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San Jose, CA - May
21-23, 2010 |
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Click here for
Class Time Schedule
MORNING PROGRAMS
- 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Participants meet
as a group for general announcements and a focused group lesson with all
instructors on deck.
Friday:
Developing Killer Tone
We’ll cover the areas needed
to create the huge tone blues harmonica players strive to achieve. Focus
areas are: breathing; creating a resonant chamber in the mouth; cupping;
and the big-tone techniques that are essential to blues harmonica.
Saturday: Mastering the Amp, Mic & Stage
In this class we’ll go over mic construction and how pros like to have
them set up (what elements and accessories are preferred). We’ll do the
same for amplifiers, going as far as showing what different speaker and
tube configurations sound like. We’ll spend a little bit of time covering
effects processors and other gadgets players like to use besides the mic
and amp. After spending time on the nuts and bolts of the gear we’ll show
you how to use them to their highest potential (amp placement, micing, how
cupping effects tone, etc.)
Sunday: Blues Harp Techniques Revealed
The harmonica is blessed with an amazing ability to present a note in MANY
ways. In this class we’ll list these techniques and show how they affect
your sound.
After the morning session you head out to your day classes…
DAY PROGRAMS
FRIDAY
- 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
You will choose one of
these classes to attend on Friday.
Performance Training - Instructor: David Barrett
This day-long class focuses on essential band-leading and
performance skills. In this class we’ll cover: microphone/amplifier choice
and setup; song selection and working with the strengths of the particular
band you’re playing with; essential hand signals for communication with a
band; different ways to begin and end songs (and their appropriate
signals); how breaks work; and the different grooves used in blues
(shuffle, slow blues, swing, rhumba, two beat, boogie, etc.) so that you
can communicate to the band what you want, in order to achieve the feel
you’re looking for (hugely important). Students attending this class will
have the opportunity to work on one song with the band (with my assistance
and coaching) and then perform the song in that night’s concert! How
exciting is that?! With this in mind, work on a song before the class and
be ready to play. It’s not mandatory for participants to play with the
band, but this is a very cool opportunity. This class is for all skill
level of players (even the newbies will get a lot out of this class).
Rhythm, Phrasing & Skills Assessment
- Instructor: Dennis Gruenling
This class offers an entire day focusing on common areas
players need to development. Class covers: rhythm playing (how to keep a
deep sense of rhythm in your playing, for both improvising and
accompaniment); phrasing (how to utilize space and repetition in your
playing to create more powerful solos); and assessments. There’s LOTS of
playing in this class, focusing on what you’re doing now and how to make
it better. Dennis will be listening carefully to the students throughout
the day and will be giving assessments to the students of what they need
to work on to better their skills. We all feel that this will be such a
valuable class that we’re offering it all three days of the workshop
weekend.
Bending & Tongue Blocking
- Instructor: Kinya Pollard
If you’re a first-time student to the Harmonica
Masterclass Workshop we highly recommend you take this class. Good bending
skills (playing all of the bends the harmonica has to offer, articulate
and in tune) and tongue blocking skills (slaps, pulls and octaves in the
context of your improvising) are paramount for any player looking to
progress in their studies. Class will focus on exercises and scales to
build proficiency as well as lick and song study of how great players,
such as Big Walter Horton (for tongue blocking) and Paul Butterfield (for
bending), use these techniques in a musical context.
Rice Miller (Sonny Boy Williamson II) Artist Study
- Instructor: Joe Filisko
In this class you’ll study the
approach, techniques, licks and songs that made Rice Miller one of the
most influential players of his era. Class consists of instructor lecture,
student playtime and handouts detailing the material covered in the class.
SATURDAY -
10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
You will choose one of
these classes to attend on Saturday.
Performance Training - Instructor: David Barrett
Same description as Friday class
Rhythm, Phrasing & Skills Assessment
- Instructor: Dennis Gruenling
Same description as Friday class
Harmonica Customizing
- Instructor: The HarpSmith® (a.k.a. Kinya Pollard)
This class is for
those that have attended one of our past classes on harmonica maintenance
or for those who already have a handle on tuning and reed replacement. The
HarpSmith will cover more advanced concepts than were covered in previous
classes, focusing heavily on personalizing the concepts taught to match
your playing style.
Required Material (you must bring):
1)
Throw-away harmonica of the model you use
2)
A Tool Kit
selected from the following preference list: Richard Sleigh <rharp@uplink.net>,
Hohner, Seydel, Hering, Lee Oskar, or equivalent tool kit based on the
model harmonica you play.
3)
Set of feeler
gauges, ranging from .002 - .020 inch (available at most automotive parts
stores)
4)
Magnification,
such as the Hawk #MG9040A-LED flip down magnifier with LED light, or
equivalent devices recommended in this article:
http://www.harmonicasessions.com/oct07/Pollard.html
5) High
quality chromatic tuner, such the Seiko #SAT1100 or Peterson #V-SAM
Big Walter Horton Artist
Study -
Instructor: Joe Filisko
In this class you’ll study the
approach, techniques, licks and songs that made Big Walter one of the most
influential players of his era. Class consists of instructor lecture,
student playtime and handouts detailing the material covered in the class.
SUNDAY
- 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
You will choose one of
these classes to attend on Sunday.
Improvising Blues Harmonica - Instructor: David Barrett
This is the most important class a blues musician should take.
Through time players memorize licks, solos and instrumentals to build a
lick vocabulary, but no one is there to show them what to do with it when
it comes time to improvise. This class guarantees you walk out the door a
better soloist. Topics covered are: The art of improvising through the use
of Chorus Forms and Focus Notes; Soloing Concepts; Soloing Themes (Head,
Hook, Body, Etc.) and Song Analysis.
Rhythm, Phrasing & Skills Assessment
- Instructor: Dennis Gruenling
Same description as Friday class
Paul Butterfield Artist Study
- Instructor: Kinya Pollard
In this class you’ll study the
approach, techniques, licks and songs that made Paul Butterfield one of
the most influential players of his era. Class consists of instructor
lecture, student playtime and handouts detailing the material covered in
the class.
Jimmy Reed Artist Study
- Instructor: Joe Filisko
In this class you’ll study the
approach, techniques, licks and songs that made Jimmy Reed one of the most
influential players of his era. Class consists of instructor lecture,
student playtime and handouts detailing the material covered in the class.
EVENING PROGRAMS
Friday & Saturday Evening Sessions
- 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
For those that participated in the Performance Training class,
this is where they perform their song(s). At the end of each evening we’ll
have some special performances from our staff.
Acoustic Jam Circle
We’ll also have another room for a jam circle. A jam circle is where
there’s a guitarist to accompany the harp players, who sit in a circle and
take turns playing (off-stage and off-mic). Everyone gets to play in this
room! Focus is on having a good time… no reason to feel stressed about
playing in front of others here!
Amp & Mic Test Room
In the evening
time I’ll have a dedicated room filled with killer harp amps and mics for
you to try!
Register Now!
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