Tip of the Day

It's common for players to use the tip of their tongue to block the two middles holes when performing an octave. Another option, one that I personally use, is to use the top of the tongue, just like you do for your other tongue blocking techniques (single notes, slaps, pulls, etc.) but just using an ultra-light touch so that the top convex shape of the tongue blocks the two middle holes, allowing air to flow on the left and right-hand side of the tongue. Tone is the same, but I'm able to be more relaxed an efficient in regards to moving from technique to technique. continue reading...

I mention this often, because I mention this often in my private teaching and in your submissions on the site in regards to your tone. Let's focus on your mouth cavity... your tone chamber. If your tongue PUSHES on the face of the harmonica, not only does the tongue encroach into the hole(s) you're intending to play (narrowing it's passage and creating poor/bent tone) but the body of your tongue commonly comes with it, moving forward and commonly upwards in the mouth, robbing your tone chamber of volume... low/small volume equals thin, wimpy tone... high/large volume equals big tone. continue reading...

Every now and again I'll have a poor student come in and their face is all contorted to the side when playing. I ask them to stick their tongue out with the harmonica still attached and I'll see that they're using the side of their tongue for the tongue block. They hear "block the holes to the left" and away their tongue goes, pointing far left in the mouth. The angle of the tongue on the harmonica should only be one click of the clock to the left... 11 o'clock. continue reading...

When students reach the last stage of dialing in a song for performance they work on memorization. The common tool used is to list the first lick, or just the first couple of notes of the first lick, for each chorus. The goal is to have a quick bullet-point list of each chorus, but just enough written that it helps you to recall what that chorus is. It doesn't take much, and the goal is to be very brief. Instead of using hole number TAB, you can also use a shape (we tend to remember objects better than abstract numbers). continue reading...

Just released today by videographer Mason Dabbag. Thank you for sharing Mason.

Joe Filisko & Eric Noden
Blues In Town - Balu, song for Martin Häffner
http://youtu.be/yXfJEbL1NpI

A cool video just released on our buddies Joe Filisko and Eric Noden. They talk about their beginnings as a duo, their set development and songwriting process and play some tunes. http://youtu.be/OhQ_Syye-cM

Here's the other post in regards to yesterday's discussion that students asked to be re-posted...

Student continue reading...

There was a desire from some of the students to re-post this dialogue from the public forum in a more prominent place... they, and I, feel it strikes a common chord with many...

Student
"I am 53 years old and have wanted to play the harmonica since I was 15 but never knew how to approach it. I took it up two years ago, starting with lessons from Portnoy, Gindick and Gussow. I found your site last fall and found exactly what I was looking for; the rich full sound of tongue blocking in a well-structured progressing in learning. continue reading...

Here's a sneak peek of my interview with country harmonica wizard Mike Caldwell. In this video he talks about the spirit of music and then we jam it up! Full interview to release 10/22 http://youtu.be/2Qk6tJHVP2o

Released this past week, featuring Sting and noted jazz improviser David Werner...

The Source Of Creativity
We want to be creative but channeling our creative impulses is no small feat. Is creativity something we are born with or can we learn it? In this hour, TED speakers examine the mystery of creativity.
http://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/