I have just read an article in the Times on Sat (uk) by a journalist called Robert Crampton who was writing that his New Year's resolutions included taking up learning a musical instrument.
Lessons, I gather, are being paid for by Times newspaper, must be as a development program and I quote:
'We've been offered an exciting chance for music lessons in office hours here at the Times and while younger, more idealistic souls have opted for the piano, the violin, the sousaphone, etc, I've gone Canny Old Pro and chosen the most rudimentary instrument other than a triangle I can think of.
All I want is to squeeze a tune out of something, anything really, and the humble mouth organ seems like the best bet, if only because there is so little of it for me to cock up.
Also, when someone produces a mouth organ, an audience's expectations are set very low, aren't they?'
Well, er um, I have offered him our services and best wishes..
I had that same thought when I first got into the harmonica. I thought "well I don't have the time to get into a REAL instrument again, so this oughta be fun."
Little did I know how deep the well actually was, and how much more time the harmonica would take up than any other "real" instrument I've ever played.
Also, eharp has a point. Can't count the number of groans I've gotten as I got up on a stage to play with a band. Usually all those groans turn to handshakes by the end of my playing.
I was able to play melodies very quickly by following the blow and draw arrows in books but when it got down to playing blues as described in tony glover and jon gindick books,that was a totally different game
Expectations are built from experiences, so I guess it's fair to say he's either:
- never listened to good harmonica playing.
or
- hasn't realised he's hearing harmonica in tunes he's listened to.
Since starting to learn how to play harmonica myself not only have my own expectations of the instrument increased (a lot)but I have started to notice harmonica tunes everywhere, my kids even shout out Harmonica!!!! when listening to the radio or watching tv when they notice a bit of harmonica playing (there's heaps of it in kids programs here in the U.K).
Well I hope he enjoys his musical journey and is polite enough to write favourably about his experiences. And good for the Times to support their staff to pursue a creative outlet.
Greg.
---------- Living the dream and learning the blues one little trouble at a time.
Last Edited by on Jan 17, 2011 5:58 AM
Phogi, I play around 5 instruments. The harp is definitely as difficult or more so. I would be curious to hear some of your playing so I could understand more of who is making that statement. Michael Rubin
I've tried to learn to play guitar a lot of years ago, but only because my mates were talking about starting a band. They never got going, and neither did I. When I started playing harmonica, a lot of the "want" was fueled by childhood memories of my dad playing his harmonica. Something, just pushed me along until the "want" changed into a "need". May be this guy will get the same. Perhaps a little success will fuel a desire to explore the instrument. We might get another new recruit to MBH
You can learn five guitar chords and sing. And it's already music. While to make music on harmonica you have to work much more. Any 9yr old child which studying guitar or piano can play some classical music, e.g. Bach's "Air on A G String", maybe not with a such deep emotion as a pro, but all notes, dynamics etc, at least it'll not be too bad to ears. I hardly name more then 10 people in the world who can play this tune with perfect intonation. ---------- Excuse my bad English. Click on my photo or my username for my music.
I play 2 instruments & have dabbled with others & wouldnt say harmonica is easier then a one of them. Aside from maybe playing 1st position folky stuff.
Cant get upset at someone assuming the harmonica is easier, especially since that was my notion. But at the same time harmonica has been my gate way to real music.
Long as the guy amends his post on the Times with 'Now that I know what I gotten into..." post, ha.
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~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)
Anyway, of all the instruments I've learned to play, I find harp to be the easiest. Low barriers to entry, portability, etc... I think there are other instruments that may be easier, I just don't know which ones. Maybe the recorder. I think the sax is also pretty easy to play, but, I've been playing sax for a long time.
I think the key is level. When people talk about how 'easy' an instrument is, they mean how hard it is to start. That's the only place it matters.
Well, I have to take that back.
Dr. Gussow himself, he says in one of his vids 'in two to three years of dedicated practice you can be ready to...' shoot, I forget the exact quote. But I seem to remember it was 'get good enough to really play.' Most instruments have a longer curve than that.
I started playing after hearing my father who played violin and harmonica. He passed away when I was 11. I don't know what my expectations were then as that was close on 60 years ago.
An easy instrument.... yes definately. Its main attributes to make it easy are its portability & price and in minutes one can be playing simple childrens tunes. Sadly because it also happens to be the worlds largest selling instrument many folks have taken it to a beginner level and quit.
It was quoted above by phogi "Dr. Gussow himself, he says in one of his vids 'in two to three years of dedicated practice you can be ready to...' shoot, I forget the exact quote. But I seem to remember it was 'get good enough to really play.' Most instruments have a longer curve than that." This I would dispute. What other instrument offers the same amount of practice time that can be had on a harmonica? Its convenience and portability offers infinate opportunities. 2 to 3 years practice on the harp could easily equate to 10 or more years practice on a piano ie unless you spent all your time living in the room with your piano. You can take and play a harp anywhere wheras its a little difficult to do that with a piano or even a guitar.
When I started searching around for further instruction on the net there were courses that quoted 'Play Blues Harp In a Day' etc. What nonsence, we all know thats impossible but others also see such claims and it further cements their low expectations.
Frankly all we can do is ignore such & in our own way educate them with our music. If Robert Crampton follows his New Years resolution through, and starts to learn the harp, then he as a journalist, might in future take a different view and tell his readers how bloody difficult it is.
i've recently reached the stage where i can reliably beat those low expectations, and i get a big kick out of peoples' reactions when i do. i'll get called up at a jam, or a sit in, and you can almost hear the musicians who don't know me thinking, "oh gawd, another crappy harp player". i'll blow through a few warmup riffs to set levels, but also to make a statement. mark my spot, if you will. when the music starts, i generally lay out a bit, to catch the groove and figure out the song, and to give plenty of space for the singer. perhaps some fills and accents if they fit. wait for the nod, and make it count. watch the surprised looks on their faces.
it's not like i'm great or anything, but i'm ok. and i think it blows their minds that i'm not stepping all over the singer and guitar solos.
Garry..."waiting for the nod" ....and realigning their paradigm. heh heh. I've also recently reached that stage. I'm not an attention hog but the applause is really heartwarming for me. It's nice after going through frustrating learning periods. I especially enjoy doing that at the mall and other public events.
