[Harp-L] The SPAH website

[Tony Eyers <tony@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Re the SPAH web site.

Web site development and maintenance takes a lot of work. I know because 
I do it myself, mostly with online harmonica teaching. Details at 
http://www.harmonicatunes.com/Tony-Eyers-music-web-sites

The SPAH site is very thin, in my view. Not surprising. Running a major 
site takes serious time and expertise. Organisations like SPAH run on 
the goodwill of volunteers, who work themselves ragged for the yearly 
SPAH convention. Payment is essentially nil, thanks often likewise. I've 
been to SPAH once, in 2005. I take my hat off to the SPAH people and the 
clubs who run it.

A good model for the SPAH site is the one for their sister organisation 
in the UK, the National Harmonica League. Its at 
http://www.harmonica.co.uk <http://www.harmonica.co.uk/> A simple but 
well organised site, with a great links page. They have a bi monthly 
magazine, "Harmonica World". I've been contributing since 2008, other 
contributors include Brendan Power, Steve Shaw and Rob Paparozi. The 
magazine and much else is run by Roger Trobridge, who donates 
significant time, effort and expertise to keep it running.

The key aspect of both SPAH and the National Harmonica League is capable 
individuals who volunteer their time. The same is true for the Asia 
Pacific Harmonica Festival, where the top players from the host city 
(Malaysia in 2012) donate time and formidable organisational expertise 
to put  on a first class event, with several thousand attendees.

Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
...everyone plays