Fwd: [Harp-L] Who's "famous" that U-blocks?

[Tony Stephens <tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx>]

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

> From: <tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx>
> Date: September 23, 2012, 10:39:59 AM EDT
> To: Ronnie Shellist <RonnieShellist@xxxxxxxxx>,  Robert Hale <Robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Fw: Re: [Harp-L] Who's "famous" that U-blocks?
> 
> 
> I just want to share this because the harmonica should be FUN.
> 
> --- On Sun, 9/23/12, tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx <tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> From: tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx <tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Who's "famous" that U-blocks?
> To: "Brian Stear" <brianstear@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Sunday, September 23, 2012, 10:16 AM
> 
> Hello Brain
>      Norton Buffalo is the guy everyone talks about when it comes to u blocking. I do it, the way I do it is: the tongue does form the U, I slide my tongue alone the bottom of the harmonica. It works for me to get the single notes and to play harp tabs. I am trying to learn to pucker, but it is not as easy for me as u blocking. I have come up with ways to articulate with the u blocking also.
>      Some pro's hate u blocking I think. For this reason I let the fact that I could not get the pucker to work at first and still I have trouble with the pucker drive me crazy. Two people by email helped me come to terms with this Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson's Harp player) and  Robert Hale, both said "Do what works for you" in emails when I asked about this. From  that I went on to take some classes for Robert. One of the best things I have done with learning to play. Now I still have a lot to learn to be the player that hope to be.
>     Just to let you and everyone else know, Ronnie Shellist has just started an on line teaching coarse for $20.00 a month. I just signed on. I sent Ronnie a short video of myself playing by u blocking. He thinks I can get better tone with the pucker. I think Robert will agree to that.
>      I will say this and it is just my opinion You should have fun, there are more than one way to do things, and thank goddess Norton Buffalo played this way.
>                                                                   Tony Stephens
> --- On Sun, 9/23/12, Brian Stear <brianstear@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> From: Brian Stear <brianstear@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Who's "famous" that U-blocks?
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Sunday, September 23, 2012, 1:37 AM
> 
> I went to my local bluesfest for their harmonica workshop, hoping to get some tips on some technique questions I have. When someone asked about U-Blocking, the guy said that there wasn't such a thing. I knew better, but didnât say anything out of respect.
>   I also occasionally do workshops, and Iâd like to drop some names about this when I do. Yâall know more about this than I do.............thanks for any and all help. You can reply either on or off-list.
> 
> Brian