Stephen Clark - L10
A big congratulations to Stephen Clark in New Milford, CT for completing Levels of Achievement Level 10 Testing at BluesHarmonica.com. You can see his performance of original instrumentals here: https://youtu.be/IKLDAUTDoeU
Here is his story...
“The Process” by Stephen Clark
It all started with Elmo. My son was watching Sesame Street Kids’ Favorite Country
Songs , which contains a selection featuring John Popper and L.D. Miller playing Home
on the Range . Their performance was show-stopping. Even my wife would stop
whatever she was doing to watch it.
I remember thinking, “I think I have an old harmonica or two in my toolbox,” They were
from when I was a band teacher. I went to get one as a toy for my son. Soon after, I
was hooked.
I took advantage of all the instruction I could get for free and paid for some a la cart.
Some of it was excellent. However, I have been teaching music lessons for decades, so
I know how instruments are best learned. I decided that I wanted an organized,
step-by-step method to really master the instrument. Special 20s come with a free
month of BluesHarminica.com, so I decided to check it out.
Needless to say, the Level of Achievement program was exactly what I was looking for.
I began using my lunch breaks to practice. I would hit the music theory first. This
changed my life as a musician. Although I didn’t learn much about music theory that I
didn’t already know, I learned to apply it in new ways that have transformed how I
understand, teach, and use theory. My students are the better for it.
Secondly, I would work on the technical studies—scales and such. I knew I couldn’t
play the study songs until I had the chops and the chops come from exercises and
scales. I also happen to love exercises and scales.
Thirdly, I would work on the study songs. The process of recording them drove me to
perfection and gave me confidence. The feedback I received showed me things that I
couldn’t see myself.
Preparing for the concert pushed me in a way I needed to be pushed. I had performed
in public hundreds, if not thousands of times on many different instruments, but I had
never played a concert of songs I had written myself. Writing songs is something I had
wanted to do, but never actually did until it was a requirement of this program.
Then there was the problem of getting together a band. In the end, I asked the
members of my church worship team to be my backup band. We performed my songs
and used the rest of the concert as a recital for one of my students and a couple of the
band members. I was even fortunate enough to have our church sound man volunteer
to record the event. I had a great time, and I hope they all did as well.
People have asked me, “So now what?” That’s a good question. I believe that I have
accomplished a huge goal, but that I have just set out on my journey as a harmonica
player. Now that the concert is over I feel more confident as a player. I plan to try to
get more work playing the harp, and I’m working to try to add harmonica students to my
teaching roster.
“Now what?” Now I have the skills to continue a never-ending quest for excellence on
our very, very fun instrument.
