know-it-all by any stretch, but that's what a 'community' should be all about, in my opinion. ---------- Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Last Edited by on Feb 09, 2010 6:37 AM
I also learned that my 'video'equipment(which consists of my outdated still camera in video mode) is horribly inadequate... ---------- Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Last Edited by on Feb 09, 2010 6:45 AM
1. Glossophobia: Wasn't able to take that next step and post anything yet (came close this time).
2. Time: Been overwhelmed with weather related repairs to some of our rental properties since the first of the year. Also started homeschooling our oldest in January.
3. Timing: Took a self-imposed break from the forum (unrelated to the above) that coincided with the HPC3 deadline.
Hopefully I can talk myself into HPC4. ---------- Ozark Rich
I feel the same way as Kingley. Besides, I hate seeing myself on video. I'm not afraid to play to a bar full of people,but that camera gets me all flustered.
Ditto that, Tuckster. I felt like I was in a criminal lineup turning a camera on myself. Very awkward. I'm totally at ease on a stage. ---------- Todd L. Greene, V.P.
I got into such a lather trying to perfect my recording - I did dozens of takes - that I effectively 'unlearnt' the piece in the process. It's hard to explain what I mean, but, I suppose it's a bit like saying a word over and over until it doesn't make sense anymore.
I'll be in HPC4, but I'll do what Todd did, which is what I did last time: virtually no preparation. ---------- YouTube SlimHarpMick
1. I don't own a video camera and am currently entirely clueless about uploading videos to YouTube. I've never done it before. This can, of course, be fixed by next time.
2. I only started participating here recently, and I've only been playing for a year. This will not be an issue next time.
3. I am a bit apprehensive (perhaps unreasonably) about copyright issues--I don't fully understand the implications of performing a cover song on YouTube.
I'm not really into the competition thing either--however, I think I'd like to participate in HPC4 anyway just as a way to push myself to improve.
i had a canker soar for a month so i could practice or record a video. so i uploaded a random recording. if you can make sure i never get a canker soar again that would be great. thanks. ----------
I haven't done it in the past as I'm not into the competition thing either.
I DID do it this time because I didn't look at it as competition. I used it for motivation to practice a song (not the one I posted) and to get some feedback from other harp players. As we have discussed, people in general don't know good playing when they hear it (or don't hear it as in Roger D at the Super Bowl.) Also I did it as practice for performing. Although not in front of people live, it is different playing with the camera on knowing lots of people may see it.
My suggestions for the future challanges would be to have a theme such as everyone do a song by Little Walter or Sonny Boy 2 (not all the same.) Or do one where you HAVE to sing or a one man band edition or chromatic playing or requirements to play certain positions. Basically making it a learning experience or motivation to practice different things.
Well, there's shyness & lack if material but that's not the main reason.
My comp (os x) died not two weeks before the HPC3 due date. I got a brand new comp (win 7) the day before HPC3 but didn't have time to get familiar with the webcam before HPC3.
Actually Im still not. I was going to make a post asking if there were any windows users with built in webcams & what software they use for recording webcam video/audio. I'm too used to os x, lol. Any suggestions for webcam recording software? ---------- ~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
I worked on something, but with my recording set up I wasn't able to get anything that sounded good. I'd hoped to have that fixed by submission time. (I did submit my crazy electronic sounding thing the day before, but only as an audio clip. It was way outside the rules.) I think maybe some different categories based on backing tracks, singing, loop pedals, post effects, might open the field up a bit.
I only have a digital camera. I can only take short video clips with it. I don't know the first thing about videos on computer.
Looking at the comments above- Would breaking it into a 'showcase' and a contest help? I'm not sure on the copyright issue, but I think you are OK for non-commercial uses.
I'd also love the chance to try some collaborations. I know there is a service called Indaba that has some online collaboration tools.
I'm far too a new harp player to participate this time round, however next year, if i get a bit more practicing, then i'll join in.
With entering, i wouldn't look at it as a competition ( especially as everyone is a different stages and abilities ), but more of a chance for people to comment on my effort, and give feedback, whether positive or negative, as this can only help in future playing.
I'm guessing now i've said this, you lot will hold me to entering next year .. and i have a feeling 'Oh Suzannah' wont quite cut it :o)
I did start watching the vids, and was going to vote, but then the pc broke and it all went a bit wrong.
I tried to do it as a lark at the last minute. When midnite hit and I still couldn't get the video compiled I said, "next time". So let's say poor planning kept my entry out.
here's reasons to participate. 1) learn a new skill. I never did a video before 2) learn how you sound. I have a tendancy to miss the beat. 3) learn how you perform. Some of my "moves" are jerky. The truth is, if you don't move smooth to your own music, why do think others will?? 4) It gives everbody a yardstick of where they are as player. I have been playing over 8 years. After watching the HPC3 videos, I'm good enough. There are those that are better, and there are those that are still learning. 5) now I have a face to connect with the names I see on this board. Now I feel closer to everyone here.
As far as equipment.... I am still impressed by the entry done with a cell phone video. My hat is off to you.
