[Harp-L] ExercisesMessage: 12

[B Boggs <ceudoazul@xxxxxxxxx>]

Jay -
   
  Here's some.  Once you can do this, it's not a big deal, but it's a 
good starter exercise.  Try to touch your tongue to the base of a shot 
glass without touching the sides. Repeat this and once you get it down, 
try to move it slightly while it's in the glass - again, without 
touching the sides!  Yeah, it sounds weird, but it is a good way to 
discipline the tongue muscles - though you might want to do it in the privacy of 
your home.
   
  For diaphragm, I do ab crunches, pilates with a Swiss Ball - but 
there is also an  interesting thing I picked up from Chicago Blues Harp 
Player and Truck Driver, Buzz Krantz:
   
  You can do this anywhere - while you are sitting, stiffen your lower 
abdomen and try to inhale and exhale without moving it.  It seems 
impossible, but over time you can get good at it.  I've found that it 
strenghens the muscles and helps you to better control air flow when your 
playing.
   
  Then there is a transitional phrase I learned to play as an exercise 
to help you get ascend to the high end from the low end.  I usually use 
a C, but I think it works in most any key - 6 blow, 6 draw, 7 draw, 7 
blow.  Start it slowly and just work on playing it faster and faster 
over time.  That one is courtesy of my buddy Roscoe.
   
  This last thing may not mean much if you aren't into singing or 
public speaking - but I sing and perform at poetry readings.  This is more 
to exercise your "stage presence" chops.  I have been plagued with 
pre-gig jitters all my life and I find that it helps with that.  
   
  The singing in particular also helps your harmonica phrasing and 
vice-versa.  There is a story among Jazz musicians that Sarah Vaughn 
learned to scat while working with Dizzy Gillespie.  The Diz told her to 
"sing the horn parts."  
   
  I hope some of that works for you.
   
  Mark Russillo
  a.k.a. The Rhode Island Kid
 Exercises 
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Message: 12
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 13:55:45 -0800 (PST)
From: Mark Russillo <jruss433@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Exercises for your chops
To: jay.jmt@xxxxxxxxx, harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <20060118215545.64715.qmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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Jay -
   
  Here's some.  Once you can do this, it's not a big deal, but it's a 
good starter exercise.  Try to touch your tongue to the base of a shot 
glass without touching the sides. Repeat this and once you get it down, 
try to move it slightly while it's in the glass - again, without 
touching the sides!  Yeah, it sounds weird, but it is a good way to 
discipline the tongue muscles - though you might want to do it in the privacy of 
your home.
   
  For diaphragm, I do ab crunches, pilates with a Swiss Ball - but 
there is also an  interesting thing I picked up from Chicago Blues Harp 
Player and Truck Driver, Buzz Krantz:
   
  You can do this anywhere - while you are sitting, stiffen your lower 
abdomen and try to inhale and exhale without moving it.  It seems 
impossible, but over time you can get good at it.  I've found that it 
strenghens the muscles and helps you to better control air flow when your 
playing.
   
  Then there is a transitional phrase I learned to play as an exercise 
to help you get ascend to the high end from the low end.  I usually use 
a C, but I think it works in most any key - 6 blow, 6 draw, 7 draw, 7 
blow.  Start it slowly and just work on playing it faster and faster 
over time.  That one is courtesy of my buddy Roscoe.
   
  This last thing may not mean much if you aren't into singing or 
public speaking - but I sing and perform at poetry readings.  This is more 
to exercise your "stage presence" chops.  I have been plagued with 
pre-gig jitters all my life and I find that it helps with that.  
   
  The singing in particular also helps your harmonica phrasing and 
vice-versa.  There is a story among Jazz musicians that Sarah Vaughn 
learned to scat while working with Dizzy Gillespie.  The Diz told her to 
"sing the horn parts."  
   
  I hope some of that works for you.
   
  Mark Russillo
  a.k.a. The Rhode Island Kid
   
 

		
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<div id="RTEContent">&nbsp; <pre><tt>Message: 12<br>Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 13:55:45 -0800 (PST)<br>From: Mark Russillo &lt;<a href="Compose?To=jruss433@xxxxxxxxxxxxx&amp;YY=75640&amp;order=down&amp;sort=date&amp;pos=0&amp;view=a&amp;head=b">jruss433@xxxxxxxxxxxxx</a>&gt;<br>Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Exercises for your chops<br>To: <a href="Compose?To=jay.jmt@xxxxxxxxx&amp;YY=75640&amp;order=down&amp;sort=date&amp;pos=0&amp;view=a&amp;head=b">jay.jmt@xxxxxxxxx</a>, <a href="Compose?To=harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx&amp;YY=75640&amp;order=down&amp;sort=date&amp;pos=0&amp;view=a&amp;head=b">harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx</a><br>Message-ID: &lt;<a href="Compose?To=20060118215545.64715.qmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&amp;YY=75640&amp;order=down&amp;sort=date&amp;pos=0&amp;view=a&amp;head=b">20060118215545.64715.qmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</a>&gt;<br>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1<br><br>Jay -<br>   <br>  Here's some.  Once you can do this, it's not a big deal, but it's a <br>good starter exercise.  Try
 to touch your tongue to the base of a shot <br>glass without touching the sides. Repeat this and once you get it down, <br>try to move it slightly while it's in the glass - again, without <br>touching the sides!  Yeah, it sounds weird, but it is a good way to <br>discipline the tongue muscles - though you might want to do it in the privacy of <br>your home.<br>   <br>  For diaphragm, I do ab crunches, pilates with a Swiss Ball - but <br>there is also an  interesting thing I picked up from Chicago Blues Harp <br>Player and Truck Driver, Buzz Krantz:<br>   <br>  You can do this anywhere - while you are sitting, stiffen your lower <br>abdomen and try to inhale and exhale without moving it.  It seems <br>impossible, but over time you can get good at it.  I've found that it <br>strenghens the muscles and helps you to better control air flow when your <br>playing.<br>   <br>  Then there is a transitional phrase I learned to play as an exercise <br>to help you get ascend to the high end
 from the low end.  I usually use <br>a C, but I think it works in most any key - 6 blow, 6 draw, 7 draw, 7 <br>blow.  Start it slowly and just work on playing it faster and faster <br>over time.  That one is courtesy of my buddy Roscoe.<br>   <br>  This last thing may not mean much if you aren't into singing or <br>public speaking - but I sing and perform at poetry readings.  This is more <br>to exercise your "stage presence" chops.  I have been plagued with <br>pre-gig jitters all my life and I find that it helps with that.  <br>   <br>  The singing in particular also helps your harmonica phrasing and <br>vice-versa.  There is a story among Jazz musicians that Sarah Vaughn <br>learned to scat while working with Dizzy Gillespie.  The Diz told her to <br>"sing the horn parts."  <br>   <br>  I hope some of that works for you.<br>   <br>  Mark Russillo<br>  a.k.a. The Rhode Island Kid<br>   </tt></pre> </div><p>
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