So I have a great connection who has helped me get back on my list in life. He put me in touch with someone who can help me learn to play the harmonica and below are some of the questions he asked me in order to get a better feel of how he can help me. I already know I like this guy because these questions tell me how much he cares. He asked me if he has soul, I don’t even think I need to ask if he does.
Please enjoy...
Original Questions
What's given you the desire to want to learn to play?
Are you influenced by a particular player or genre of music. Blues perhaps? If so who/what?
The harmonica or (harp) is an instrument that takes allot of "feel" or "soul" to really play well. Do you have it?
Do you own any harmonicas, if so what type and what keys
Any other info you'd like to share would be great like, do you aspire to play live, do you sing, what's in your CD player right now etc.
My response
Jeff - I love this email! I can tell what music really means to you and that you do not look at me or anyone looking to learn as just another lesson. I am going to answer your questions below, but keep in mind I could write a novel for each answer. :) Thank you for asking me these.
The desire to play: I keep a list of things I want to be sure I accomplish in life in my wallet. For the first 5 years out of college I lived by that list. For the past year I have been in a big slump and have honestly forgotten about it. To me, forgetting this list is no way to live. Why the harmonica in particular? Simply put, I think harmonica players are bad asses. I can hear a harmonica in just about any song it is in (at least I think I can. I guess I wouldn't know if I didn't hear it), at least it stands out to me. All instruments allow the artist to express their soul and tell a story in a fitting format for their personality. This is how I want to tell my part of the story. You know when you are really getting into a song and you just want to pick up an instrument and jam along with it? Well, my mind automatically wants to pick up the harmonica, whether it is in the song or not. Wow, enough for this question - sorry.
Influence of music: I like all types of music. I would say country is my biggest, but not like that Tim McGraw or Rascal Flatts crap. More like the old school stuff and Texas country. Clint Black has an amazing harmonica solo on an old CD that I will be able to die happy if I can learn to play it. In my CD player right now is GLove, they have some good harmonica on there. My ipod has 311, Joss Stone, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Miranda Lambert, Stevie Wonder, OCMS, Counting Crows and please tell me you are a fan of Jupiter Coyote. I may be a last name standing on that one. The ipod has a lot of other stuff too, but I think these give you an idea. I mean, who doesn't have Lady Gaga on their ipod?
I absolutely love live music and have the urge to play a harmonica every time I go hear live music. When I say I love to sing, I really do not think I am expressing it enough, but NOBODY would pay to hear me. I have always wanted to play music. I want to be able to sit around with my friends (who many of them do play) and let it all out. I don't care to play for money, but more for fun. I have a group of friends up in Nashville who have all started a front porch band. They literally have made a bass out of a tin bucket, a poll and string. Only a few knew how to play instruments already but others have learned as they go. That is the fun I want.
Soul: I would classify myself as having some soul. At least I think so and I really like my soul. I am a writer and a painter and one day hope that all my little random phrases can come together as a song or two.
I do not have a harmonica, so I am sure that is another investment I need to look into. About a year ago I bought a book on how to play the harmonica and a friend of mine got me a cheap one, but I took it apart to see what it looked like on the inside and it didn't match what the book had. Shortly after, life took some unexpected turns as it does and I had to pack everything into a 10 x 10 unit so the book is packed behind a couch and a washer and dryer.
I sure hope this helped and wasn't an annoying novel of an email. I totally understand being really busy right now as I am too, so keep emailing me if that is easiest for you.
Thank you for your help!
