Harmonica and Kazoo Players Work Hard Too

If you’ve ever listened to a beginning clarinetist, you know how difficult it is to change squeaks into music. You gain a deeper appreciation of the talents of Pete Fountain and Benny Goodman because you realize that thousands of beginners simply give up. Perhaps their love of music directs them to instruments like the harmonica or kazoo because they believe it is easier to play.

Comparison of Beginners

Beginning harmonists and kazoo players begin playing simple songs almost immediately. By comparing these instruments with the clarinet, one could easily conclude that the harmonica and kazoo are much easier to play. This conclusion is wrong because every instrument requires time and practice to learn to play.

Mastering the Techniques of Instruments

After producing sounds on an instrument, every musician continues the long road to master the instrument’s techniques. Although people enjoy the beautiful sounds, few realize how many hours of practice and hard work were required to produce those sounds. Every musician has learned that practice does not make perfect; it is perfect practice that makes perfect. It is perfect practice that enables the musician to gain the mastery of his or her instrument.

Since music is more than playing notes, the harmonica and kazoo players must practice as hard as all professional musicians. They must listen to their sounds with critical ears, and seek to improve the musicality of the songs they’re playing. Professional musicians practice until the sound they produce is exactly as desired. They know that the notes have volume, pitch and length, but they must give them life.

Listening and Emulating

One of the most significant traits needed to become a good musician is to listen to accomplished musicians. Although there are many genres and styles from which to choose, you should select the one you enjoy, and perfect it. The choices range from Blues, Rock, Classical and others. Each genre has an abundance of excellent harmonist to listen to and emulate.

If you like Blues, you should listen to people like Blind Mississippi Morris, Carey Bell, Billy Branch and others. For Country Music, listen to Ryan Adams, Johnny Cash and Buddy Greene. Regardless the genre, you should listen to as many harmonists as possible. Find a few of the best ones and begin to emulate them.

Not Just Any Harmonica

When purchasing a harmonic, you should consider a Chromatic Harmonica because it has the benefit of raising the pitch one-half step by pressing a button. This feature gives an added degree of freedom not possessed in other harmonicas.

It should be obvious that harmonicas and kazoos require as much practice and hard work as any other instrument. Professional musicians practice constantly to maintain the quality needed for each professional performance. They practice songs until every note and pitch is exactly what they desire it to be. They know that performances are no better than the worst sounds that are played, and they remember each one.

 

*Guest Post By Becky W.