How To Tackle Level 1
Sorry, Dave, but I'm confused as to how to tackle Level 1. I first bought a C Harmonica, before I found your course, so I did the C Harmonica Intro Lesson, and while I'm pretty rusty doing the 5th and 6th choruses of Walk With Me, I'm OK with the rest, just need practice. I bought an A Harmonica, and did the Blues Fundamentals Lesson. Do I do the remaining Level 1 lessons in succession, or dabble in them at the same time? Any advice would be very helpful. Thanks.
Thanks, Dave. I jave been at it for about teo weeks and I love this course!! It's like you're teaching me in a one on one, and more than that, you're making it interesting to learn and it's obvious that you care. David Menken.
Thank you for your kind words David, I'm glad you're enjoying the course.
Dave, it is getting mighty repititious playing Walk With Me over and over and over again for three weeks. I'm nowhere near ready to graduate from single note tongue blocking, but are there any other compositions, even without an accompanying mp3, that I can use to practice? David Menken.
Hello David. To learn to play music requires a lot of reps (more than you can imagine)... it's part of the process. But, it sounds like you know this, but want other material to keep you busy learning those single notes. Tongue Block Study 1.5 (https://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/tongue_blocking_study_15) has some folk songs. Solo Harmonica Study 1 (https://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/solo_study_1) has both chording and single notes. That's pretty much it. You can also spend time learning music theory (https://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/music_theory_study_1) and watching interviews (https://www.bluesharmonica.com/interviews). Keep at it... tons of reps... over... and over...
I'll keep at it!! I sing that song in my sleep.
Dave, I'm embarrassed to be so confused.
I'm working my way through the Levels of Achievement. Practicing half an hour a day, and then listening to your interviews and Hob's lessons. Of course, I'm still on the first course: Tongue Block Study 1 - Single Notes. Sounding pretty horrible when I play back, but I know it takes time. I'm trying to figure out the order of my study.
Now, in the "Levels" section of the web site there are nine courses, but on the Levels of Achievement page there is Step 1, which I did, and now Step 2, which has four courses, of which Movement Exercises Study 1 is not in Level 1 on the lessons page. I also am watching the lessons with Hob, and I think there is even a third progression of courses (first Solo Harmonica, then Tongue Block Study 1).
So, if I am really serious, which it seems at this point I am, should I follow the Lessons page or the Levels of Achievement page? Or just do it all?
Thanks, Dave Menken.
Morning Dave. I know, there is a lot of material, so confusion is not uncommon. I'm happy to help any time you have a question.
Follow the Levels of Achievement (LOA) lesson plan. Right now your main focus is Tongue Block Study 1 (that should be the bulk of your practice). With one hour of practice, this should be 30m of it. Solo Harmonica Study 1, up to where I say to stop in the LOA, should be around 15m. The C Major Scale, as found in Movement Exercises 1, about 5m. The rest will be on Music Theory Study 1. Any time above and beyond, the lessons with Hob. The interviews can be watched/listened to while you do the dishes :-)
I cannot tell you enough how much I enjoy this program.
I cannot tell you enough how much I enjoy this program.
My pleasure. I'm glad to hear it.
Just a day or two pause, while I replace my A Harmonica. I should have been more careful, after my puppy ate my bluetooth earpiece and vacuum cleaner nozzle. Last night she chewed up my A Harmonica. Actually it's a good excuse to get myself a new Hohner Marine Band Crossover. I found out that I can buy replacement covers, but I didn't tell my wife and she doesn't read these posts. Dave Mason once wrote that his big fear is that when he dies his wife will sell his guitars for what he told her he paid for them. This is all apropos of nothing.
Sweet, you'll really enjoy the harmonica. That's a great Dave Mason story.
Dave, I have been a member for 9 weeks and 5 days.
Here's what I've done: I have played Walk With Me so many times I dream in it (not to say I don't still make mistakes). I bought a C and 2 A Harmonicas, the last one a Marine Band Crossover, I have completed Blues Harmonica Fundamentals, Tongue Block Study 1, Solo Harmonica Study 1 and Music Theory Study 1, and watched half of the lessons with Hob. I am now going to study Movement Exercises Study 1 - Patterns, which is on the LOA page.
I am not ready to submit anything. Three months for Level 1 is my goal.
Now, a few questions:
1. Are there any study sheets I can download or buy somewhere to help me practice transposing as well as the other material I've tried to learn?
2. Do you want me to complete, along with Movement Exercises Study 1 - Patterns, and as part of Level 1, (a) the Accompaniment Study 1 - Intro and (b) the Rhythm Training lessons? They are on the web site as Level 1 lessons but not in the LOA curriculum. Which confuses me.
Thanks,
Dave Menken
PS - By the way, I downloaded a good iPhone app to record my playing, and turn it into an mp3. It was free but I would have paid. It's called Voice Record Pro.
PPS - I'm goin to see Magic Dick and ShunNg at Daryls House in Pawling NY on Sunday, and it's great to have listened to his interviews before seeing him play.
Hello Dave. It sounds like you're on the right track... three months is about right.
1. Transposing is taking something from one key and moving it to another key. I don't think that's what you meant. Are you speaking of transcribing... writing down what you hear other harmonica players play? If so, no. This is not a skill to work on yet. What you'll hear used on recordings have much more technique than you own right now, so that will be a frustrating process. You could do that with folk tunes. Figure out how to play them by ear and then writing them down... that would be a good practice.
2. Those are supplement studies, and don't need to be looked at, unless the study material peaks your interest. If you have the time, rhythm training is a great idea, but not essential (unless you struggle a lot with rhythm). The Accompaniment lesson series you will study in L2, but you can start by watching the videos in lesson 1 if you want now. Focus on the MAIN STUDY video lessons... if you have time, check out the others (but not at the expense of the main material).
PS... great, thanks for sharing.
PPS... Sweet! Please say hello to Dick for me. Enjoy the show!
Hello dmenken. Dig into Solo Harmonica Study 1 and go ahead and finish dialing in Walk With Me in Tongue Block Study 1. Once you feel good with Tongue Block Study 1, dig into Study 2. You'll find following the Levels of Achievement Program (https://www.bluesharmonica.com/forum) helpful.