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Forums :: Ask Instructor David Barrett

Daily routine?

3 replies [Last post]
Tue, 02/19/2019 - 12:19
Mr.Nobody
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Joined: 12/24/2015

Hey again David,

I think it was in one of the first videos that you mentioned that the daily practice routine should be structured for 1/3 theory/exercises and 2/3 learning songs. 

 

I'm in the middle of level 2 (LOA), and I can't really figure out which songs are there to learn.. Should I be patient? Are they coming soon?

 

Also, how should I construct my practice routine? Is it whatever lesson I learn - go through it until I make it perfect? Going over scales? 

 

I'm not really sure how to make my 1 hour daily practice most effective and would appreciate your help. 

 

Thank you.

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Tue, 02/19/2019 - 14:06
#1
David Barrett
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ExpertHead InstructorTeacher 10Level 10
Joined: 12/20/2009
Hello again Mr.Nobody. In

Hello again Mr.Nobody. In Level 2 your study song is "Temperature," in Tongue Blocking Study 2. Here is a PDF that outlines which is the main material in each level http://www.bluesharmonica.com/sites/bluesharmonica.com/files/private/loa...

At your level, I would focus your time in these areas...

1) Temperature - 2/3 of your time
Work on each lick, and each lick in a chorus, and then from chorus to chorus until you can play the whole song well. Each chorus (12 bars) represents two weeks of focused work. Generally go for 70% accuracy before moving on to the next lick.

2) Solo Harmonica Study 2 - Examples 1.5 and 1.6 are good to work on

3) Accompaniment Study 2

These are your main areas. Spend more time (more Solo Harmonica Study 1 or 2 for where the music is interesting to you).

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Fri, 03/01/2019 - 10:07
#2
Jaguar44
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Joined: 11/28/2016
bending

David im just starting bending,i can get some response from holes 1 to six, 3 being the hardest,using ordinary lip pursing but as soon as i try tongue blocking absoleutly nothing, where am i going wrong thanks

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Fri, 03/01/2019 - 15:05
#3
David Barrett
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ExpertHead InstructorTeacher 10Level 10
Joined: 12/20/2009
Hello Jaguar44. Though it

Hello Jaguar44. Though it doesn't feel like it, the physics for pucker bending and tongue block bending are the same. Your focus when tongue block bending is on the wave-like motion that I describe in the Bending Study 1 lesson. In a pucker, your tongue is free to move back in the bending process. While tongue blocking, you can't move your tongue back, since it is used on the face of the harmonica. Focus on the humping of the tongue... more of the front of the tongue, further forward in the mouth for high bends (like the 6 draw).... more of the middle of the tongue in the middle of your mouth for mid bends (like 4)... and more of the back of the tongue, further back in your mouth for low bends (like the 2). Experiment, experiment, experiment... you will get it with time.

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