Posted Mon, 05/06/2013 - 08:22 by David Barrett Admin
Another great tool to train yourself to play softer is that when playing to a jam track or a study song recording, simply set the volume at a low level; this forces you to play softer in order to track along with the recording. I also like to have students plug in and play amplified, but set the volume of the jam track (or me on the bass) at an acoustic volume, again, forcing them to play softly. Too often playing amplified is only serving the purpose of being louder, but it's so much more than just that... the change in tone being of most importance. continue reading...
Posted Thu, 05/02/2013 - 07:24 by David Barrett Admin
Playing loudly is the #1 killer of harmonicas. The #1 reason why harmonica players don't employ enough dynamics in their playing is the tendency to play loudly all the time. The #1 tell that someone has not mastered their bending skills is in their tendency to play their bent notes louder than their non-bent notes. The fix?... practice playing every new phrase you learn as softly as possible. Keep the volume of backing tracks low so that you're forced to play softly to hear the track well.
Posted Wed, 05/01/2013 - 07:57 by David Barrett Admin
Students are tempted to bring their sheet music or lyric sheets on the stage as a crutch at student concerts. In most cases it's just nerves asking for that safety blanket. The end result is always awkward. Whether it's on a music stand or on the stage floor, your attention is drawn towards the sheet, even if you don't really need it. continue reading...
Posted Tue, 03/26/2013 - 09:06 by David Barrett Admin
The video recorder is your absolute best friend for bettering your skill set. After each jam session, rehearsal or show sit down and study what you hear and see on recording and make notes of how you can better yourself. Audio recording is fine, though sometimes without a visual reference it can be mysterious why something happened the way it did. In many cases, signals/cues... or lack there of... cause issues on the bandstand... and thus in the music; this can be seen and analyzed from the video recording. So, the tip... continue reading...
Posted Mon, 03/18/2013 - 09:54 by David Barrett Admin
Last week my tip focused around changing your car/travel harp often... you don't want to become really comfortable with one key of harmonica at the cost of not being able to play the others well.
My students and I tend to grab an A Harmonica as our gut reaction for a key of harp to pickup that's very neutral across its range (not too low or high)... rightfully so, it IS the most common harmonica used, BUT... again, we don't want to become overly dependent on one key of harmonica. Grab the G or Low-F for a lower harp... the D for a mid-high harp... and an F for the high harp. continue reading...
Posted Tue, 03/05/2013 - 08:55 by David Barrett Admin
Here's an example of what your harmonica practice might look like throughout the week.
MORNING
10m = Exercises: "Movement Exercises Summed" one day and "Tongue Block Study 2.5" the other
25m = Bending Study Song
25m = Tongue Blocking Study Song
(If you've completed the core bending and TB studies, then your focus would be 3rd Position, 1st Position, or whatever study songs are in your path).
AFTERNOON
20m = Improvising: Take one lick from a study song and apply the Chorus Form process
Posted Mon, 03/04/2013 - 09:18 by David Barrett Admin
Dividing your practice into different times of the day is very effective. Some of you know that I'm studying the upright bass right now and am in my wood-shedding years and consistent practice is very important. Here's how I structure my practice days...
MORNING
15m = Exercises: There are finger/intonation-based exercises that require daily, habitual practice to grow.
45m = Sight Reading: Using a method book for developing fingering positions and reading skills. This requires concentration, and the morning time is when I can focus best.
Posted Wed, 01/16/2013 - 10:44 by David Barrett Admin
If you don't have a piano/keyboard around (the most common reference instrument), a music notation program can work just as well... if not better. When working passages that include bending... such as the simple C Major Scale on the C Major Harmonica, where the F and A are whole step bends... notate that scale in the program and use the playback controls to set the speed and play along.
I use the full version of Finale, though makemusic.com has many version of the software... one being free. continue reading...