study

http://lifehacker.com/5939374/a-better-way-to-practice

A nice article shared to me by Jon Harl (thanks Jon) on how to improve the quality of your practice time. Under “How to Accelerate Skill Development” item 2, labeled “Timing is everything, too” I recommend you base what you’re practicing on your daily energy curve. continue reading...

Well that's it, these are all of the songs that students of School of the Blues first learn before they start to add their own song selections into the mix. I recommend you look at the listing I provided (https://www.facebook.com/bluesharmonica/) and make note of the different types of grooves that are represented... these are the grooves you'll most likely play in an average set. continue reading...

Since the art of harmonica playing is mostly hidden from view, we spend the majority of our time listening when studying. To make this more convenient, you can take the same YouTube video and convert it to an audio file to use in your preferred audio program. Copy the URL from the YouTube video and Paste it into Media Human's YouTube to MP3 Converter software (http://www.mediahuman.com/youtube-to-mp3-converter/). Click on the download arrow and it downloads the video's audio into your iTunes library. continue reading...

Go to a favorite YouTube performance you've been interested in learning and click on Settings (gear icon at bottom right-hand side of screen), click on Speed and then select .5 (half speed) or .25 (one quarter the original speed). Pitch will remain the same when slowed down. This is a great tool to study songs from YouTube.

Our latest installment of overbend studies has just released, featuring Jason Ricci. continue reading...

In Intermediate Student Ryan Walker’s latest lesson (Lesson 33) we presents his final Solo Harmonica Study composition, we start Accompaniment Study 8 on Hooks, and start Music Theory Study 4 on Melodic Development http://www.bluesharmonica.com/contributor/ryan_walker

In this video for "Recording Study 4 - Studio Recording" Gary Smith and Aki Kumar construct and improvise a slow blues that turns into the song titled "A.G. Blues."

In Hob's first lesson we cover holding the harmonica; cupping a bullet mic; throat tremolo; importance of playing softly; playing with a relaxed embouchure; closing the nose for breath control; Solo Harmonica Study 1, examples 1.2 and 1.4; Tongue Block Study 1, example 1.2 and Walk With Me Study song, Chorus 1; Music Theory Study 1, Section 1; and bonus footage on the definition of tone in music, and how to create big tone on the harmonica. http://www.bluesharmonica.com/contributor/hob_bosold

Playing in time is challenging, and when you think your timing is good, then try playing with a metronome. The skill you're developing is a listening skill. You listen to the metronome (which is a stand-in for another musician) and adjust your playing to stay in time with it. Just like when riding a bike with a friend and trying to hold a conversation, you're consistently adjusting your speed so that you're within comfortable speaking/hearing range. As soon as you lose concentration, you're soon too far behind/ahead to continue the conversation. continue reading...

In this lesson Ryan and I work on Accompaniment Study 7: Tramp Bass Line; Transitions; Walking Bass Lines; Solo Harmonica Study Final Ideas; Tongue Block Study 5: Blues for Paul deLay (all choruses); Music Theory Study 3, Sections 6 and 7.