Judging Music with Visual Cues Harmonica Harp Practice Performance

Now that you can play your song at full tempo, make a playlist and play to the original (the one with harmonica on it) and if a jam track exists (like your study songs at BluesHarmonica.com), play with it after. The first play through helps to give you an imprint of the original song before you try to do it on your own. The jam track gives you the opportunity to practice without the auditory cues of the original harmonica part. continue reading...

Once your song is selected, it's time to get to work and learn it. Use the standard method I outline in Blues Harmonica Fundamentals on the site....

1) Loop the lick (with a software program like the Amazing Slow Downer) and slow it down to a manageable speed

2) Listen once... sing/hum once... listen... sing/hum... rinse and repeat

3) Stop the playback and work with the transcription (music notation with TAB) to work out the breathing, movement and techniques associated with the lick until you can play it close to what's in your aural memory. continue reading...

Many years ago, Rod Piazza was speaking on the art of performance at a Harmonica Masterclass Workshop and stated, "People listen with their eyes," in respect to the importance of the visual element of your show. In last Friday's "Science Friday" podcast in "Judging Music with Visual Cues" I heard that science has confirmed Rod's assertion. Check this out if you get a chance, it's very interesting.

Science Friday: Judging Music with Visual Cues (8/23/2013)
http://www.sciencefriday.com/segment/08/23/2013/judging-music-with-visua...