As requested by Eharp in the Adam 12-29-09 thread. It was the best $20 that I've spent in a long time. Adam was very welcoming, informative, and as always generous. He went non-stop (except for a short break) for over two hours. I learned a lot in that short time, and was very entertained. His solo performance was unbelievable! There were about 75 to 80 people in attendance and Im sure that no one went home feeling let down. Glad that I went and can't wait until the next time.
I thought it was great plus I got to have dinner with a lot of cool guys.
I hope next time we can schedule a 4 hour time slot at least. Seemed way too short & rushed. Otherwise fantastic event I wouldn't think twice to go to again.
---------- ~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
Wondering - could you guys who went there give a description of how the event goes ? what exactly is a harmonica clinic, how does it work ? My imagination had me seeing the host going to each participant, listening a little and giving critical feedback on his/her playing. But sounds like 80 people is a lot for this. Would come to find out myself but traveling from Japan would be a little too complicated for this .
c'mon! 2 hours and all non-attendees get is this!! howzabout fleshing it out a little. was the solo performance first to whet your appetites? did he have hand outs or some sort of power point presentation? did he have you guys play separately or together to practice a technique? details, guys, details. any photos?
and dont forget a brief critique of your dining experiences.
I wish it could have been longer, but it actually ran somewhat longer than scheduled. It was supposed to run from 7 to 9; it started around 7:15 and I believe it ended at 9:50.
The posters above are being generous. I came in with a few too many things on my plate, frankly, and didn't manage to accomplish them all. I didn't get through the tab sheets that I handed out (although at least people got free tab sheets; check out the previews for those lessons at tradebit if you want to know how, for example, Kim Wilson's solo on "Got My Mojo Working" sounds), I didn't take enough questions, I didn't give people in the room enough chance to play. I always hope I'll give an optimal performance and almost always fall short.
@Mikolune: Although I handed out some tab sheets and worked partway through at least a couple of them, I spent a little longer than I usually do on what I'd call the soul-ministry aspect of the instrument. My feeling, as I got ready for the clinic, was that there's an awful lot of technical information out there right now. I decided that I should address certain things that aren't being addressed by any other harmonica teacher, as far as I can tell. So I asked people to spend some time thinking about where they were playing "from"--i.e., what feeling (rage, loneliness, euphoria, loss, etc.) and what part of the body. I tried to set priorities.
I talked about the blues scale, cross harp, and talked about the three blue notes, especially the flat fifth (5 draw) and a couple of ways of inflecting it.
I talked about note-durations and grooves. I wanted people to think a little more about the choices they made RHYTHMICALLY when they improvised melodies, rather than thinking always about scales.
That sort of stuff.
In response to a request from the audience, I brought Jay Gaunt and Jim I-Forget-His-Last-Name on stage to play a couple of blues--medium shuffle and uptempo. It worked OK.
I had trouble with the foot-drums during the performance part of the show. I've got my work cut out for me in the woodshed this winter. Only one song, "Superstition," really kicked but and had a little magic going on. Then Jeff brought me a shot of Johnny Walker Black and things got slightly hazy because I'd missed dinner in an effort to make the soundcheck work to perfection. You win some and you lose some.
There were about 42 paid people in attendance, I believe. Not 60 or 80! But the energy was high in the room. It felt like more people. :)
Last Edited by on Jan 04, 2010 12:22 PM
And don't forget the bad@ss improve jam with Jay Gaunt and another very accomplished player who's name I don't recall (can anybody help me out here, he deserves credit). I thought it was great. I certainly got my $ worth.
E-harp- I felt the food was lackluster but the company was awesome. It was great seeing you guys in person.
The thing that amazed me the most was hearing good acoustic tone live. ---------- The Art Teacher Formally Known As scstrickland
Last Edited by on Jan 04, 2010 12:28 PM
I'll add a bit....I felt it was well worth the money...Adams instruction touched on the technical (ie: blue third/ blues scale) AND the "spiritual"...ie: where do you play from. The "Real Blues" brings out emotions in folks. You have to put feeling into it for them to get something out of it.
And ...as said by others meeting Stickman / Ryan / Jon / and others was, for me anyway, a highlight as well.
