Poll: Trying to gauge interest in a channel to teach Eharp

Bill McCloskey · From: Nanuet, NY

After a year of retirement, I've been considering what I should do next. I keep coming back to the same idea:

I would really like to set up a place to teach the Eharp tuning. After a couple of years playing Eddy Alkire's invention, I really believe it is one of the most powerful tunings out there. But people need exposure and the ability to learn it's capabilities, something that is non existent today.

I may never be a world class player but I know those that are could really have vistas opened for them if they just were exposed to the tuning.

In addition I'd like to expose people to some of Eddie's compositions, written as lessons. I've reached out to his son to see about any copyright issues.

My main audience are those who have never played lapsteel or who want to play jazz and jazz standards and want to learn how to play 3-4 note chords with no slants. Basically teaching you to pick up any song in a Jazz fake book and play it.

I've tried to create a poll, not sure if I did it right or not. Just trying to see if there is any interest at all for before I get too involved.

Doug Taylor · From: Shelbyville, Kentucky, USA

Sounds like a worthy goal Bill, I wish you the best of luck.

Bill McCloskey · From: Nanuet, NY

Doug, I often feel the weight of the responsibility. I feel without my involvement, this amazing gift to the steel guitar world and the world of music will be lost forever.

David M Brown · From: California, USA

Although I am not personally interested in learning the Eharp, it would be a good thing for you to have a website devoted to the tuning.

Doug Taylor · From: Shelbyville, Kentucky, USA

I had never heard of Eharps until I started reading your threads. I find the history of this tuning very interesting. At some point I am going to pick one up.

David Ball · From: North Carolina High Country

I believe in preservation--once something's lost, it's gone forever. Whatever interest there might be, there's going to be some. If there's material out there to learn, it will be found by those who need it. I'd say go for it!

Decades ago, I, along with a couple of accomplices, started a listserv for theremin enthusiasts. Pretty limited audience especially at the time, but it had a good following. Today, the spawn of that listserv still exists, although in a more updated social media form.

I don't do much with the theremin these days, but I'm glad I was able to help preserve interest in it. I hope you can do the same for the EHarp.

Dave

Mike Neer · From: NJ

I think it’s a good idea because it will help you grow as well as others. Teaching is a motivational tool for me. There are a couple of other guys here who have some knowledge of the Alkire system. Glenn Uhler (member from NJ) ave me a bunch of literature and recordings years ago.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links

Travis Brown · From: Florida, USA

I will be watching it. I ordered strings to set up a six stringer in the reduced Alkire tuning today. If I can find a cheap 8 string, I'll set it up in Alkire until I get serious enough to buy a eharp.

I've been playing a lot the last few weeks, and I'm definitely starting to see the appeal of Alkire as well as the cool sounds you get from slant playing. It seems to me the ultimate would be a synthesis of the two styles.

I'll add that while you may or may not be a world class steel player, your insights about the Alkire tuning have been very interesting and have helped me understand the appeal. IMO you don't have to be a top player to understand and effectively teach someone what the virtues of a tuning are.

Bill McCloskey · From: Nanuet, NY

Travis, you can always slant with the eharp. You just don’t have to

Travis Brown · From: Florida, USA

Nic Neufeld · From: Kansas City, Missouri

I have a bit of the "museum curator" personality myself so I heartily endorse your effort to try and preserve that knowledge! A youtube instructional channel will likely outlive all of us, given the way information is preserved these days, and who knows, somebody 100 years from now might be interested in learning it...it's a unique opportunity you have to preserve something that otherwise may not be preserved. So if you're inclined I say go for it!
_________________
Waikīkī, at night when the shadows are falling
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me

George Piburn · From: The Land of Enchantment New Mexico

A Few Considerations;

1st and foremost, Your doing this because you genuinely want to help others and yourself.
The Cause is commendable - teaching can be lucrative too.
As Mike points out the Teacher learns more from the students.
So far as being a great player, no one needs to know you worked up the lesson an hour ago or last night.

Delivery; how do you plan to deliver this?

Live Events need "A Regular Time Slot" you can advertise.

Live zooms? Live efforts benifit from consistancy.
Pay per view youtubes? Free Youtubes ?
Pay what you can tip jar style- Stageit?
DVD Sales?
Downloadable with tabs ala Troy?

All of this requires logistics -- equipment cameras - lights -- people to help run it - time involvement,

My wife and I put a ton of time into it when used to teach all the time, we loved every minute of it at the time. Now we still get some residual coins now and then.

Go for it

GeorgeBoards Very Happy

_________________
GeorgeBoards S8 Non Pedal Steel Guitar Instruments
Maker of One of a Kind Works of Art that play music too.
Instructional DVDs
YouTube Channel

Bill McCloskey · From: Nanuet, NY

Great feed back everyone and it seems there is enough interest to make it worthwhile.

I'm in touch with Richard Alkire, Eddie's son and he is considering my idea from a copyright and permission aspect.

As Mike and George have pointed out: teaching will definitely help my playing and it is a motivating factor in my intent.

I don't know how many of you follow Rick Beato's youtube channel but he said he hadn't practiced in 30 years and lost his chops before getting them back because he started his Instagram account.

Andy Volk · From: Boston, MA

Bill, while I am not personally interested in the Ehrap approach I applaud you for finding and following your passion. As you say, if people are exposed to the tuning, you will definitely eventually find like-minded souls.
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com

Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

I'd give it a go. Would like to get some use out of this thing. It's set up in C6, but the strings are too close together to make slants doable on adjacent strings below about the 30th fret.

Bill McCloskey · From: Nanuet, NY

Just bought the domain LearnEharp.com.
so, we are on our way

Michael Greer · From: Ontario, Canada

Bill

I believe Alkire tuning is your passion and like others encourage you to follow that passion.

I also will never be a great player as I continue to use the "buck shot" approach to steel guitar.

Pedal steel e9, lap steel A tuning, C6 tuning, etc.

I would be interested in what you develop to help keep the Alkire tuning alive.

Best wishes for you and your project.

Mike

Mike A Holland · From: United Kingdom

Bill, I would say just go for it. The steel community needs as much exposure to all types and styles to keep going. If you can bring your obvious enthusiasm and dedication to teaching the Alkire system then it will be a winner. Wishing you all the best if you decide to go ahead!
Mike

Forum Index > Steel Without Pedals		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic