Leader in Blues Harmonica Education

| Home | Workshops | Products | Instruction Material |

Harmonica Masterclass Lesson Series

2009 Workshop Information
Many Class Subjects to Choose From for Intermediate
to Professional Players on Blues Diatonic & Chromatic Harmonica!

Upcoming Workshops

The Harmonica Masterclass Workshop provides the best blues harmonica instructors in the world. Each instructor has worked closely with head instructor David Barrett and is thoroughly knowledgeable about the subjects they teach and how it fits into the system of instruction that the Harmonica Masterclass Workshop provides. As participant Keith Bell states "it is now evident to myself having now completed level three classes that this is the highest level of blues harmonica education anywhere in the world that your money can buy.”

David Barrett is the world's most published author of blues harmonica lesson material (over sixty book/CD sets and videos published through Mel Bay Publications). Having played saxophone and trumpet for many years David already had a solid musical platform when he started to play the harmonica at age fourteen. By age sixteen he was already playing blues jam sessions and harmonica shows in the California Bay Area. By age eighteen he was studying music theory in college and started teaching harmonica at local music institutes. By age twenty he released his first book Building Harmonica Technique with Mel Bay Publications.

David is the founder of the Harmonica Masterclass Company (HMC). HMC specializes in harmonica products (cases, cables, etc.) and workshops for blues harmonica (focused on intermediate to professional players) since 1995. David is the program designer and main instructor of these classes; 20 to 250 participants attend his classes depending on program type and location.

David is also the founder of School of the Blues in San Jose, California.  David and his instructors (Guitar, Bass, Organ/Keyboard/Piano, Vocals, and Drums) teach local private lessons and workshops as well as accepting fly-in lessons on a regular basis. David teaches on average fifty private students a month as well as home correspondence courses. He is also active in working with local hospitals teaching his Harmonica for Fun & Health classes to people with COPD (commonly Emphysema), asthma and heart disease.

Along with his workshops, private teaching and writing method material, David is an active writer for various publications. David writes a monthly column for Blues Revue Magazine called "Right On The Number," is the editor and writer for www.HarmonicaSessions.com and author of a Free eZine through HMC.  

David performs regularly in the California Bay Area (San Francisco Blues Festival, Monterey Bay Blues Festival, etc.) and abroad (Chicago, Japan, etc.). Recently David played in the Mark Hummel Blues Harmonica Blowouts featuring James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, Kim Wilson, Mark Hummel and David.  Through the years David has worked or played with Charlie Musselwhite, Mark Hummel, Lee Oskar, Rod Piazza, James Harman, James Cotton, Gary Smith, Andy Just, Mark Ford, Billy Boy Arnold, Rick Estrin, Paul deLay, Jerry Portnoy, Gary Primich, Howard Levy, Magic Dick, Tom Ball, Sonny Jr., Annie Raines, Paul Oscher, Phil Wiggins, Brendan Power, Sam Myers, Snooky Pryor, Rob Paparozzi, Dennis Gruenling, Carlos del Junco, Mitch Kashmar, Joe Filisko, Jr. Watson, Nick Moss, Steve Freund, Rusty Zinn, Johnny Cat and John Garcia. He now fronts the School of the Blues All-star Band featuring John Garcia on guitar and vocals.  His latest CD is Serious Fun with John Garcia.

David is the world's most published author of the blues harmonica lesson material, revolutionizing the way the harmonica is now taught. He is always honing his skills and striving for excellence in everything that he does.


It’s not likely you will find many aspects regarding the current state of the diatonic harmonica that have not been influenced in some way by Joe Filisko. His craftsmanship, musicianship, and knowledge of the instrument and its history are being acknowledged and praised by the likes of Howard Levy, Kim Wilson, Charlie Musselwhite, Gary Primich, Mickey Raphael, John Hammond, Curtis Salgado, Madcat Ruth, Steve Baker, Mike Stevens, Mark Graham, The National Music Museum, the Harmonikamuseum Trossingen, and even the M. Hohner Company. The SPAH organization named Joe “Harmonica Player of the Year” in 2001. Joe has recently completed the definitive discography on Big Walter Horton. Currently he has been writing the harmonica entry for the “Encyclopedia of the Blues” to be published by Routledge.

