Playing and practicing scales and also technique building
Hello David,
Two questions
1- Scales
Ive noticed on other forums outide yous that many believe that scales are under-practiced by most and are very valuable in buiding technique. While I am still working through (level 4) of your coursework I want to add scales.
Do you have materail on scales I may not yet have found?
How are scales best practiced?
I read there are many different tyles of scales although in my prior band work it seems we only worried about major scales. How many varients should we focus on?
I have also come to understand that since each harp is in a different key learniing a C scale means playing it differently on the A, D etc harp. Scales have to be played in the nature key of the harp whereas most of our work assumes the same note structure and the harp takes care of the key differences.
Please comment on the value and practice approach on scales.
2- TB accuracy and technique building
Im Into this now about 3 years and Im playing your music and exercises increasingly well. Somehow I dont feel like Im getting a real grip on technique. I still stuggle to find holes. Is that normal at this stage? What can I focus on such that my technique becomes more reliable? Sometimes I feel as if my playing is more muscle memory than real musical technique.
Yes, I have to commend you on the structure and pace of the lessons. Ive said to others that sometimes it appears we are movinng slowly but you continually add challenges at each step. Im enjoying this very much and only wish I had taken up harp earlier in life so when I get to that 10 year mark of mastery (I hope) Ive got more to go. Great job on your Method.
Fantastic... very glad you're enjoying the lessons.
Im going back over all the songs as suggested.... great activity and Im doing well. Somehow I cant find Blues Creeping... I recall it had a solo chorus I want. Can you point me?
Hello gwknopp. This is found in the Accompaniment series of lessons.
Hello gwknopp.
1) Yes, this material is found in the Movement Exercises studies (4 in all). As you'll study, the most important scales for you to memorize are the Major Scale (in first position), Major Pentatonic (in 2nd Position) and Blues (2nd Position). You want those down cold. Down the road you'll also learn the Blues Scale in 1st and 3rd Positions.
2) Each lesson challenges you more, making you always feel like you're struggling with technique. The nature of learning means that you're always struggling... striving to advance your technique. I recommend you go back to the songs (one at a time, starting with the first lesson you did) you learned and relearn them... refreshing them by playing along with the transcription until you can play them with me on the recording well. Then focus on making all of your performance, with the techniques used, as excellent as you possibly can. This will hone your technique. You'll also be surprised that you'll find out that your technique is better than you may think, because you've always been playing progressively more difficult techniques.