Tip of the Day

The most common rhythm error that I point out to students in their submission to me is that of rushing when playing louder. I also reassure them that they're not alone, I, and many other musicians have this issue, and that if you're aware of it, you can adjust accordingly.

Editing the latest Intermediate Student Ryan Walker lesson footage I caught myself doing exactly that... embarrassing really... but I remember thinking to myself, "No, leave it in there, I'll make note of this on a Tip of the Day and it will be a great point that even experienced artists have a tendency to do this." continue reading...

Our greatest challenge as performing harmonica players is to be able to hear ourselves well on the bandstand. With the help of MegaTone Amplifiers (http://megatoneamps.com/Speaker_Cabinets.html) we designed a monitor for harp players, but a powered speaker out from your amplifier is needed to power it.

If you don't have a powered speaker out, but you do have a line out, try the Behringer EUROLIVE B210D Active PA Speaker (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/behringer-eurolive-b210d-active...). At $199 it's a very inexpensive way to ensure you can hear yourself. continue reading...

Something new for the harmonica community. I haven't tried this, so if you get one please share your experiences on the website. http://www.harparm.com

A quote that has always resonated with me (sorry, I don't know who said it) is, "Inspiration is for amateurs." Whenever I don't feel like practicing, I say this quote to myself and I get back to work.

The critical mind (the one that helps you to identify weak areas in your playing to be fixed) that's so beneficial in the practice room, is a hindrance on the bandstand. Unfortunately, it brings emotional baggage... it should be observational, not emotional... but it often translates to emotional. When performing, this internal critical voice needs to be hushed and the voice of confidence should be its replacement. continue reading...

Our quote from yesterday was, "Practice with the eager intensity of a new student and perform with the complete confidence of a seasoned pro."

Let's address the first part of the quote...

New students are intense... all they want to do is play the harmonica... every chance they can get. Staying in this "this is a new and exciting activity" is the challenge of keeping your practice fresh and rewarding. continue reading...

Practice with the eager intensity of a new student and perform with the complete confidence of a seasoned pro.

Though a tuner is a great tool for dialing in your bends, using a tuner to catch a pitch quickly enough to register while you're actually playing a passage (not just a slow exercise) won't happen. A pitch generator plays a reference pitch (instead of receiving one in the case of a tuner). Many tuners have a pitch generator setting on them. continue reading...

New students to the technique of bending often ask if it's rough on harmonicas. I reply, "Bending isn't rough on harmonicas, it's someone learning how to bending that's rough on harmonicas." Playing loudly, squeezing, tension and activation of muscle groups is not required to bend... BUT, telling someone to relax when they're trying hard to do something for the first time doesn't fly. So... if you're new to bending... keep this in mind and try to play softer and relax more as your bending skills develop... your tone and harmonica budget will benefit from it.

Play a 4 draw. Now play a 4 draw with a little bit of 5 draw... your ear still hears the 4 draw as the main note, the 5 draw is just there for texture. Play a 4/5 shake... again you still hear the 4 draw as the main note. When playing adjacent notes, the ear hears the bottom note of the harmony.

Now play a 1 draw-4 draw octave. In this case the ear hears the upper octave... the 4 draw. When playing an octave (or other type of split), the ear hears the top note.

This is great to know when you're exploring different textural options in your writing.