Introductions
Hello, all. I joined BluesHarmonica.com last week, and I have spent the time since then reading the forum posts, looking through the instructional material, sampling the interviews, and such. With that done, I thought I would become active here on the forums.
I think that introductions are helpful on forums just as this. Knowing something about other members can help in getting better understanding of each other. I also think it can help foster a sense of community.
My name is Gregg, and I live in rural Colorado between Denver and Colorado Springs. I will be 58 next month.
I started playing harmonica in high school, inspired mainly by Dylan, Neil Young, and John Fogerty. Later in college I got into the blues of Paul Butterfield, Sonny Terry, and Sonny Boy Williamson/Rice Miller, and then into all of the other greats. I've played off and on over the years, but never very consistently, and very little over the past 10 to 15 years. I am completely self taught at this point, which probably explains why I'm not that good and my progress has been so slow.
I would classify my level as about the middle of Intermediate Level as defined by Adam Gussow in the "What Level are You?" on his site. My goal is get to the point that I am good enough to jam with other players, and be able to play in a decent blues band. I can jam quite a bit in "pucker mode," but it's all by ear. I think getting the theory down to I understand what I’m doing, developing tongue blocking, etc. with David's excellent teaching methods, then I can get to where I want to go, and perhaps even well beyond.
Introductions here are a great idea. I'll add mine.
My name is Jon. I live in Philadelphia. I'm 48, married to a former nationally competitive gymnast who now teaches the sport, with three kids ranging from 15 to 4 years old.
My musical background is a little dated. I was the front man of a regionally successful 80s hair band. We quit playing together in 1991 - mostly due to member's not getting along and various substance abuse issues (kind of a common story in bands throughout the years).
I'm a big fan of the blues, and have been since my musical days. I'm particularly a harp fan, having found it exciting after attending a Rod Piazza show years ago.
I don't really have much interest in performing on stage again. I've become too much of a family guy to go back to that circus. Blues harp is more of a challenge that I'd like to reach on a personal level. It's great that there are folks out there like Dave who can bring this instruction to us. It's almost like having Little Walter come and sit down in your house with you (without the pipe-swinging drunken rage). This is a powerful site and happy to be a member of it.
Best wishes on your studies Gregg... glad to have you on the site.