Online blues harmonica lessons

"The four laws of learning are explanation, demonstration, imitation, and repetition. The goal is to create a correct habit that can be produced instinctively under great pressure. To make sure this goal was achieved, I created eight laws of learning: namely, explanation, demonstration, imitation, repetition, repetition, repetition, repetition and repetition." John Wooden

Ever play the harp into a glass, ceramic or tin cup... if not, give it a try, it sounds really cool. Bullet mics are 2.5" in diameter, so if you find a cup around that size it will feel comparable to what you're already used to holding. Experiment with different materials (glass, tin, ceramic, etc.) and depths, it does make a difference in the sound. Try hand effect like the Wa Wa, Hand Tremolo, etc. If you decide to use this on the bandstand, place the vocal mic on whichever side you open your hands for your hand techniques. continue reading...

“Struggle is not optional, it’s neurologically required. In order to get your skill circuit to fire optimally, you must by definition fire the circuit sub optimally. You must make mistakes, and pay attention to those mistakes… you must slowly teach your circuit. You must also keep firing that circuit, i.e. practicing, in order to keep myelin functioning properly, after all, myelin is living tissue.” Pg 44, The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How. by Daniel Coyle Notes

“Have your student keep a special type of practice log. Instead of recording how much practice they did, or what type of practice they did, simply have them record what breakthroughs they made each day. What can they now do that they couldn’t do when the practice session started?” Pg 62, The Practice Revolution: Getting Great Results from the Six Days Between Music Lessons by Philip Johnston

On the record "Legacy" David Holt speaks with Doc Watson and asks about his and his father's harmonica playing. In the cut titled "Dad Was a Harmonica Player" (available at the iTunes store) Doc talks plays examples of both puckering and tongue blocking as well as plays position examples. Pretty cool stuff.

“It is easier to build upon this beauty than it is to pretend it is not there and try to create it from scratch.” Pg 54, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music by Victor L. Wooten

“Everyone starts out in music as a listener. As young children, we hear music with freshness and delight. We fall in love with it and are entranced by the simplest song. But when we start practicing an instrument, we stop listening intently. We become so involved with producing sound that we forget to take it in.” Pg 12, The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music From the Heart by Madeline Bruser

Philadelphia is home to one of the finest blues harp players in the world, much to the surprise of people not "inside" the blues scene. Over the past thiry-plus years, Steve Guyger with his band, The Excellos, has been dishing out some of the finest blues to be heard anywhere. Steve has toured with the late Jimmy Rogers, among others, and has played with many of the great Chicago bluesmen and contemporary players, yet he remains one of the best kept secrets in blues. continue reading...