Tonight I went on a walk with my harmonica and played one of the most beautiful pieces of music I’ve yet played. I made it all up as I went along. There is no recording… what I created was released into the aether and perhaps into the dreams of a few lucky sleepers. I do this most every night. Have for a few years now. It’s the most beautiful way to play the harmonica, I think. The music doesn’t come from tabs or memorization or the mind of someone else, it comes from you. You make each note up as you go along, stringing together a joyous tune from practiced, yet arbitrary, notes and rhythms. You play scales, you practice the longest, most rich notes you can play, you sing out beautiful chords into the night sky. You add color to the night… character to the neighborhood… foundation to your repertoire.
If you’ve never played while taking a walk, you should really go try. It’s strange at first… embarrassing in a stage fright kind of way. But take courage from the anonymity of the street! Go on a walk and play your most beautiful music. Do it often enough and you will get good at it.
Photo credit goes to Flickr User In My Entirety. Thanks!
