[Harp-L] Dave Barrett's Jam Cd's

[Kevin Keith <revinkevin@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Harpers,
Just thought I would share with you my experience with Dave Barrett's 3 
set jam cd's for $30. What I found very useful is just the discripions 
of the tunes, such as a Boogie, a Quick 2 feel, a slow Minor, a Marching 
shuffle, a one Chord Groove,a West Coast Swing, a Quick Swing ,a Medium 
Shuffle and the list goes on. I have been stuggling with this as I 
recently started singing and now all of a sudden I have to become Joe 
conductor as well. Just playing harp and singing together has been alot 
to bite off. Trying to desribe some of these types of tunes to jam 
members or band members can be a whole art in itself. Now I'm the one 
counting them in and being responsible for ending the tune.Wholly shit.I 
just wanted to play harp and have fun.The more I pursue it the more like 
work it can become.I do feel myself getting better in all these areas is 
the good news. Of coarse people also call and label things quite 
differently depending on where your from.Also like one of the previous 
posts pointed out, I am in the 99% who never learned  theory. I do want 
to learn now I'll tell ya .My experience has been when people start 
talking theory I get real stupid real quick.Its like when you ask 
someone for directions for some strange reason your brain slips into 
neutral. Mine can anyway.So I just wanted to say these jam tracks were 
worth every penny to me.I also attended one of Dave Barrett's Workshops 
in Chicago about a year ago.I enjoyed it very much. Alot of the 
technical stuff I have not gotten to such as scales and the tabs and 
chorus forms.What it did do is put a major fire in my belly. I have been 
practicing and playing alot more since. Alot of stuff is slowly starting 
to sink in. Now that the barefoot waterskiing season is over I can stay 
more focused on my playing.
 As some of the previous posts compared Martial arts to harmonica 
playing.I have experienced the same with my barefooting career. Not one 
of those tricks came easy to me.Its a slow process. If you put the time 
in it will pay off. Its as simple as that.I have won the Mens 4 National 
Championships 2 years in a row in Austin Tx. If you want it bad enough 
you will get it.It comes from that fire in your gut to be the best you 
can be. Wish You All Well. Kevin Keith