The Process - Bruno Di Giacomo
Part of the Level 10 testing process is to share with the other students their personal journey. Here is Bruno's. Congratulations again Bruno!
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“The Process” my journey through the Levels of Achievement Program by Bruno Di Giacomo
As a child, like many of us, I received the harmonica as a gift and started blowing into it. I liked the sound and I liked the idea of being able to "create" music.
I learned by myself, of course, starting from the small booklet that was inside the Marine Band and that taught some simple songs with tongue blocking approach. Later, as a boy in the 70s playing the guitar was very common among my friends, but I continued to "blow" the harmonica, having fun in the garage at loud volume with the amps totally peaked.
Then, I added other wind instruments such as flute, trumpet, and saxophone. I went to music school and learned the rudiments of music theory by learning the scales, chords, and reading music. Through all of this, harmonica has always been my favorite—chromatic, and above all, blues diatonic.
I played in different groups—in a trio with guitar and singer, also busking with local jazz orchestras, alternating trumpet, sax, and harmonica. I traveled all over the world for work, always wearing a harmonica. I got to join the local bands, playing jam sessions in the most diverse places, from America to China.
Being self-taught, I learned a decent amount of technique. No excuses like “I have no time to practice”—our instrument is very easy to carry with you and you can practice at any time, even in the evening in a hotel room without disturbing the neighbors.
With my desire for a better playing harmonica, I also learned to "customize" my Marine Bands, always my favorites.
Yes, I had reached a satisfactory level, such that I could play in public with some success, but I felt "limited" in my desire to improve.
Then, about two years ago, I was attracted to that coupon that is in the Hohner harmonics and that offered a month of free subscription to bluesharmonica.com. Well, I signed up and discovered a new universe, regretting the years I spent self-taught, or the time it took to look for some advice on the web.
On bluesharmonica.com I found everything I could use to progress safely and systematically. The technique is illustrated in a simple way with audio examples, scores, tablature and above all video tutorials: the technique of the instrument, how to present the notes, the sound you can get, the harmony needed to play with a band, riffs, improvisation and much, much more. Listen, watch, practice, record, send your recording to David to get precise and effective feedback and progress. I then found the interviews and comments of my favorite artists who "confess" to David and artist studies.
But in a website that has all this material it's easy to get lost, you don't know where to start and you never know where it will take you!!! No problem—the LOA path is a simple and extremely effective way to self-discipline, following a systematic and progressive approach to improve step-by-step, both for beginners or the already-skilled. Then at the end of each level there is always David who critiques you and guides you clearly. At the end of this journey, I was even required to compose 4 original songs and I did!!!
Follow the LOA route and don't be afraid to waste your time. Focus on LOA steps but do not neglect the lessons where you will also find other very useful material. I'm probably never going to be famous—you're not going to see me on national television, but let me tell you, I'm really extremely pleased with the level of music achieved with David support, and I am 100% confident to play with my band on a stage at a local pub.
I'm really glad I found this coupon in the Marine Band and I'll never stop thanking David for his teachings and patience.
To watch Bruno's performance go to https://youtu.be/_trMaMfdsWY