Joe has been teaching with the Harmonica Masterclass Workshop since our New York class in 2003.  As David Barrett states, "Since our very first time working together in New York I knew that Joe was a highly skilled instructor, as well as an amazing player and historian of the blues.  Since that first class we have spent time together and it is evident that Joe is the best blues harmonica teacher I have ever met.  Our Chicago class in 2004 was his first time with us as a full staff member and there were nothing but praises from students all weekend on how much they enjoyed Joe's classes and personal dedication to helping them achieve what they came to the class to learn."

Joe can be found teaching harmonica every Monday at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music besides playing evenings with The Carl Davis Band and On the Mainline throughout the Chicagoland area. Joe is a fantastic player and educator; we are proud to have him on our team.

Website: www.joefilisko.com




Dennis Gruenling has been laying down some of the best blues harmonica in the East Coast region for over a dozen years now. After spending some time in New Orleans in 1992-3, Dennis came back home to New Jersey and quickly gained a reputation as a rising star on the local blues scene. A few stints with some local bands followed (The Fins and Filthy Rich & the Poor Boys among others) and finally to 1998 when he formed the first incarnation of Jump Time. Along the way, Gruenling has shared the stage with many top names in the blues world, such as Pinetop Perkins, Snooky Pryor, Homesick James, Hubert Sumlin, John Mayall, BB King, Little Sammy Davis, A.C. Reed, and Jimmy Dawkins, as well as contemporary masters such as Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers, Little Charlie & The Nightcats, Kim Wilson, Rusty Zinn and Steve Guyger. Ever since his self-titled debut with his band Jump Time hit the streets in 1999, Dennis has been pulling in countless fans and numerous accolades from critics & musicians across the country for his swinging, highly original harmonica sound, and top-notch band. In 2000, "Up All Night" was released. A non-Jump Time project, which owed much to his roots in stripped down Chicago-style blues, proving he could also play "traditional" blues harmonica with the best of them. This gained more recognition for Dennis and his talents not only as a harp player, but also as a bandleader and songwriter. The year 2001 saw the second Jump Time release, which includes special guests and the new addition to the band - vocalist Gina Fox. Once again Dennis has pushed the boundaries further for blues harmonica.

Dennis has also been teaching blues harmonica for over 10 years now, and is in demand as a private instructor, or as part of numerous harmonica workshops and conventions that appear across the country. He also has many years experience teaching at music schools, harmonica conventions, music festivals and blues workshops. Dennis has also been published in Real Blues Magazine ("George 'Harmonica' Smith" 2001) and in the American Harmonica Newsletter ("George 'Harmonica' Smith - West Coast Legend" series and "Amplified Harmonica" series 1997-98). Dennis' has received numerous awards such as: "Outstanding Service Award" SPAH Convention 1998, 2000, 2004; "Best Modern Blues Harmonica Player" - Real Blues Magazine 1999, 2000, 2001; "Best Blues Harmonica CD" - Real Blues Magazine 1999, 2001; "Top 10 CD" - Makin' Waves Awards  1999, 2000; and "Best Male Artist" - Makin' Waves Awards 1999. Dennis' teaching credits: Private teaching studio for over 10 years; Turtle Bay Music School (NYC); Old Town School of Folk Music (Chicago); Jon Gindick Harmonica Jam Camp (NJ, CA, GA, MO, FL); David Barrett Harmonica Masterclass (NY); SPAH Harmonica Conventions (MI, MO, OH); Natchel Blues Network Harmonica
 Masterclass (VA); and Buckeye Harmonica Festivals (OH)

Website: www.dennisgruenling.com


Kinya Pollard is a serious harmonica player in the school of Paul Butterfield and one of the students' favorite teachers at our workshops.  His teaching style and drive to help all students usually places him in a coma after a weekend's work!  As a student of David Barrett for over ten years he knows the methodical approach to becoming a great harmonica player.  Kinya has now taught Harmonica Masterclass Workshops since 2000 and consistently receives high marks from students.  Along with teaching adult education courses on the harmonica at the Jazz School on Berkley California he currently performs in the greater Bay Area with local bands.


Dennis Carelli is the director and manager of the Harmonica Masterclass Workshop and School of the Blues. Dennis is the man behind the scenes making sure all the details are smooth for each event.  Along with being a knowledgeable business person he is a very active musician, playing with up to three bands in a weekend.  If you see him at a class ask him to perform one of his famous Rhumbas!

Information

Austin Texas 2005

 


Anaheim California 2005