Re: [Harp-L] High Notes, a method to getting better

[michael rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>]

Phil,
It is interesting that we have identical methods.  I know both of us
went to Augusta in the early 90's.  Perhaps a teacher, even listmember
Larry Eisenberg, taught both of us this method.  I do not remember
when I came up with this but I thank whoever led me to the concept.
Michael Rubin
Michaelrubinharmonica.com

On Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 12:24 PM,  <philharpn@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> This is exactly the method I have been using for bent notes with students
> since I purchased a cheap ($100) Casio keyboard in the early 90s.
> My original purpose was the demonstration songs songs the Casio  would play
> back in the key of C, the songbook that came with it and the ability to
> change the tempo of the playback. (One of my students event went back to the
> electronics store and bought one, too.)
> Now I use a smaller keyboard I picked up from Radio Shack for $50 -- mostly
> because it's easier to carry.
> Also, for the iPod, iPhone and iPad there is an app called Melodika (sic)
> that sounds like a melodica (on my iPod4) and can be used to match bent
> notes. With the iPod et al, an outboard speaker may help.
> A piano works, too, this requires holding  the pedal down or continuing to
> strike the key. With the electronic keyboard, the note continues to sound as
> long as the key is held.
> Hope this helps
> Phil
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: michael rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Fri, Jun 24, 2011 12:54 pm
> Subject: [Harp-L] High Notes, a method to getting better
>
> Dear Harp-l,
> An member sent me an offlist email requesting information as to how to
> improve high note blow bends enough to play Magic DIck's Whammer
> Jammer lick.  He asked if it was a blow bend or an overblow.  After
> writing it, I figured I might as well share it:
>
> To begin with, it is a blow bend.  Hole 10 blow can be bent down 2
> keyboard notes, or one whole step.  Can you blow bend at all?  The
> simplest blow bend for most people is hole 8 blow bend on a standard G
> harp or 8 blow bend on any low octave tuned harp.  Basically, the
> lower the pitch of the harp, the lower 8 blow is, the bigger the reed,
> the easier to manipulate.
>
> Here are my suggestions for high note blow bends:
>
> A very small mouth opening, like a canary kiss.
> Pressure on your upper lip, either in the center of the lip or as if
> your lip had vampire teeth.
> Keep your cheeks stiff, do not puff out your cheeks.
> Aim your air to the floor of the mouth as if you were a flute player
> or as if you had a drinking straw pointing straight down to the
> ground.
> Either:
> 1. Put the tip of your tongue on your back bottom teeth.  If you teeth
> were ten feet tall, put the tip nine feet up.  Then as you bend push
> your tongue forward against the teeth.  The top[ front of your tongue
> can hang over the front of the teeth.
>
> Or:
> Put the tip of the tongue on the harmonica's bottom cover plate.  As
> you bend, push the tongue forward so that the bottom half of the hole
> is blocked by your tongue.
>
> I suggest the second way, especially for hole number ten.
>
> Start by getting a keyboard so you can hear the notes.  Figure out the
> names of the notes in the holes and in the bends.  I can help you
> privately.  Start on your lowest harp on 8 blow.  Play the keyboard
> note, first the note in 8 blow, then in 8 blow bend.  Listen to it.
> Sing it along with the keyboard.  Sing it without the keyboard into
> the tuner to make sure you are singing on pitch.  Then play 8 blow
> followed by 8 bend into the tuner.  Hold 8 bend for a minute.  Repeat
> on 9 and 10 with the 10 double bend.
>
> Use the keyboard to listen and sing the notes before every exercise
> mentioned.
>
> When you can do that, repeat with a tongue articulation at the
> beginning of each note.  It is still possible to tongue articulate
> even if the tongue is on the harp.  USe the top middle of your tongue
> for the T sound.
>
> When you can do that, begin on the bent sound and release it.  Then do
> that with tongue articulation.
>
> Then play 10 blow, 10 double bend, 10 single bend, 10 blow.
>
> Then play 10 blow, 10 single bend, 10 double bend, 10 single bend, 10 blow.
>
> Then play 9 blow, 10 blow, 9 blow,l 10 single bend, 9 blow, 10 double
> bend, 9 blow, 10 single bend, 9 blow, 10 blow.
>
> Repeat the above three exercises with tongue articulations.
>
> Repeat all of the above on an Ab harp, then an A harp, then a Bb harp
> etc until you can do this on your highest harp.
>
> Magic Dick plays 9 bend, 9 blow, 10 blow, 10 double bend.
>
> Hope this helps.  Private lessons available by skype and phone, as of
> today only $45 per hour.  Available Monday through Friday.
> Michael Rubin
> Michaelrubinharmonica.com
>