Pucker or tongue block instructors ?
I' ve been self taught ( other than 4 group classes with Jon Gindick) for 14 mos now. He primarily teaches the pucker embouchure which I already used beng self taught. So that was all fine & good. Recently I started the beginners lesson plan on this site and it's all tongue block embouchure. I knew at some point, to play the blues, I'd have to learn tongue blocking. So why not now. I'm doing better with it now although at first it felt ackward. I can see the advantage of TBing though. Gindick is going to be holding a weekly class in Feb in my home town. I want to attend for the personal critique and learning aspect but I don't know if his teaching methods will conflict with yours or if I should just absorb musically
all I can from whomever I can and hope it all gels into advancing myself as a better harp player. Any thoughts on this ?
Great question. I like the "absorb musically all I can from whomever I can and hope it all gels into advancing myself as a better harp player." When you go in to play for your instructor tell them exactly what you just said to me. In the end it's about choices... now you can do both. Keep playing the in the tongue block style as your primary embouchure, it really pays off, especially as you get into years three and four of your studies. Have a good time at the class!
P.S., usually John hires some good instructors... Joe Filisko... Dennis Gruenling... etc., and they all teach TB from the beginning.