Okay, meeting's over.
I didn't play for the Zoom meeting today because of the "tooth pulling" thing, so I was more of an observer. Even at that, it was a hoot. (I learned a lot!)
Quick note (or maybe not that quick
)
A lot of you folks out there are struggling with this or that aspect of playing these shiny little single button critters, right? I know this from 24 years of running this group. Over that period, I've heard/read about many who were feeling frustrated and complaining on-list, about not being able to get this or that thing mastered, after struggling with it since the flood, right? Of course I'm right, and although I don't remember who you are,
you know I'm talking about you.
Okay, here's an unbiased observation, of an "outside observer," me. (instead of a player/participant) of today's get-to-gether. True, it has taken some time (which is fully understandable) but in virtually
all of the "regulars," I've observed a marked improvement in their overall "PPF" (personal playing factor) as well as their "MQ." (musical quotient) Yeah you're right, I just made those terms up, but they do fit the description.
In my opinion, the guys on our Zoom meetings, (I say that cuz we don't have any girls there yet
) without exception, and without particularly focusing on anything, have A-L-L shown significant improvements with:
- Style
- Articulation
- Improvization,
- Over-all sound
- phrasing - and very importantly:
- Confidence
Heck, even all our technical abilities are improving
"Oh, I'm not good enough to play in front of people" Well, how do you ever expect to get "good,") without participating in what you're afraid of?" Like thinking you can learn to swim from reading a book! Ain't gunna happen, and even you did improve your playing on your own, it would take five times as long to do so, and then you'd come up with
another excuse to stay away!
"I'm afraid I'd look stupid" There's another thing that'll keep you playing at the level you're playing at now for the rest of your life! Hey! Our Zoom meetings are a virtual, on-line, "mistake factory." We
all screw up, laugh about it, and keep playing. Like I like to tell everyone: "You're not that good anyway!" None of us are! and when you start to
think that you're "all that," you're not gunna be much fun to hang around with anyway! Harrumph!