I had intentions of entering but, my free time got used up on other priorities in the past 5 months. We moved from Florida to Virginia in August and it's been a blur since then with the job, keeping my 2 grown (?) kids straight, getting my chops back together,(took a years and a half or so off before moving due to priorities)and putting a band back together. Took a bit of work to get back up with old music buddies (I'd been away 6 years) but, things are on track now. I've gotten some new gear, and going in new directions with my music. Done a few jams and a house party over the past few months and things are looking fine for my participation in the next challenge.
Incidently, I feel that since there are no awards for the events (which is fine) the constructive criticism one receives is the biggest benifit. That being the case, the entry rules should be pretty relaxed as far as playing style, singing, Loops, Backup, etc., IMO.
I hoped to, but although some of ya'll have called me on this in the past I'll still stick to my time constraints of my job and commute. I actually bought a web camera at least 9 months ago. It is still in the box and never been installed. I'm no techno-phobe as I make my living as an application analyst an bet I could figure whatever I needed to figure out fairly quickly. That said it has not been done due to my prioritization of other things to do with my time.
On another note I am a bit intimidated by my skill level. I consider myself a vocalist who owns and attempts to play harmonica. I've been working on 6 songs, but my focus is on the vocal part of the songs despite the fact that all of them have harmonica in them. I've been told I am an intermediate. Hmmmmm. Maybe - maybe not. I surely enjoyed watching the videos of everyone else and wonder what would transpire on a good day in front of a webcam for myself. Perhaps I will take part in HP4, but definitely would be more inclined if vocals were allowed.
There were a lot of reasons why I didn't participate. I will elaborate; For instance, I had a lot of problems with time management. I am a young handsome student in the prime of my life. Due to these time constraints I couldn’t get as much practice as I wanted. I was also waiting for my custom harp to arrive. I’ve also been having personal problems. With my cat. First off, she bosses me around. She doesn’t look at me the way she use to – now it’s a look filled with disgust and remorse. She’s aged, and not well I might add. Her hair is falling out, and she’s always whining. She spends hours cleaning herself and getting ready for a day that is pointless anyway. Her standards have gotten higher, too. She is too ‘classy’ for second-hand clothing. She’s too ‘proud’ for food stamps – it’s so bad that she turns her nose to cheap food. I’m forced to buy the stuff that costs 12.49 $ (before taxes) per 3.5 lb bag. To top it all off, she’s gotten agitated and attention-deprived and sits right in the middle of a newspaper AS I read it. I often wonder why I just didn’t get a girlfriend if I felt like putting up with such a hassle.
I begin to notice some oddities. Her mood would swing wildly, her voice would show signs of fatigue, she didn’t enjoy getting up any longer, her appetite increased ten-fold -- which I decided was the reason her belly bulging was not abnormal, however disgusting it was.
“More tea, please”, I asked Simone, my neighbor. She is a great person to talk to, and a great advice-giver to top it off. She quietly sat on her retro reddish-brown leather couch. Listened to my concerns and the list of changes I’ve noticed. “I can’t be certain, but I think she’s pregnant”, she finally said after a moment of thought. “To be sure the key is (Pinking) -- that’s when her nipples swell and get rosier”
On guard, I slowly sacrificed sleep to keep close, but distant watch of her. I noticed, as she became convinced I was asleep her mood would shift and then I would not see her again for the rest of the night, as if she had been waiting for me to sleep. As a result of these suspicious activities I decided to go a step further and stalk her for a night.
She’s becoming aware of my state of consciousness. She’s getting convinced. She took the bait, thinking I was asleep she carefully walked out of the house. I followed her. Moments into the pursuit and after I had hated myself for doing such a distrustful and dishonest thing – I saw it. I saw her. I saw her with another. He was a Norwegian Forest cat, and he was mounting her like he had diabetese and this was the only known way to acquire the much needed insulin.
“YOU BROUGHT ME SHAME!” I screamed. “Purr?” She replied. I hollered, “Don’t give me that! Don’t! I’m not in the mood for it!”
I tried to hold back my tears. My inner monologue was explaining, “Don’t let her see you cry, ol’ boy.” And so I turned away, I turned away from her and gave her my back. It allowed for a more appropriate moment to wipe my tears. Without even dignifying her by facing her I said “It’s over. You brought me shame. From this moment on, I have no cat.” “M-Meow?” She tried to comfort me. She was good at that. “Meo – “, I interrupted her, “You’re a whore!” I couldn’t help it. I held her one last time and I whispered in her ear “I know what you did… and you broke my heart” Grasping her little face in my palms, I whispered again, with contempt. “You broke my heart.”
She called for me as I walked away. She was oblivious to the tears that trickled down my cheeks, oblivious to the torment that had brewed within my heart at that moment, oblivious to the fact that I was a man that had been broken, broken beyond repair. For even the soft touch of her warm and fluffy paw would no longer resuscitate the love that no longer traversed through all the right organs… I was betrayed, by a hooker.
My wounds have yet to heal. I have no doubt, however, that time will play an important part in the healing process and allow me to enter HPC4. Thank you. Jah bless.
