Cross Harp News

July 2024 Edition

Photo by Doug Avery

Where have I been? and what have I learned?

I was messed up bad, but this is a happy story.

Back about 2020, I started having severe epileptic seizures, so fierce and sudden that there was no way of knowing when they would come or what

would happen when they did. On one occasion, I had a seizure while teaching a jam camp. After a day of teaching, I went to bed, and when I woke up and it was 36 hours later.

All my students had left and parts of my memory were gone. Although I was on meds for epilepsy, you just don’t know when the meds are dosed right– until you have a seizure. Then you can say, “I guess I need a higher dosage!”

One day I was happily driving down a country road–and woke up in a roadside ditch with emergency workers yelling at me to wake up, get out of the car, and into the ambulance. I had seized while driving and gotten myself into a head-on collision at 40mph. By the grace of God, the girl I hit was ok, and so was I, except for my brain. The State of California quite rightly rescinded my driver's license. Along with having a broken brain, I was walking everywhere!

Now my memory was really gone. I could not remember things–like how to get to a store that was about 6 blocks from my house. I also could not remember lyrics or guitar chords. (Fortunately, my harmonica brain seemed to be intact.) The wreck was last April 28, 2023. When I got out of the hospital, my neurologist upped my meds and I went on the keto diet. An MRI said no brain damage. Sure felt One of the worst consequences was the undermining of my self-confidence. I also lost my passion for music (which I have regained 200%) On the good side, I have not had a seizure since.

Here’s the point: I started rebuilding my brain and using music to do it. I figured that if I could master one neurological connection, others would heal. Even though it was frustrating as hell, I retrained my fingers to form the guitar chords that my fingers would not shape. I sang my songs again and again to get the lyrics into my brain. Doctors call this well-known phenomenon neuroplasticity, and it’s a well-scientific fact and is certainly one reason we used to have music therapy. Music can heal.

It’s been more than a year now, and I think I am almost back to where I was, writing some good songs and playing harp and guitar in new ways. I have rebuilt my stamina so I can play a couple of sets and more. (Once I start, I just want to keep going.) Things I once took for granted became milestones in my recovery. It’s still that way. This is the first newsletter I have composed in many years.

The point is this: making and learning (or relearning) music can be your healer. It can and will rebuild those lost neurological connections. It can help you come back. So take heart, my friends. Even if you are a beginner, learning to play harp or any instrument will be frustrating as hell, but it will help your broken brain heal.

In a certain sense, I am proof that music can be your healer. I’m not the only one.. Feel free to e-mail me with your neuroplasticity recovery. It’s a huge thing. That’s another reason why it is so wonderful to be a harp teacher.

So play on, my friends. And have faith. Music heals.

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”

- Plato

Sorry! I No Longer Put on Jam Camps

After about 40 camps, for reasons described above, I retired. Creating these 5 -day harmonica Camps is one of the best things I've done. I learned so much, and became friends with scores of harp players. We are still in touch. We all learned a lot about the harp, singing, performing, and the blues right there in the heart of the blues country.

Rekindle your Love of Harpin'

I am frequently asked how one rekindles their desire to play harp. I understand the question. I lost my desire to play for about three years. Somewhere along

the line, this changed, and now I'm more inspired than ever.

My observation is you can't inspire yourself by thinking on a superficial or a parental level. Much better is a life hack that stimulates your subconscious.

The idea is to set up two poles: the first pole is the feeling you get when you play harp now. The feeling we are looking for is emotional.

The second pole is how you'll feel when you are the harp player you want to be.

Take a moment with this. Feel the pride the accomplishment, the admiration.

Take out a piece of paper and create two categories: Now and Future. Make a couple of lists that fit into these categories. This procedure sets a tension between these two feeling sets, and without you even knowing, the dream of harping and the good feelings take over. Just sit back with no pressure to play, and keep these contrasting thought/feelings fresh in your mind.

Put your harmonica in your mouth for no more than 5 minutes a day. (at first.) Listen to the harp music you love. Join a group harmonica class. Take harp lessons from a teacher with whom you have rapport. Go out and hear harp musicians who play the way you want to play.

There is a lot more I can say, but the main point is this: The desire to play can be lost and it can be found . Let time and intention do their work.

Playing Senior Homes

Adds Meaning to Your Music

And Inspires You

I always talk about 'music the healer." This morning I put my music where my mouth is and played a 60 minute set for the residents of a local Senior Home. I admit there were a few distractions, but I kept reminding myself that "music is medicine," and it was extremely rewarding and great practice/performing. I will be doing this again first Friday of every month. There were people with all kinds of conditions at this "gig." It was an honor to play for them.

I had played about three songs when a nurse wheeled a man into the performance room. His head was bent over, his skin was yellowish and lips were horribly swollen. At first he seemed non-responsive to the music.. Was he comatose? I launched into a harp/guitar/vocal version of "Fly Me to the Moon" to a really good beat. The guy was staring at his lap and I kept playing, and damned if ,towards the end of the song, he didnt' smile, start nodding his head and tapping his foot.

Another guy requested Hank Williams and another Ray Charles. Wow, ok. I have the songs to figure out, I am developing my skills and mind for this gig: learning or relearning these songs that I love. Ah, the challenges of performance. I am inspired.

This is something you can do too. It adds meaning to your music, and meaning to your life. All you have to do is be fairly good, (probably make up a business card,) take it onto local senior homes and tell them you'd like to put on a show.

Please take this idea and let it grow.

With the help of fellow harp player Rich Cruz, I have a newly designed website at www.Gindick.com. The store is chock full of my books, audio, videos–

learning tools that will help you get really good on the fundamentals.

As it develops over time, Gindick.com will become even more of a “place”

where you enrich yourself.

Skype Lessons

Face-to-face SKYPE Lessons are as good or better than in-person lessons. We go for 30-40 minutes as I listen to you play and give you feedback, instruction, examples, and overall mentoring. At the lesson’s end, I record a 5-minute voice memo summary and practice guide to help and remind you. Just one lesson can turn everything around.

We have reached the end of this "catch-up with Jon" newsletter. I hope you have enjoyed it and want to read more. The next issue will focus on 3rd Position, "the King of Minor Key Blues." Third Position (also known as Slant Harp) is easy and fun and will take harp skills into new realms.