Luke Juke
31 posts
Aug 02, 2009
11:50 AM
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Right then people. I'm lucky enough to have a week off of work this week. The weather is crap so I'm gonna be staying in. I've told myself that I'm going to practice for at least 3 hours a day. Instead of my normal practice routine which consists of noodling around, for ten minutes, practice vibrato for 10 secs, noodle for 30 secs, tb for a minute, practice something I cant do for 30 secs, get the hump and noodle for 5 minutes more, have a cup of tea then watch trashy daytime tv before I noodle for 5 minutes more.
I want to spend this time constructively with a proper practice routine. So I'm asking you lot for ideas, tips, do's and donts so I can get myself a good structured practice routine that will boost me on my way to becoming a harp god. Cheers People
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LAGUNA SLIM
2 posts
Aug 02, 2009
11:57 AM
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take your favorite songs and play them in 2dn 1st and 3rd positions?
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walterharp
7 posts
Aug 02, 2009
12:06 PM
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Here is one
http://www.harmonicasessions.com/jun07/Barrett.html
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tookatooka
342 posts
Aug 02, 2009
12:26 PM
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walterharp. Thanks a bunch for that link. That's just what I need too. My practice session resort into aimlessness so I need some structure. I normally tend to repeat the stuff I know which doesn't teach me anything new. Thanks.
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When I'm not blowing, I'm drawing.
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Christelle Berthon
48 posts
Aug 02, 2009
1:28 PM
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"Before you can create the pathway you must have an end point"
Very true
I'm adding, practicing 3 hours a day can't hurt, but if you're not your worse critic you'll not be able to focus on your weak point and discover your strongest ones and that will be a waste of time. For every practice sessions RECORD yourself and from time to time, listen to what you've recorded and do exactly the same thing you've played all over again till you've understand what is wrong.
My overall approach is to separate the different department: breathing technique (diaphragmatic breathing, rib breathing, air column, throat position, throat opening tongue position etc...), sense of the melody and rhythm, playing like yourself....Once you think that you're comfortable (I'm not saying mastering because this is a endless work) you can put all together all these elements.
And of course: scales scales scales played in every possible way
Last Edited by on Aug 02, 2009 1:39 PM
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mickil
414 posts
Aug 02, 2009
1:41 PM
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I don't recall any of the usual instruction books ever being discussed on here. But, it strikes me that following one of the better ones through might be a good idea.
I tried it years ago, but got fed up with the lack of proper explanations contained therein. Still, these days, what with Doc, Buddha and others, the gaps can be filled more easily.
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'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
http://www.youtube.com/user/SlimHarpMick
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sopwithcamels266
186 posts
Aug 02, 2009
3:57 PM
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Yea for sure Buddha nails it by saying what is your goal.
Dreams, goals,wants should =NEED. Get your mind set.
Short medium and long term action.Without these I wouldn't bother.
I am a multi instrumentalist first ins Saxophone but
the learning process is the same.
Everytime you see a tip posted by Buddha heed the advice. That cat knows where it's at for sure same with Kudzurunner and JR. I seen some of his tips and he's right on the money.
If your setting up for 180 minutes plan to do it early in the day.As early as possible
That way the rest of the day is free if you feel like picking up the harp to work on what youv'e been doing and it's all bonus stuff right.
Everything that you play and woodshed make sure you immediately have application for.
When you are working on trying to get a particular technique remember golden rule:(A Little - very often)
Most importantly set out your goals and plan.
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gene
225 posts
Aug 02, 2009
5:55 PM
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I don't know, but I'm thinking that those 3 hours should be done in a few different sessions so you don't over-fatigue your lip, tongue and throat muscles.
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Christelle Berthon
49 posts
Aug 02, 2009
6:14 PM
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Gene I'm doing at least 5 hours a day and I don't feel anything like that...Once you're concentrating enough on the several steps I've mentioned (the breathing is the most important) you can play without physical fatigue
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Greg Heumann
115 posts
Aug 02, 2009
9:55 PM
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Christelle is staying with us before SPAH and has been here a few weeks. I can tell you she practices what she preaches. Many days she practices MORE than 5 hours. It is amazing. I wish I had her dedication. She is an amazing musician, but she didn't get there by osmosis or magic carpet. She has a very clear idea of what she wants to works on, and she works her A$$ off.
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/Greg
http://www.BlowsMeAway.com
http://www.BlueStateBand.net
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nacoran
136 posts
Aug 03, 2009
1:16 AM
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Another useful (and fairly enjoyable) drill is to set Media Player on your computer to play random songs and see how quick you can pick off all the melodies and keys. (I cheat. I have a plug-in that identifies keys, although I do make myself do keying drills. I get bored after a few songs of that.) I've got about 40 gig of music on my hard drive- every CD I own, so I have my work cut out for me.
Another good drill is to pick one song and really tear it apart. Mess with the melody, mess with the tempo, try different things with it. Figure out where you want chords, where you want single notes. Record it.
I also think it's good to spend some time just goofing around trying to get new sounds. I heard about an effect where you seal the back of the harp up real tight with your hand and blow a low note real hard. If your harp is tight enough you'll get the draw read at the top of the harp to sound with it. That got me thinking. I've sat around with a guitar player seeing what electrically active objects we could put next to the pick-ups to get weird sounds. Last night, after I'd done my regular practice I took my Special 20 and put it in my mouth backwards. I pushed the back up against my face, and pushed the harp as deep into my mouth as I could and blue. I got a very accordion sort of sound out of it. By running my fingers up and down the holes, which where now on the relative 'back' of the harmonica I was able to get some useful warbling and block certain notes.
I had know idea if it would even make a decent sound, and know idea what to do with that sound, but now I know what happens when I do that and have one more weird trick in my bag.
Spend some time Googling harmonicas. Learn about the arguments for chromatic vs. diatonic. Learn some theory. The more things you know about the harp the more ideas you'll get for ways to keep it interesting. Google 'Art Deco' harmonicas. And of course, keep harps everywhere so when you are watching TV or reading forum boards you can be playing.
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Andrew
483 posts
Aug 03, 2009
8:33 AM
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Lots of people talk about scales, and they forget to mention arpeggios - I think that arpeggios are just as important as scales, especially if you want to learn to play in more than one position.
Last Edited by on Aug 03, 2009 8:33 AM
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Christelle Berthon
51 posts
Aug 03, 2009
10:51 AM
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Andrew,
In the classical sense of the scales practice, arpeggios are one of the exercises.
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Buddha
906 posts
Aug 03, 2009
10:59 AM
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if you're going to practice scales, don't start and end on the roots. Start on the 7th and end on the 9th. ex: C major scale B C D E F G A B C D Cm scale Bb C D Eb F G A Bb C D
or start on the 3rd E F G A B C D
The same goes for appeggios. Never start on the root, it will serve you well if you see C7 and think Bb C E G or E G Bb C
Last Edited by on Aug 03, 2009 11:01 AM
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