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David's Tip of the Day: Recording for Dynamics, Part 1

Posted Wed, 03/14/2012 - 08:19 by David Barrett Admin
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Recording yourself for analysis is a well-known tool to better one's playing. Try this...

1) Record a song you know well

2) Right after the first one record the same song with NO dynamics (no volume change... everything at one level).

3) Then record the same song with a focus on dynamics... make some passages louder and others softer. Really try to swing your dynamics dramatically.

4) Record it one last time, but make your louds even louder and softs even softer... MORE dramatic.

Listen to all four versions...

David's Tip of the Day: Pre-Performance Speach

Posted Tue, 03/13/2012 - 08:24 by David Barrett Admin
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Moments before I play I say to myself, "Relax… Play Musically… Play Repetitively."

"Relax" prompts me to take a couple of breaths... slowing down my breathing and my heart rate. I play better when I'm relaxed.

"Play Musically" prompts me to not try and impress anybody... letting the music flow through me... not forcing anything.

"Play Repetitively" reminds me to use Chorus Forms... phrasing known to be highly affective/memorable.

If you don't have a saying before you play, I recommend you work on one... it can be amended as you go... targeted to what you're working on at that time.

David's Tip of the Day: How to Make A Record Clock

Posted Mon, 03/12/2012 - 10:49 by David Barrett Admin
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This tip is best viewed with pictures at http://www.facebook.com/bluesharmonica

How to Make A Record Clock
One of the fun things my dad showed me how to do growing up was to make clocks out of pretty much anything. Here’s a real easy one for you that can cool-up any room and show off your favorite players. You can either buy the mechanism by itself or visit your local store (in this case Target) for a clock that has hands that you feel will look cool… continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: That Sounds Like Ka Ka (Tremolo & Vibrato)

Posted Fri, 03/09/2012 - 09:43 by David Barrett Admin
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The tremolo, and in turn the vibrato (which uses the tremolo process as its engine) is performed from the vocal folds. A slight cough will give you the feel. Watch "Vocal Folds and Cough" to see what this is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpt0kigakWY It's common for students to unintentionally use a "Ka Ka Ka," thinking they're using their vocal folds, but they're not. No "Ka Ka" allowed... experiment and see what you're using. For more information on this technique visit the Tremolo & Vibrato lesson the site.

What's New: iPhone and iPad

Posted Thu, 03/08/2012 - 09:13 by David Barrett Admin
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BluesHarmonica.com can now be viewed on Apple mobile products (iPhones and iPads). Thanks everyone for your patience! No app as of yet... it's in the works.

David's Tip of the Day: Bringing an old mic back to life

Posted Thu, 03/08/2012 - 09:10 by David Barrett Admin
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Just received my mic back from Fritz Hasenpusch Custom Mics. He took my beat up 1940's brown small-shell Shure bullet and gave it a nice brush chrome finish. I was looking for a match to my 1938 Shure bullet and he hit it right on the head. Thanks for the beautiful job Fritz!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3135182910118&set=a.1750258727879...

David's Tip of the Day: Tenacity

Posted Wed, 03/07/2012 - 09:28 by David Barrett Admin
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It's not the most talented that become good harmonica players, it's the most tenacious.

David's Tip of the Day: Value

Posted Tue, 03/06/2012 - 09:28 by David Barrett Admin
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The more you practice, the more valuable I become.

What's New: Ryan Walker Lesson #2

Posted Fri, 03/02/2012 - 20:19 by David Barrett Admin
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Join Intermediate student Ryan Walker for his latest lesson with me. In this lesson we cover...

Checking In - Between Lessons #1 and #2
Lesson 2 - Intro
Lesson 2 - Ryan plays Take it Easy Now and David's Comments
Lesson 2 - Cupping and Wa Wa
Lesson 2 - How to play Take It Easy Now with a Band, Part 1
Lesson 2 - How to play Take It Easy Now with a Band, Part 2
Lesson 2 - How to play Take It Easy Now with a Band, Part 3
Lesson 2 - Solo Harmonica Study 1, Examples 1.13 through 1.15
Lesson 2 - Solo Harmonica Study 1, Examples 2.1 to End
Lesson 2 - Gary's Blues, Choruses 1 through 3 continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: The Science of Learning at an Older Age

Posted Fri, 03/02/2012 - 08:54 by David Barrett Admin
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In hour 2 of Science Friday's 02/10/12 radio program they speak with psychology professor and author of "Guitar Zero, the New Musician and the Science Learning" Gary Marcus. Professor Marcus started learning the guitar at age 38 and speaks about the science of learning and if there's a critical age range to learn an instrument or if there's still a chance for the older learner. In the second half of this program they speak of the science of audio and spend time on the CD verses Vinyl debate and about common compressions used for digital distribution such as MP3 and what they do to the sound. continue reading...