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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Gauging Interest...
Gauging Interest...
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HarpNinja
1959 posts
Dec 04, 2011
7:58 PM
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Most of my day job involves designing, implementing, and assessing curriculum (and then planning and implementing professional development around it). Recently, I've been able to use that knowledge base to put together some ultra-successful Blues 4 Kids events with the local blues society.
Currently I am working on some harmonica customization presentations and applying my expertise to creating an interactive workshop of sorts. While noodling with that (I am negotiating doing some of these at some of the big harmonica events and have at least brought it up to several more...I will participate as my day job allows!), I dreamed up the idea of a new seminar topic...
Mysteries and Myths of the Diatnoic Harmonica (working title, lol)
It came to me while working on coverplates. The tonal impact of coverplates is a topic I could easily cover as is some of the timbre associated with bends and overbends. I think comb material could be at least hit on.
Anyways I am asking you guys (not posting this on other sites) about possible topic ideas assuming this is a cool idea.
My goal is to NOT provide definitive proof of anything. The objective is to give harmonica players some things to think about and directly experience. I am not interested in complicated data collecting tools, etc. Basically, just real-time inquiry with attendees.
For example, we debate the impact of coverplates here all the time. However, how many times have we all gotten together and in a relatively controlled enviroment test this? Even basic testing like playing the same comb/reedplates with different covers infront of our peers?
If I don't tackle this, maybe someone will rip off the idea at some point - either way, it may be an inexpensive and fun way to learn a few things (or unlearn a few things).
So...thoughts on the worth of such an effort and further topics to explore? (One thing I thought about was submerging several combs in water at the intro and then inspecting them at the end - or showing a before and after if that doesn't cause swelling fast enough).
Regarding the customization topic, I really have no interest in doing that as videos or Skype lessons right now. The whole point of a seminar-type format is that, for me, the fun is working directly with people (and getting to learn from them as well). The whole motivation on my end is the enjoyment of participating with my harmonica peers and getting to experience more events on the off time, lol.
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
VHT Special 6 Mods
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Reverend Jimmie Jive
22 posts
Dec 05, 2011
9:18 AM
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I think to assess volume and tone , even responsiveness objectively one will need to input measurable amounts of air volume and force... and leave the human factor out. and perhaps a sensitive dB meter to judge output
I tried this once with an aquarium pump...simple enough to attach, the soft aquarium airline (I used the softer green stuff, not the harder clear tubing, just squeezed into the blow holes fine) but the pump I used did not hove enough output.. to make it sound at all.. I think a larger pump,, a $25-$35 one, (the one I used was tiny and cheap) would have worked...might get around to it one day
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Littoral
435 posts
Dec 05, 2011
3:27 PM
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Interesting:
"Most of my day job involves designing, implementing, and assessing curriculum (and then planning and implementing professional development around it)."
I've done a whole lot of both as well -although my day job is mostly about teaching middle school science.
This really interests me:
"Recently, I've been able to use that knowledge base to put together some ultra-successful Blues 4 Kids events with the local blues society".
I'd like to know more about these.
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Littoral
436 posts
Dec 05, 2011
3:31 PM
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And a specific idea would be to address the myths of tone -in particular the search for the perfect amp.
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