Re: [Harp-L] RE: blown out harps, it ain't over till the fat lady sings

[David Payne <dmatthew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

It is a great idea to study singing to help with harp playing. It can teach you a lot. 

1) singing into the harmonica can teach you about the relationships of tone. It's something I do with my children as 
part of their ear training, and it probably helps your singing and ear more than the harmonica playing. Play a single 
note, then sing into the harmonica. At first the sound will be pure chaos, adjust the pitch of your voice to match the 
harmonica reed pitch. As you approach, that clash will turn into a beating, then as the pitch comes closer the 
beating will slow, then stop when you hit pitch.

2) Opera singers. Study opera singers big time. Check this out, for instance, the scene where the saying "it ain't 
over till the fat lady sings" is derived (Yogi Berra was a great deal more itelligent than he let on). A harmonica player can gleam a lot from these techniques, especially the vibrattos. 
I'm not gonna post a link to the clip I'm talking about (it's the 2005 Pappano production) cause when the Rhinemaidens get their gold back, they get, shall we say, a little too excited for family opera. If you have children in the room, you may want to stop the video after Brunhilde and Crane, the cool skeleton horse, jump in the fire, there's nothing more to be learned, about harmonica anyway, after that point. 


Dave 
________________________
Dave Payne Sr.
Elk RIver Harmonicas
www.elkriverharmonicas.com 


----- Original Message ----
From: fjm <bad_hat@xxxxxxxx>
To: h-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11:41:43 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] RE: blown out harps

There does seem to be some similarity between singing and playing harmonica.  I would imagine that a lot of the techniques cross over but not being formally trained in voice I can only venture guesses. Ever pick up a harmonica backwards and try to play it?  Remember what happened?  for me the note doesn't sound.  Why? Impedance mismatch. Mike and I were having an argument something along these lines.  I went so far as to use a regulated air stream to sound notes.  Low notes would not sound at the same pressure as higher notes and the range of acceptable pressures was narrow.  Vern has done similar experimentation with a vacuum  source.  A pity that Pat Missin no longer graces us with his company.  No doubt he'd have more informed thoughts on this topic than I do.  fjm
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