I sometimes get some lovely compliments from people who overhear me playing, and although I don’t think I deserve the praise, I admit that it does stroke my ego.
It’s easy to be humble though, when I hear professionals or other gifted people play the harmonica or any other instrument.
Theres a T.V series running in Australia, called ‘The Piano’. I won’t bang on about it too much since this is a harmonica forum and I don’t play piano, but it involves people being invited to play on a public piano with Harry Connick Jr and Andrea Lam secretly watching on and emerging later to spring the surprise. In the first episode there was a little girl, 5 years of age who stepped up, put her dolly above the keys and then played beautifully. When she finished, she grabbed her dolly and went back to her Mum. I thought to myself, “Oh dear Lord, who am I trying to kid ?” She can do that and I’m trying to scratch out a few clumsy tunes on a harmonica. It certainly brings me back to earth.
I was actually told one time by a “player” on Facebook that I shouldn’t be humble because it would make people think that I’m not that good. I can’t help it if I say that I’m just okay or that I’m not a good harmonica player. It’s just how my self-image is. But then again, when I told him about my past with my abusive biodad he told me that I would end up like him if I don’t forget it. He also said because I wasn’t threatened with violence that my experience with others bullying me isn’t valid.
Pride comes before a fall, but humility comes before honor. Great post @KeroroRinChou. I’m so glad you’re part of our community, and I’m praying for total healing for your from the abuse you’ve suffered. You are loved here. And you are growing by leaps and bounds on the harmonica, which is so cool to see. Keep it up!!!
I was fortunate to become personal friends with a number of blues guys including B.B. King and James Cotton (for 50 years until their passing), Albert King and Luther Tucker (26 years until their passing and Muddy Waters. As a teenage musician and music journalist, these were musicians I really admired. So, I was initially surprised and taken with the humility of each.
They certainly could have been arrogant about their skills, dismissive of lesser musicians and fans, or resentful of how they had to endure systemic racism for so many years. While each was a great musician and entertainer, they each expressed a kindness and humility.
Whether that humility grew from a reverence for the people who were their. teachers and idols, the realisation that they were just one more person, an inherent kindness, or was a reflection of spiritual beliefs, I don’t know. Maybe part of it was knowing they had nothing to prove. Hearing the spiritual teacher, Ram Das say, “We are just walking each other home”. I realised that was what humility felt like for me. And experiencing the humility of my musical idols, I was humbled.
@BnT great post my man! Thanks for sharing this. 
@KeroroRinChou. I’m praying too. I hope that You play harmonica is a part of God’s great plan for Your live.
I have a funny story about humility and harmonica.
When I was a teenager, sometimes I played harmonica on the street for fun and for money. One time something went wrong. I forgot the cable to play backing tracks. I tried to play music from the radio as backing tracks or play without backing tracks. But there wasn’t a “wow” effect. Near to me some kid break-dancing. He made a “wow” effect and earned really more money than me. When he finished, he took his money, left some coins, and gave me. I just said “thank you”. And I thought: “this time I wasn’t a superhero ;)”
That was a good lesson of humility for me.