Re: [Harp-L] Misc. harp questions and thanks

[IcemanLE@xxxxxxx]

I've found a different approach to be totally effective - pushing the  throat 
out is what I call the "pre-yawn" attitude - it is what happens when you  
just begin to yawn. Learn the feeling and keep the throat in this position  
whenever you play harmonica - it opens up your internal chamber to its maximum  and 
gives a good foundation for large sound. It is here that radio/tv schools  
teach you to open in order to get that James Earl Jones "Luke. I am your  
FAHTHER". tone.
 
It is the tongue alone that can control the bending - without having to  move 
the jaw. Once you understand the concept and find the "sweet spots" at the  
back 2/3 of the tongue, there is actually very little motion required to 
achieve  all bends. The only challenging areas are those very low tuned harmonicas 
and  the first few inhale bends - then you have to focus even farther back.
 
 
In a message dated 9/21/2008 10:05:34 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
hvyj@xxxxxxx writes:

To bend  the 3 and 3 draw (especially on the lower tuned harps  
like G and A)  requires that the player open the throat which is  
difficult to  explain,  The lower jaw should be dropped and the throat  
is  pushed out in front--the Adam's apple will actually move when the   
player is doing it right.  If you are moving your tongue to  bend  
(which should not be necessary if you are drawing the air from  your  
diaphragm and using your throat-- but is nevertheless commonly  done)  
try to have any tongue movement occur as far back in the mouth  as  
possible close to the root of the tongue to get the throat  muscles  
involved-- (I'm assuming that you are a lip purser, not a  tongue  
blocker--if you area tongue blocker, you will necessarily be  using  
the throat to bend  anyway). 




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