Here's a video to make a harp teacher proud. This player--who may be a member of the forum; I don't know--uploaded the video below and asked me to take a listen. I don't have the time to do that for everybody who asks, but in this case I did, and I was impressed. I was even more impressed when he revealed in his reply to my comment that he'd started two years ago with my YT lessons.
Obviously there are small things here that need working on, but the major stuff is all there. The blue third is especially good. This is good, solid blues harmonica:
I thought this video was more impressive, and he has stated I think that he was at the two year mark as well:
The player in that video strikes me as stressed out and accenting every note, in a way forcing it, which is the opposite of working towards mastery which should be effortless. The video I posted makes it seem effortless and relaxed.
I suppose it should be obvious why I rarely offer my opinions on the dozens of videos that get pointed in my direction every week. May I send them to you, Michael?
Seriously: I was hoping for once merely to say "Job well done" and leave it at that. You've managed to affix two negatives to my positive like twin limpet-mines slapped onto an old battleship. Impressive: you're a Ninja.
This guy is doing a fine job too. That wasn't so hard, was it? I'm not sure why the negatives were necessary. But I'm not going to argue with the way you hear blues harmonica or see the world. You kept it civil, and the old battleship appreciates that.
I wasn't meaning to be debbie downer and can understand how criticism can be misconstrued as negativity. I think the criticisms are necessary for practice. I analyze and criticize my own playing 10X as hard, I even post up videos at www.youtube.com/the5kproject if anybody wants to take the time to help me tear my playing down so I can build it back up. I know that when I took lessons with my old german clarinet teacher, I didn't hear one good thing about my playing in 5 years, and I didn't pay him $50 for 1/2 hour to improve my ego, only my playing. I guess I shouldn't have read this post when I was stuck in my frame of mind :) For that I apologize.
He does a good job at this piece. When I play your front porch blues verbatim I sound more or less like him as well. Kudzurunner/Adam, your videos and forums have and continue to inspire many. My life has been forever changed.
---------- ~Ryan Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
I like it. I really like the times when he breathes back out through the harp. it's like they are at random and add a really nice change-up to everything. He caught me a little off guard with each those and that's one of the things i think separates good performers from also-rans. Just predictable enough to sound familiar...just random enough to be interesting...good job.
I think he did well, that is a hard song to do. I did all the youtube videos one a video per day about a year and a half ago starting on 1-1-08. I checked up on the date because my note book ends at .103 (.103 is dated 12-7-07). The videos really gave me insight into the tin sandwich. Still referring back to regularly. Good on ya Adam.
Last Edited by on Nov 17, 2009 12:58 AM
"The player in that video strikes me as stressed out and accenting every note, in a way forcing it"
He struck me as admirably on the beat and technically highly proficient, but very mechanical and lacking any feeling whatsoever.
Also, he had been "playing around all his life on the harp before discovering Adam 2 years ago". That could mean almost anything.
When I discovered Adam 18 months ago the last harp I had seen was a chrom in about 1970 (when I was 10).
On the other hand, to my shame, I put in next to no hours, so deserved kudos to those who do. ---------- Kinda hot in these rhinos!
Last Edited by on Nov 17, 2009 1:38 AM
I think they both did well. I find when I play along with songs or set out to learn a song like from Adam's videos that eventually I know the song and hit even the difficult notes well (for me), but when it comes to improv, I am like "where do I go from this note?". I think that the true measure of progress is being able to improv by knowing the instrument. both of these guys play very nicely in their own manner on these cuts. Adam's song lessons are a great tool and I find myself using some of the practice lessons with no "song" associated with them to get better and improvisation.
I am terrible as a one-man band, except on guitar/harp on my own originals...I am really more of a band guy, so i totally respect what this young man has accomplished so far. For me to try the front-porch thing generally ends in frustration..i'm just not there yet at all. I can jam with the band and play real music with them...melodies...harmonies...rhythm, cool licks...etc. I even love to improvise and solo..as long as someone is backing me. I just can't get that slow blues solo feeling ...yet. Not sure why.
Last Edited by on Nov 17, 2009 12:13 PM
