I returned to Central Illinois yesterday from HarmoniCollege 4 in West Virginia. It was a blast, with Peter "Madcat" Ruth teaching Saturday classes, and jams Friday and Saturday evenings. As in the past, the event was in a great setting (Heritage Farm Museum and Village), the club fed us home cooked food, and it made for a great time. Peter covered multiple useful topics in his classes with great demonstrations, and Jim Rumbaugh offered classes on alternative topics.
Classes by Peter "Madcat" Ruth
1) - Getting a big acoustic tone 2) - Tone modulation 3) - Getting smoothly from the bottom notes to the top notes of the harmonica 4) - Playing minor keys on a major harps in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th positions 5) - Playing major keys in 3rd position and 12 position 6) - Leading a band / Accompanying a singer 7) - Groove Geometry
Classes by Jim Rumbaugh
1) 5th position, an intro for beginner’s 2) 12th position, an intro for beginner’s 3) vibrato via hand, throat, diaphragm, jaw, lip 4) octaves to do chords in 1,4,5 or 1, 6, 4,5 and 1 7d, 6d, 5 songs 5) 4 over 3 rhythm riff, playing a triplet over 4 notes 6) tuning a reed, watch me open a harmonica and tune a reed 7) grooves , listen and learn different grooves per Jimi Lee
The participants included a wide range of skill levels, and the participants, the club members, the band, and Madcat were all supportive to all levels of ability. It was a friendly setting in which it was OK for a player to take a chance on a playing a variety of music.
For the last 3 years I have gone and have always enjoyed this workshop. The past teachers were Charlie Barath, and co-teachers Todd Parrott and T.J. Clay. This year it was Peter "Madcat" Ruth, who is an amazing player and teacher. The Huntington Harmonica Club and Jim Rumbaugh are great hosts.
I am looking forward to next year, already! ----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Apr 13, 2015 3:14 PM
I went as well and thought I would add my comments here.
Doug said much of what I was thinking. I met some great folks. Jim did a super job of planning and organizing, everything went according to plan. The venue and the food were very nice, if anyone failed to gain three pounds it was their own fault.
Doug wrote: "It was a friendly setting in which it was OK for a player to take a chance on a playing a variety of music."
This was probably the coolest part of the whole deal for me personally. I was probably the least experienced player in attendance and I received nothing but encouragement from the other players, I never felt like I couldn't give something a try. Much of the music played in the jams was waaay outside of my experience. But I tried new things, some of it went well, some failed pretty badly, nobody seemed to mind. Several players commented on the good tries or gave me tips and ideas to try.
A few highlights:
Jim Rumbaugh gave me what amounted to a private lesson on third position minor blues. The light bulb went on a half hour later when Madcat gave a talk on using 3rd, 4th and 5th positions to play minor keys.
Madcat delivered his materials in an effective and often humorous way, replete with spot on demonstrations of his points.
Jamming with Madcat, who wouldn't love that?? (Well, maybe David who sat next to him and then had to solo right after Madcat all night)
Meeting several MBH members, all good guys.
Jim's daughter's homemade sausage gravy!
The giant boulder in the road.
I am sure I will go next year, barring any unexpected emergency.
If you decide to go I have one tip for you: start working on your one chorus solo for "Blues is My Business" in A minor. I'll be working on mine, in fact I worked on it earlier today.
Wow what a weekend! You could not have these kind of meals for under $75 to $80 dollars. These ladies that cooked are amazing! You couldn't have all day group instructions with Madcat for under another $75 dollars. Staying in a huge 4 bedroom authentic log cabin for 2 nites, well should be way over another $75. And jamming with a dozen or so harmonica players, well priceless. Did I say that the whole weekend was only $150 dollars. Best harmonica deal you'll find!! Bonus: $5.00 Red gave me some great guitar tips!! Jim gave me a personal lesson on 12th Position! And we have a harp vendor in house! Hallelujah, these guys are great! ---------- And I Thank You !! KCz Backwoodz Bluz
I heard mike, one of our guitar players say, (while 20 harmonicas were zinging in his ears) that he'd never had so much fun jamming with a roomful of harp players. The band is an amazing and talented group of people, who not only gave their time so a bunch of people they don't really even know could have a jamming good time, but they also seemed to have a Ball!!! Now that's Bonus!!! ---------- And I Thank You !! KCz Backwoodz Bluz
