[Harp-L] Re: Harp-L Digest, Vol 25, Issue 37

[MilwHarmonica@xxxxxxx]

Reply to Ed Cooper and Dave Murray: Ed asked for an easy harmonica method  
book, and Dave said to forget a book, and ask the student "what tunes he could  
hum from memory."
 
Dave compared Ed's 10 year old student to a dulcimer player of unlisted  age. 
Age is a factor in teaching anything. The younger we are, the easier we  
learn, in general. Our young minds are open to learning. When we get older, our  
minds are filled with knowledge and experiences that instruct our life 
relations  and reactions.
 
Dave's suggestion is an excellent one for a young student, if the student  
wants to learn a few songs. But if the student wants to learn to play the  
harmonica, I wouldn't recommend limiting the student's study to the rote system  
(ear training and memory only). Memory isn't always accurate. Use all the  
senses, including sight (traditional notation) and touch.
 
Use all available media (recordings, DVDs, CDs, videos, tapes,books,  
jamming) to teach the student how to play the harmonica. Most of the media are  too 
expensive to start, but there are inexpensive method books available. 
 
I found a very good book at my local Walgreen's drug store, in the toy  
department. It includes a good 10-hole diatonic harmonica, for $8. "First Act  
Discovery: Learn & Play Harmonica,"
written by Debbie Cavalier, and published by First act, Inc. P.O. Box  811, 
Needham, MA
02494. The book is designed for young beginners.
 
Don't cheat your student out of a music education. Use all available media  
if possible. If not possible, use a method book. Learning by humming a few 
tunes  is backwards. Learn the instrument, then the tunes. John  Broecker.