Repetition, repetition, repetition
Hello to all you harmonica players that have been doing it for years. I want to get the benefit of your experience from those first months of your learning...
I have been doing Levels of Achievement Level 1 now for about 7 months (about half an hour each day). I can see minor improvements from week to week but hate the repetition. I know how necessary the repetition is because all the techniques need to go into unconscious memory but it makes practising so incredibly boring! I also want to move on more quickly.
So the two things I need advice on are, 'how do I deal with the repetition boredom and how do I move on more quickly?
My aim is to be able to play with other musicians (I have a friend who is a bass player in a blues band) and to be able to get out the harmonica at a social event and play something.
Any tips please?
Mark.
Two suggestions: Record yourself regularly and listen back, not only right after but a week or so later. You'll hear what you need to work on right after, which will help target your efforsts,and you'll hear improvement over time, which can be encouraging.
Also, take whatever it is you're learning, and play around with it. Create variations using the same techniques or note sequences. This will help stave off boredom, stimulate creativity, and reinforce the learning material by application in different settings.
Mark:
In addition to great observations from folks like David and Winslow, check out this from British harp player Ed Hopwood: https://www.theharmonicabarge.com/post/manage-your-blog-from-your-live-site
You're dealing with what Ed calls "nasty but necessary" Level 1 practice. But he goes on to point out that mixing it up can make the repetitive stuff go down a lot easier.
And re Winslow's idea of listening to recordings well after the time: Repetition is always going to seem hard, no matter what you're repeating. But if you're like nearly every other committed player, you'll learn over time that it's actually really getting you somewhere!
Sorry what? Can you repeat?
Well Mark, I don't have much to add to these great suggestions and advices, just wanted to drop you an encouragement line. I hope you'll get through this difficult phase.
To share my experience, I remember when I submitted LOA1, I was already deep into LOA2, going back and forth in order to vary.
UkuleleRob65: Funny you mention Ed, he is my bluegrass harp teacher. He's really great! That article lays it down quite well.
Thanks guys for all your useful advice. I have printed out your comments.
To Robert: 'Play your favorite melodies' Yes, I will try to find a guide to play Stone Fox Chase, one of my favourite harp tunes. This was the theme tune to 'The Old Grey Whistle Test', a live music show broadcast on British TV. I'm not sure that this show ever reached the USA.
Winslow: I aim to record my stuff and not only to submit to the LOA program. It's just about finding the right programme and microphone
Ukulele Rob: I had a brief look at David Hopwood's article. Will check this out in more detail - it looks useful
Miggy Boogie: interesting how you delved in to LOA 2 whilst doing LOA 1. I seem to believe that I can't go beyond Level 1 until I've passed. Thanks for your encouragement.
Hey Mark, your comment about recording makes me think you might not have seen that there are recording study lessons here on the website. Here is level 1 : https://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/recording_study_1_handheld
Yes, you're right, I hadn't seen them. Not sure how I missed those.
Thanks very much
Since I am not experienced as some of the others who responded I will give my 2 cents.
The most important piece of information I found when learning how to play the harmonica actually wasn't about the harmonica at all... it was the practice lessons that Dave made which honestly would apply to learning any new skill. Look at practice - study 1 video he made. I followed that to a T and every week I saw improvements. Every two weeks (give or take a week or two) I was moving from one chorus to another (Im also practicing an hour a day). Because of the short practice times (10-20) in each area (solo study, study song, music theory...) It never felt repetitive and after about 10 minutes I was on to the next thing.
I noticed that after 10 minutes that It was harder to learn the skill or memorize a song. Every 5 minutes after that It was noticeably harder until after 25 minutes it was absolutely frustrating to practice that one skill or song. The 10 minutes is a great amount a time to practice one skill.
I know this is going to sound cliche but remember that it's a marathon and not a race. Force yourself to practice everyday, 10-20 minutes per skill or song and you will soon be at level 2.
(oh, also listen to Dave when he says start at 70% speed. I always want to make it to the finish line but I found learning the song at 70% not only is easier but then when I get to 85% I'm only on that for a week or two and then Im on to learning the song at full speed and very soon after on the jam track. Also definetly follow his rule of listen twice play once. He always goes on about listening to the lick a bunch of times, then humming it out, playing it, and then repeating from the listening step. The stuff he teaches in the practice videos or golden and In my opinion some of the most important thing he teaches for beggginer players.)
update: Again, the practice videos are soooo good. Him saying to practice lick by lick, line by line, chorus by chorus is so important too. Its so tempting to just throw on the 100% speed audio and keep going through the song over and over again playing alone each time and make NO PROGRESS. The more you can break down somehting into smaller chunks it will be way quicker to learn and just keep eating those chunks everyday and soon you will learn the song. Its better that way also for repition because each lick in Daves songs are unique and you learn something new in each one and you will feel like you made real progress every day. Every day you can say I learned how to play these three notes. A week later and you learned a line of a chorus. 3 weeks later and you are on the second chorus.
He also kind of says to move on to the next chorus when you know... idk 95% of it. I guess the thought process is you shouldnt waste your energy doing something you already know and you should keep pushing yourself. So you shouldnt really be repeating much. My approach was to play the song in its intiretly to the part I know marking down areas I still need to work on one time every time I study the song and then keep going with the last thing I was practicing the day before. A few notes at a time and you are done with a line or chorus. Again, I never found it repetitive because i am always doing something different in 10 minute chunks.
I appreciate your thoughts on this gamma8gear. The main wisdom I picked up from it is to practice in 10 minute chunks.
I keep discovering new ways of enjoying the learning and the latest idea is to practice the stuff I don't know off by heart (challenge = interest) followed by the repetitive stuff, such as scales.
I have also just started to go off piste by playing 'When the Saints Go Marching In' which I came across during the music theory lessons. Such a simple tune which I think is open to adding improvisation.
Hi Mark. I think you need to not only to do the repetitive work but also just play around with the instrument. Play your favorite melodies. Experiment. Stick to the school program but also sprinkle in some goofing around. Music needs to be fun and enjoyable, no matter what.