Fluid and Consistant Playing
Hello All and Happy New Year. I have two distinct but related questions. First, though, a bit about me. I'm in my late 50s and have been playing the harp for about 20 months and following the Levels of Achievement program for about 15 months. Prior to this I had absolutely no musical training. I've now completed LOA 3 and am working on LOA4. My musical ability has, I think, fairly much kept pace with the LOA program. With that said, here are my two questions:
1. How long were you playing before you felt you had developed fluidity with the harp? By fluidity, I mean the ease that comes from being able to play with someone after hearing them play a few bars. I have guitarist friends who can play if they hear someone else literally "hum a few bars". I don't feel I'm at this level yet, but wanted to know the experience of other people.
2. How long were you playing before you developed consistancy? By this, I mean playing a song you've practiced to the point that it is reasonably good each time and where you don't make significant mistakes. Despite how long I practice, I still manage to get one or two bars wrong per song on almost every take. By this, I mean that I may miss the 7 draw and play the 8 draw instead, or that I just completely mangle a bar or two.
Obviously, everyone develops at their own pace, depending on ability and practice. I am, however, curious about these two issues.
Thanks in advance,
Ace
John S., wow, all I can say is that your story is an inspiration. LOA 8 in three years with no prior musical training, that's dedication. Thank you. Your statement that you "only ever fret over a mistake if I make it regularly" places Practice in context. My mistakes seem to be more randomly occurring So I guess I should stop fretting so much over them.
Thanks,
Ace
I have been watching your progress and you are dong well. Hang in there and enjoy the experience.
Ps Something I have heard and find very inspirational is "Don't compare yourself to someone else but rather to yourself yesterday". I like to listen to earlier submissions, cringe and then smile.
Hi Ace,
I can only share my own experience.
I started with music and harmonica about five years ago. The first times alone, with a book and a CD, then a few months with a professional teacher. Then alone again, then another teacher. I made a lot of mistakes, and I was terrorised by the possible judgment of others. I played almost alone or in front of a teacher, and the one who judged the worth was myself.
After a year or 2-3, I met a group of harmonica players and I was pushed for the first time in a jam session. Honestly, it would have been terrible. But the public encouraged me and I took a lot of pleasure. And I was so happy to have done it.
Since then I participate to a lot of jam session and I love it.
I also found a fantastic book : « The music lesson » from Victor Wooden (an american bass player). This book changed the way I look to music. We are all obsessed by not doing mistakes, for musiciens it is usually playing exactly the same note than the one writen. This book learned me that « wrong notes » don’t exists (there is also a DVD from this book), so you cannot make mistakes. I learned that depending on (harmonica) positions there are just a few notes that are may be not the best to play.
During a jam session I don’t think about the possible mistakes. I just improvise with my heart and the feeling of the moment. Sometime I am proud of what I have played sometime not, but every time it’s a new experience.
Six month ago I formed a group with friends, what we play is more formated than during jam sessions, but sometime it is so uggly that it would have been better to dig the garden, the next time it is usely just a lot of pleasure.
Thus I agree with John, when a problem is repetitive it’s a problem of technique otherwise, it is not so important.
Finally I made certainly a lot of mistakes with my english (I am french) but if you understand what I mean it is the most important.
Thank you both for your input as well and congratulations on your accomplishments as a harp player. I am very heartened by both you.
My profession is law and my avocation, hobby, side business for 20 years has been photography. I have always been a natural at oral argument and also at visual art, so these two came naturally to me. Music, however, never really did. Although I've been told on many occassions, that I have excellent music taste I've never taken naturally to any instrument, not even the harp. What I've been able to accomplish has been the result of dedication and practice. That both have accomplished this much under similar circumstances is certainly heartening.
MaxDupont, one more thing: your English is fine. I understood it all, no worries.
Again, thank you both.
Ace you mention your age with what I assume is an underlying question related to age and learning ability. I am 76 and started with David 3 years ago having never played a musical intrament ever. I am sure that age affects muscle memory training and the answer to that is more practice. I do a minimum of 2 hours a day every day. So in my view it is more important to know how many hours you have played rather than how long. As David so astutely says keep at it it will happen you just don't know when. I love it.
To answer your questions both related I am finding it's not an on off situation but an incremental change.
1 If I know a song I can get there reasonably quickly. Popular songs that a firmly in my mind are easier than a new one obviously
2. If I am learning a piece and stumble I will replay it until I can do it in my sleep. If I go back to any of the study songs it takes me a while to get it right, mistake free. I only ever fret over a mistake if I make it regularly. So it is always a work in progress
By example I am working on a LoA 8 study song and am struggling to play a very simple lick but tricky to execute. I will play that lick numerous times to get it dialled in. The harmonica does have its unique challenges.
I am always being told not to beat up myself but enjoy the journey