Tip of the Day

After a lesson take your recorded files and import them into your computer. Label the files with the lesson date and number them. Listen back to your lesson (I do this the same day) and don't pick up your instrument, but make notes of important topics with their corresponding track numbers and time codes (a time code is simply what time it happens in that track). With this preparation you're ready to get to work on what's important the next time you sit down to practice.

The fact that you're taking lessons from an instructor and not studying their primary instrument helps to set the tone that these lessons are to be very specific in focus. continue reading...

Pretty cool to see this new CD on the market. There's some excellent playing and very mediocre playing... like most collections of modern players out... but it's great to see our ladies of blues harmonica getting their due.

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/naughty-girl/id1046124506?i=1046125541...)

Ruf Records: http://rufrecords.de (direct link: http://rufrecords-shop.de/epages/c5a81d4f-421f-4fa8-b932-09d5c11af2e2.sf...)

These are the things to have with you for your first lesson...

1) Printouts of the current songs you're working on (as well as maybe one you can already play well, so you can give them a taste of what you can do).

2) Download the MP3s (original and jam tracks) to your smartphone or burn a CD if that's more convenient (I have students bring their songs on a thumb drive, it makes it very easy for me to load onto my computer and use with my preferred programs). continue reading...

In yesterday's tip you left a message for two instructors. When there are multiple instructors to choose from it's to your advantage to meet them to find which one is the best fit for your personality, learning style and goals. Most likely you'll speak with them on the phone first, so here's how your conversation might go before the first lesson... continue reading...

Ring ring... ring ring...

"Hello, school of generic music in generic town."

Hi, this is David Barrett. I'm interested in speaking to one of your jazz guitar or piano instructors about private lessons. I play harmonica, but am interested in working with an instructor that can help me with my musicality. I prefer someone who has formal music training so they can help me with some basic music reading for rhythm training and music theory when it's needed. Any experience in blues is a plus. continue reading...

You of course have me to help you on your path to becoming a great blues harmonica player, especially those who submit recorded material regularly, but there are instructors local to you that can help too. Harmonica instructors are hard to come by, but guitar and piano instructors are not. They can help you with your timing (this is what I spend most of my time helping students with), rhythm training, music theory, improvising, accompaniment playing... all of the elements in music that are common among instruments and not specific to the harmonica. continue reading...

Become a member ($50) and receive their newsletter (articles, events, directories, etc.), a discount to their annual convention (Texas next year) and the warm fuzzy feeling you get from helping out a group of volunteers that work hard to preserve the high standard of quality SPAH is known for. http://www.spah.org/

I'm seeing a lot of students squeezing the harp when holding. Relax those hands... if you're not achieving the desired result, experiment with the angle of your hands. Visit http://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/cupping_hand_effects and http://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/intro_lesson_1_18_harmonica_insights

Moving this hook to 1st Position you probably noticed an issue with the IV7 Chord.

The I7 is C Bb C, which is played on 4+ 3' 4+, no problem, it sounds good.

The V7 is G F G, which is 2 2" 2 and 6+ 5 6+, again, sounds great.

The IV7 is F Eb F. F is not a problem (2" and 5), but Eb is only found on 8'+, 1OB (1 overblow) and 4OB (4 overblow). For this reason, many players will not choose to play this common hook in 1st Position.

There is an option though! continue reading...