could you change the name of this video series. I'm a vegetarian and I'm deeply offended by you calling it ''MEAT and potatoes''... Just Kidding...I love your lessons. Music theory videos usually put me to sleep but yours are refreshing, short and insightfull. Keep them coming please. Also, is it true that you were a harmonica teacher to Ronny Shellist? Could you tell us about that? How long ago was it? What kind of student was he?
I am glad you like the lessons. It is definitely a goal of mine to simplify theory and make it accessible to the masses.
If I wasn't Ronnie's first teacher, I was one of them. JP Allen and I were harp buddies and Ronnie learned from both of us at around the same time. I taught Ronnie how to bend. I knew he was going to get it because I first taught him at The UT Informal Classes and he would follow me out to my car after every class asking, "Is this it? Is THIS it?" Our lessons were much more casual than my lessons today. Although I had begun teaching for money, I was much more focused on earning a living performing and lessons were a small supplement. My ideas of what and how to teach were much more in formation. I am still changing those ideas daily, but back then it was wide open. Mostly we just sat around and talked harp, listened to CDs and tried to analyze what was going on, but I do remember there was a lot of jamming where I would play a lick and he would imitate it. I also know Ronnie had no patience for theory and still doesn't although I am sure he knows plenty of club musician theory, enough to explain what he wants to other musicians. So Ronnie is definitely proof that you do not need much theory to become a pro. I am too, I didn't really solidify my theory basics until around 10 years ago, although I certainly understood more than Ronnie by the time we met. My theory information is really the basics, enough to communicate with other club musicians and enough to hear what key a song is and know if it is major, minor or blues and how to choose notes that will sound good with those styles. I think I get pegged as the theory guy because I am very quick to talk about it at seminars and lessons, because I see it as one subject that never gets enough coverage, in my opinion. In private lessons, I go much deeper into how to physically play the harp and how to listen to other musicians and find ways to help you make your own music. I also go deeper into the philosophy and spirituality of music. Perhaps those other sides of me will seep into Meat and Potatoes. I love making these Youtubes. Michael
