[Harp-L] Hard vs soft playing

[George Brooks <gbrooks1@xxxxxxxxx>]

Mikael-

It's always good to hear from you.  I am very sorry you won't be coming 
to SPAH this year.

I have two possible suggestions, and I hope they prove to be of some 
use to you.  First, Joe Filisko told me about this practice technique, 
and I have heard him recommend it to others: play everything at the 
softest possible volume that permits you to maintain a good tone.  This 
forces you to use resonance rather than force.  It's actually amazing 
how softly one can play and still have a full tone after practicing 
this for a while.

Second, consider the following from Doug Tate's excellent book "Play 
The Harmonica Well":

=======================================
I have mentioned already that the diaphragm is used to help breathing.  
It is also used to give controlled power to your notes.  When you yawn 
you will find that there is a certain amount of tension in your 
diaphragm region.  This is the type of feeling one should have most of 
the time while playing.  This initial pressure allows you fine control 
of air pressure.  It takes time for the muscles to develop, but that is 
true of most of the techniques in this book.
=======================================

(Rest in peace, Douglas.)

Alternatively, you could track down Mike Stevens, find out what he does 
to play so fast, and do the opposite.  He has given himself numerous 
hernias playing harmonica by his own admission.  I suspect that 
uncontrolled diaphragm movement overstresses the muscle when playing 
that rapidly.  I would at least give Doug Tate's 
yawn-to-pretension-the-diaphragm technique a try.

George