One of the great things about having a computer with a webcam, built in mic, and MovieMaker software is that you can record your progress in mastering a new skill.
This, of course, is also the downside. Some musical performances were never meant to be recorded.
And yet, I'll cherish this raggedy recording (by myself). It reminds me of my first day of kung fu and that it was thousands of punches and kicks between that day and the day I earned my black belt. No skill is mastered without a big bucket of persistence with a stiff chaser of humility.
Showing posts with label harmonica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label harmonica. Show all posts
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Saturday, November 05, 2011
Are there any chicks who play harmonica?
As I'm diving deeper into harmonica, I find that there are a bunch of guys who play but are there any women I can look to for inspiration? Today, I'm so stoked to discover an amazing jazz harmonica player, Hermine Deurloo.
Here, she plays an amazing set with Candy Dulfer. Girl power!
Here, she plays an amazing set with Candy Dulfer. Girl power!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Why am I learning the harmonica?
Well...about a decade ago, my boyfriend learned to play the harmonica. We even went to jazz harmonica concerts (Toots Thielemans). It gave me a passing interest in learning to play but I held off because I only had a casual interest and didn’t want to push up on my boyfriend’s new hobby.
A few years later, my boyfriend and I parted ways. I took a one-evening class on learning to play the blues but I didn't learn enough for it to be useful so I gave up.
Last week, when I was doing some serious cleaning, I found my harmonica. I decided I needed to either learn to play or throw it out.
I searched YouTube for lessons. They helped me get started, but it was difficult to figure out a systematic way of learning. As I ranged around the Internet, I found the Harmonica Academy. I liked it because it's structured.
The downside is that I want to skip all the beginning lessons, hurry ahead and play songs. I don’t want to take the time to learn technique. BUT, so far, I’m restraining myself and dutifully learning single notes and scales. (Okay, I admit that I downloaded the tabs for "How Great is Our God" and practice it daily...and that I researched how to turn sheet music into harmonica tabs...but that's it. I promise.)
I'm giving myself 30 minutes a day (or as many minutes as my lips will tolerate) for the next 30 days to see if I love it. So far, it's awesome! My hope is to be good enough that by next year I can play with the worship team at church.
I firmly believe that you've gotta try the things that pique your interest (within the bounds of legality/morality) because it opens a brave new world. Makes life interesting.
A few years later, my boyfriend and I parted ways. I took a one-evening class on learning to play the blues but I didn't learn enough for it to be useful so I gave up.
Last week, when I was doing some serious cleaning, I found my harmonica. I decided I needed to either learn to play or throw it out.
I searched YouTube for lessons. They helped me get started, but it was difficult to figure out a systematic way of learning. As I ranged around the Internet, I found the Harmonica Academy. I liked it because it's structured.
The downside is that I want to skip all the beginning lessons, hurry ahead and play songs. I don’t want to take the time to learn technique. BUT, so far, I’m restraining myself and dutifully learning single notes and scales. (Okay, I admit that I downloaded the tabs for "How Great is Our God" and practice it daily...and that I researched how to turn sheet music into harmonica tabs...but that's it. I promise.)
I'm giving myself 30 minutes a day (or as many minutes as my lips will tolerate) for the next 30 days to see if I love it. So far, it's awesome! My hope is to be good enough that by next year I can play with the worship team at church.
I firmly believe that you've gotta try the things that pique your interest (within the bounds of legality/morality) because it opens a brave new world. Makes life interesting.
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