Tip of the Day

HOHNER INSTANT WORKSHOP TOOLKIT MZ99831
This toolkit for professional players and harmonica service technicians includes the HOHNER Service Set MZ99331 and contains in addition all tools needed to perform advanced level service operations such as reed replacement as well as all other jobs described in the HOHNER INSTANT WORKSHOP videos on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Dc3ssh_bM)

I'm part of the Hohner advisory panel, which gives me the opportunity to voice my suggestions on new products and how to improve current products. One that Hohner has been working on for a couple of years is this soon-to-be-released FlexRack. This rack has 3 separate adjustment points (position, angle and height), easy exchange of harps without altering rack settings, adjustable spring loaded clamp with rubberized contact surfaces to avoid scratching harp and fits harmonica models up to a width of 16.5cm (6.5"). continue reading...

Let's now listen to what you recorded...

"#1) Record a song you know well"

Okay, cool...

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

You might of been surprised that this sounded no different, or not much different, than #1. If this is the case, you're in the majority. This is a good wake-up call to use more dynamics.

"#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." continue reading...

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...

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. continue reading...

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...

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.

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...

It's not the most talented that become good harmonica players, it's the most tenacious.

The more you practice, the more valuable I become.