Story has it that my dad played harmonica when he was young. 30 years ago my sisters, my brother and myself chipped in and bought my dad what we thought to be a great harmonica that he could play every once in a while and re-live some old memories. When we went to shop we found a bunch of small harmonicas that looked pretty ordinary, but one stood out as a real winner of a present. So we dished out the $50 for the new harmonica and gave it to him for Christmas. Funny thing was that he never played it.. we thought he had just given up on the idea. Eight years ago my dad died of pancreatic cancer just 4 weeks after he was diagnosed... to the day. So after the funeral my mother was giving each of us something personal that he owned. My youngest sister was the most musical of the 4 of us so she got the harmonica. That night I asked her if I could play around with it, and other than not understanding what that slide thing was on the side, I thought it would be something I could play, but she wasn't giving it up! The next day I started doing some research and then learned the difference between a chromatic and a diatonic. A few days later I was the proud owner of a hohner diatonic Blues harp in the key of C. I probably drove everyone around me nuts for the next year cause I played it every time I got a chance. By that time I owned 7 or 8 in different keys, Special 20's and even had a couple of Lee Oskars. I was a PRO!! Eight years later I am now in a band (my sister too but she doesn't play harmonica) and I play guitar, harmonica, and some percussion. I'm pretty comfortable with the harmonica, but I never did figure out how to play the chromatic. That's my story!!
I literally picked up the harmonica that was left on the stage by a prior music group. It was a key of E Hohner Marine Band.
I'm a drummer. I've always wanted to try the harmonica, and there was one right in front of me.
It spoke to me. It said, "please, pick me up, and you'll become as great as Little Walter".
I hesitated.
It spoke again. The sound was coming straight out of the mouthpiece (must've been draw notes): "OK, you'll be better than Little Walter, and you'll get dozens of women chasing you."
I thought about it. That could be good, right?
It spoke again. "Oh, PU-LEEEEEZ! the clean up crew will be here any minute, and I'll be in the trash bin out back, if you change your mind."
So, I picked up the harmonica, to save it from the clean-up crew, and to sound better than Little Walter, and to get all the women.
Well, I've related my story at length in several places, so I'll try to give a shortened version here. To wit:
Been a frustrated harmonica player for more than 20 years. Information on the harmonica was scant; teachers themselves were virtually if totally non-existent. I still pressed on though.
In 2009, early in the year, my mother, 77, after a long hospital stay eventually passed away. Prior to the Labor Day Weekend, the tractor-trailer I was driving rolled over and landed on top of my left arm. I suffered two back-to-back tragedies in a relatively short period of time. I survived them both. So no condolences necessary or required. Anyway...
During my rehabilitation (and yes, the arm was saved and healed as best as it ever will) - I decided to go back to my dreams. One was learning and mastering this harmonica instrument.
So it was through the internet now that I found the big bang of the harmonica universe!
Sure, I visited as many places as I could. And even today newer places and things are showing up every day!
However, I began my wonderful journey going the JP Allen dvd boxed set route. It's all worked out just fine for me.
Yet too, circumstances and desires to learn from anybody anywhere at any time led me to give Jon Gindick another look-see.
Am quite pleased I did. For me, he's there at the right time and right place where I'm at on my own harmonica path.
I do have my plans; I do have my goals to accomplish.
Day by day; little by little - It's all good!
Well, that's my story - the shortened version! I'm sticking to it and here I is!
Smiles!
Keep on harpin'!
-- Edited by Street Player Dude on Sunday 17th of October 2010 07:47:42 PM
-- Edited by Street Player Dude on Monday 18th of October 2010 02:00:00 AM
-- Edited by Street Player Dude on Monday 18th of October 2010 02:00:44 AM
-- Edited by Street Player Dude on Monday 18th of October 2010 02:02:03 AM
-- Edited by Street Player Dude on Monday 18th of October 2010 02:04:38 AM
-- Edited by Street Player Dude on Monday 18th of October 2010 02:04:57 AM
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"Play the notes people want to hear!" -- Kinya Pollard, The Harpsmith.
First harp I bought was less than $5. I watch a lot of live music. It always gets me to see what other musicians have to go through to get set up.
I know one drummer that hauls in all his stuff and wipes down each component as he removes it and sets it up. Does the same thing at the end of the night. Wipes it all down and returns it to it's case.
Hearing it in our head is the first step, that is followed by the frustration of trying to get the harp to do what I hear. If I don't give up, I eventually make the harp do what I hear. The Victory is short lived. Sure as hell I start hearing a new one in my head...on it goes.
I think it is a form of madness. They have a term for it. "Musician"
For me.... I always felt that if the human heart could make a sound when it's crying... it would make the sound of a blues harp... with the exception of blues guitar, no other instrument can carry that much emotion (and the human voice of course)
I thought it would be great if I could put a lot emotion in one single sound, like those great players do, and make that harp wail.....