Paul ---------- Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker
By my watch, Adam entertained his audience from 7:00pm until 10:15pm. There is an old axiom, give them more than they expect. I was not sure what to expect and Adam exceeded whatever I could have imagined. He took about 5 minutes to open by asking everyone to introduce themselves and their home locations. I think the countries of Mexico, England, and Canada, were represented. On one occasion Adam had everyone with a "C" harp stand and follow him in a 2 hole practice routine. I have never been around 30 or 40 people drawing on 1 note/hole at one time. Sounded like a symphony.
Adam has remarked about the physical effort required to play the harp. Sitting up in the front row, it was enlightening to see how much work Adam put into hammering his solo pieces, as he wrapped up the evening.
"didn't manage to accomplish them all." that is probably easy to happen. unless you teach like a robot, there is always going to be something that strikes a chord (n.p.i.) and you a bit sidetracked. your videos attest to that. and sometimes you see the audience is particularly interested in another point, so you give that some extra time. even as a prof this, i would think, happen to you even if you are giving an often repeated seminar.
the "spiritual" aspect, (nice choice in terms, pharpo) is hardly ever discussed at any seminar i have been to. if it is, it is glossed over far to quickly.
adam says the clinic went till 9:50. bmoke says 10:15. can i assume the johhny walker black is the cause for the missing 25 minutes, adam?
and you guys got to learn to count/estimate a crowd. there is close to 100% increase in airdale's count. (johhny walker again, perhaps. hmmm?)
The guy that played with Adam & Jay, as Adam said, is Jim. Jim's quite great. He's one of the regulars at our monthly/bi-monthly harmonica club meetings and really easy to talk to. Believe it or not he doesn't play publicly but damn he would turn some heads if he did.
I would venture to say the clinic/workshop started shortly after 7pm (Jon, I, and a couple of the others at my table were fashionably late but also in time :) ). I'd say we officially broke around 10ish. There's no 25 minutes loss, in Philly one man's 25 minutes is another man's 25 seconds, lol. A number of people stayed another half hour or so to jam but I was way too tired.
I wasn't really complaining about the length of time rather that I think we all easily could have gone longer. I'm not sure we're being as generous as Adam is being modest. Everyone left with smiles on their faces (and some with new harps they couldn't resist to buy in their pockets ;) ).
I don't think too many guys want to say too much because no way could anything we could write on a web page come close to the effect and joy of the experience.
I think we should all get together again soon and take over a jam club for an evening, lol.
---------- ~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
I went out to eat with my grandaughters and son then they were mad when I left for my 2nd great night with Adam for a clinic.I ran one for HARP July 08.Both nights were great.Oh great job Jeff. Adam there is always room for improvement what ever it is in life and I know how you could done that.Slowed down the clock.Time always goes fast when having fun.You also did a great job.How much can you teach in 2 or 3 hours.It just a pleasure for us just to hang out with you. Jay Gault is so cool for a 15 year old.He would help you or any harp player anyway he can.He has the coolest Dad also.His dad took him out for a Philly cheesestaek after the clinic. Last thing the guy Jim Quinlin is the greatest guy.He can really play the harp in all styles he is our Buddha.He has been in a few blues bands in the area but you should hear him sing like a bird. I also bought my 2nd Manji from Eazzyreader and i love it. Adam and Jeff thanks for having me. Oh and Johnny Meister was there how cool is that. The blues channel WXPN 88.5 Sat nights 8 to 1 ---------- Fred HARP (Harmonica Assn 'Round Philly)
one thing that no one mentioned, adam is a great host. i think thats the word. im not sure. like he is a great speaker an really connects with the audience. and he can provide comedy too keeping the atmosphere alive. there was a few times he made me LOL.
Yea Adam...come on up to Syracuse.....after the winter LOL. The World Famous Dinosaur Bar-be-que's upstairs room would be perfect.
paul ---------- Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker
Another I thought crossed my mind about the Philly clinic. At one point Adam was trying to make a point of some sort. We said he wished he had a guitar to help make the point and he did ask if anyone in the audience had a guitar. I smiled to myself then, and again now. Here is a clip of Bob Dylan, that I was familiar with where Dylan asks his audience for an E harp. I was worried that guitars might be tossed up front where I was sitting to answer Adam. Whatever, no one did have a guitar.
I took a shot at embedding the youtube ID here above. I did not work. I need to work on this. The youtube video was called - Bob Dylan Mr Tambourine Man (missing e-harmonica) - if you wanted to search for it.
