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David's Tip of the Day: Rocker (Mitch Kashmar)

Posted Fri, 03/08/2013 - 07:38 by David Barrett Admin
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Now listen to Mitch Kashmar's version of Rocker from his Crazy Mixed Up World release.

David's Tip of the Day: Rocker (LIttle Walter)

Posted Thu, 03/07/2013 - 08:05 by David Barrett Admin
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Take a listen to Little Walter's "Rocker" (he only recorded it once, so no problem accidentally purchasing the wrong version if you don't already have it). We'll be discussing this for a while.

What's New: Gary Smith Submission #37 - Accompaniment Lessons: Blues Creapin' Over Me

Posted Wed, 03/06/2013 - 09:24 by David Barrett Admin
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Join Gary and I for our latest series of videos covering the new accompaniment study songs... this time "Blues Creapin' Over Me," a slow blues with traditional blues guitar and vocals with breaks.

Submission #37 - Accompaniment Lessons: Blues Creapin' Over Me, Part 1
Submission #37 - Accompaniment Lessons: Blues Creapin' Over Me, Part 2
Submission #37 - Accompaniment Lessons: Blues Creapin' Over Me, Part 3

David's Tip of the Day: Dave Brubeck on Creativity and Technical Skill

Posted Wed, 03/06/2013 - 09:16 by David Barrett Admin
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"You're always looking for that great marriage of creativity that you can pull off technically. But if I can't pull it off technically, I'll go for the creativity... and maybe be sloppy... or some guys won't allow themselves to be sloppy, and I think they lose creativity. The Jazz musician should create on the spot and take chances, otherwise why don't you go hear a classical pianist?"

NPR: Jazz Profiles Podcast
Dave Brubeck: In His Own Sweet Way @ 2:54

David's Tip of the Day: Dividing Practice Time (Harmonica Focus)

Posted Tue, 03/05/2013 - 07:55 by David Barrett Admin
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Here's an example of what your harmonica practice might look like throughout the week.

MORNING
10m = Exercises: "Movement Exercises Summed" one day and "Tongue Block Study 2.5" the other
25m = Bending Study Song
25m = Tongue Blocking Study Song
(If you've completed the core bending and TB studies, then your focus would be 3rd Position, 1st Position, or whatever study songs are in your path).

AFTERNOON
20m = Improvising: Take one lick from a study song and apply the Chorus Form process

EVENING continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Dividing Practice Time

Posted Mon, 03/04/2013 - 08:18 by David Barrett Admin
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Dividing your practice into different times of the day is very effective. Some of you know that I'm studying the upright bass right now and am in my wood-shedding years and consistent practice is very important. Here's how I structure my practice days...

MORNING
15m = Exercises: There are finger/intonation-based exercises that require daily, habitual practice to grow.
45m = Sight Reading: Using a method book for developing fingering positions and reading skills. This requires concentration, and the morning time is when I can focus best.

AFTERNOON continue reading...

What's New: Accompaniment Study 2

Posted Sat, 03/02/2013 - 08:00 by David Barrett Admin
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In this lesson you'll learn the basics of 12 Bar Blues and how to play the most important note of each chord... the root note. This lesson brings your first study song, "I Want You With Me," a shuffle in the key of E with vocals and guitar solos for you to play under as well as two solo sections where we apply choruses from your Tongue Blocking Study 2 study song, "Temperature." Make sure to use this opportunity to memorize your C Harmonica and the root notes of our three chords in 2nd Position. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Playing "In Time"

Posted Fri, 03/01/2013 - 13:02 by David Barrett Admin
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A student on the forum of BluesHarmonica.com is having some challenges playing their study song in time to the provided jam track. Here's my response to him, slightly changed to fit this general audience... maybe you'll find this useful.

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Playing in time on your own, with the jam track, is no doubt a challenge.

Try this...

1) Play to the original (non-jam track) at 30% slow, first chorus, until you feel you have it.
2) Adjust the volume of the music softer than normal and play to the same track while recording yourself.
3) Listen back and critique your playing. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: "How Jazz Works" Series with Dr. Gordon Vernick

Posted Thu, 02/28/2013 - 07:18 by David Barrett Admin
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I find myself going back to this series on a regular basis... it's very well done from many levels. In many cases you can replace the word jazz with blues and the same statements would be true. Give a listen to the series in order, it's worth your time.

Jazz Insights with Dr. Gordon Vernick
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jazz-insights-dr.-gordon-vernick/id3...
- What Is Jazz?
- How Jazz Works, Part II
- How Jazz Works - Part 3
- How Jazz Works - Part 4

David's Tip of the Day: Concert Vault: Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee

Posted Wed, 02/27/2013 - 07:07 by David Barrett Admin
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"Concert Vault" has a great array of live performance for download purchase. Today's special is Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee for $1 at http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/sonny-terry-and-brownie-mcghee/concerts/as...

1 Easy Rider (Incomplete) 2:26
2 The Things (That) I Used To Do 4:15
3 Song Introduction 0:31
4 Burnt Child (Afraid of Fire) 3:08
5 Song Introduction 1:41
6 Hootin' the Blues 3:54
7 Hey Baby Hey Baby You're So Sweet 3:05
8 When These Blues Get On Me 5:42
9 Come on, If You're Coming 3:59 continue reading...