Not my kind of thing. I am a non competitive person. I just don't like to compete. Therefore I play for myself. For the sheer enjoyment of playing. I don't feel like busting ass to hone my skills to play so that I can be judged. Yes, it could be a learning experienced, but as of yet, I don't know that it would teach me what I want to learn. I thought of posting video of me playing, what I usually play and in the conditions I usually play in but it would violate most of the rules. i.e. no singing, no other musicians. But I don't need a HPC3 or 4 to do that. Maybe if there was a prize like: the person that could use it most gets a free lesson or something like that, I might participate. But then I did participate. I watched the videos, learned from them and I voted. I like the contest but would rather be voting participant rather than a posting participant. ---------- The Art Teacher Formally Known As scstrickland
Carrie Fisher: You miserable slug! You think you can talk your way out of this? You betrayed me.
Jake: No I didn't. Honest... I ran out of gas. I, I had a flat tire. I didn't have enough money for cab fare. My tux didn't come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from out of town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake. A terrible flood. Locusts. IT WASN'T MY FAULT, I SWEAR TO GOD.
This was my first entry. The first HPC, I had no clue, the second HPC I had no interest in the song but I MADE myself put something together for number 3.
Admittedly, it was one of the worst pieces of music I put together and let anyone hear. In fact, my wife, who's no big fan of my playing, even commented that ,"...it didn't really show what I can do or how much I've improved...". But that's OK, it was a learning experience.
With my job I often speak in front of an audience and enjoy doing so. I also conduct "webinars". I was asked recently to record my webinars. My first shot at this was to actually go into a back room, following the live webinar, and try to record it again with no "live audience". That doesn't work because I find myself stopping and restarting whenever I make the smallest mistake. It would take me HOURS to record a 30 minute webinar. I now record them live and they come out fine.
I tell that story because I think that's what happens when I record my playing. One small miscue and I start over. It gets frustrating. On this particular entry I was really running out of time to get the recording done and eventually took the last of about a million takes. That's not an excuse for the poor performance but just a reality of what happened. I guess that it's all part of the learning process but I find it extremely uncomfortable in front of the camera in a 'synthetic environment' like that.
---------- "Take out your false teeth, momma, I want to suck on your gums."-P. Wolf
have you tried letting the camera role and just playing over and over? you're bound to forget the camera is there eventually. If that doesn't work you can edit different clips together? be creative. thanks for your time.
I'm not much of a "solo" guy....I'd rather play with others - throw in some tasty fills - and then when it's my turn- lay it down ! ---------- Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker
George C Scott was the first actor ever to refuse an Academy Award (1970, for Patton (1970)). He was followed by Marlon Brando, who also turned down the award for The Godfather (1972). The reason he claimed for missing the ceremony where he won the Oscar was that he was busy watching a hockey game.
----------I have something particular in mind that I want to learn before I show it off, and it takes time. for me it isnt the competitive nature of the thing, because we dont win anything. to me HPC is a challenge to ourselves, not to or against others. I came in on this forum at the ass end of HPC2, and knew that I wouldnt have what i wanted to present ready by HPC3. However, Look for me on the next one, I assure you ill have something to post by then. TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS: please dont look at it as a competition. If there were any change that would best suit all of us to WANT to post a vid, it should be a name change or maybe just getting it to be understood that there IS no competition, but rather a showcase of what you have learned over the year before... Kyzer's Travels
I say remove the voting aspect of it, and use it as a tool for growing musically, expect very critical, objective views from this community, welcome it. And learn from it....jussmy2c... ---------- Kyzer's Travels
I did enter but I didn't consider it to be a competition. Sure there are winners and losers in the eyes & ears of the majority. But, for me I saw it more of a personal challenge ie a target/ goal to be ticked off.
I sympathise and fully emphasise with some above posts. On my own sometimes I astound myself in what & how I play (not often enough) but turn a mic & camera on and mistakes abound. It introduces another element another challenge which needs to be met. Only by doing it can we hope to get better.
I also found it difficult to make judgements on others ie I either liked it or it wasn't my cup of tea! It could be that I just didn't relate to the choice of music and didn't fully judge skill level.Probably not a fair way to make an assessment.
Being relatively new to playing music and the harmonica, I had goals for myself. One was to be good enough to video tape myself. I think I achieved that and came out of HPC3 as a better player. The feedback I got was also priceless esp the one from Adam. I intend to continue this journey and get better everyday. Thanks tooka for the opportunity.
I lack the technology hardware to record and upload myself playing at this point. That doesn't change without money, and money doesn't change without other stuff, yadda, yadda, yadda. Also, I need to find places to play and practice more - the apartment isn't doing it. Locals with 24/7 woodsheds and audio/video tech please apply.
Not interested in learning songs note for note. I am more of an improv player. I do play songs, quite a few originals, not usually the same every time.
I did not have many influences when I was beginning to play. I just started playing at front porch jams and sat in were ever I could with who ever I could. Never listened to any other harp players. Except the old fella's that were teaching me.
I didn't even play through a mic untill I had been playing for 20 years. So I am still trying to figure out the playing amplified.
Just not ready for video. I have more of a radio look.
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"I have a high tolerance for boredom as long as it has a groove" - Scrapboss
