Re: [Harp-L] Over Blow Survey

[IcemanLE@xxxxxxx]

I don't approach the harmonica at all from this direction. The harmonica is  
always angled up approximately 45 degrees at all times. When you keep the  
harmonica straight on, it causes one to purse the lips forward.
 
I use the "Take a drink of water" example as illustration. When you  take a 
drink of water out of a glass, it is a natural and efficient  movement, because 
you don't think about it. It is "organic". You don't watch the  glass come 
towards your lips, you don't stop the glass an inch in front of you  and reach 
forward with your lips to grasp the glass. You tip the glass up about  45 
degrees and allow the water to pass into your mouth. You don't "suck" the  water 
down. You don't tighten your lips, as then the water would dribble down  the 
sides of your face. Everything is totally relaxed and efficient.
 
"As you take a drink of water, so shall you breathe your harmonica" is how  I 
introduce it during the first lesson with my students.
 
As to OB, harmonica position doesn't change - still tipped up approx. 45  
degrees. The air flow is focused in a more concentrated sense to achieve OB.  
This happens inside the mouth, having nothing to do with what is happening  
outside your lips. The air flow is directed towards the roof of the mouth with a  
different target spot, which is different than conceiving it as "top or bottom  
of the hole".
 
The Iceman
 
 
In a message dated 10/11/2008 10:46:44 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
wlb@xxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

Do you  angle the harp up or down or do you keep it fairly straight in your
mouth?  Do you play with the same angle or lack of angle when not playing
over  blows? 



Would you say that you breathe straight into the hole  or do you tend direct
air flow towards the top or bottom of the  hole?

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