TmickyD1
1 post
Dec 12, 2014
6:27 PM
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Hi guys, I'm new here. I've been playing harmonica, both diatonic and chromatic, for about 3 years. I play harmonica in my college's school sponsored bluegrass band. (yeah, its a backwoods school lol)
Anyway, I was at a gig last night and the group that played before us was a group of about 20 elementary school kids on various instruments (guitar, ukelele, mandolin, fiddle, autoharp, recorder, and banjo)
There was also one kid who looks about 8 playing harmonica.
After my band performed, the director of the elementary school band came up to me and informed me that the kid's mother wanted to know if I could give her son lessons.
Naturally, I'm honored and said yes, but how would I go about teaching someone so young?
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Aussiesucker
1408 posts
Dec 12, 2014
8:41 PM
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Make it known that you are not a teacher although you would be happy to provide some guidance and coaching on some basic stuff. You could introduce him to sites like this and to other resources on the net. Good books like Harmonica for Dummies. Steer him in the direction to find a good teacher that will teach him what he wants to learn.
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HARPOLDIE’S YOUTUBE
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Mirco
230 posts
Dec 12, 2014
9:22 PM
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I would start with first position melodies. Don't overestimate your audience. Basic melodies, like folk tunes or Christmas songs, are fun for kids and will impress the family, too.
They also strengthen the fundamentals of playing a single hole and movement within the major scale.
The most important thing is to make it fun. At such a young age, I think you want to reinforce a love of music and avoid turning the child off with too much discipline or work.
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jbone
1827 posts
Dec 13, 2014
3:55 AM
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Make it fun wherever possible. Cartoon and animated movie themes. If it gets too difficult ie lots of info too fast the little guy may shy away. I had this happen.
I had a couple of local students a couple of years back. What I discovered is you cannot take anything as a given, you dissect every single thing you do to make a particular sound, and you must communicate every move.
It may be a good idea to teach a simple blow/draw notation like what used to come in harmonica cases. On Top of Old Smokey etc.
It's a cool honor to be asked to help with a child's music education and also a responsibility. Keep it simple and fun.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbTwvU-EN1Q
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Littoral
1171 posts
Dec 13, 2014
5:29 AM
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The number one fundamental rule to communicate to someone who wants to learn harp is to buy a new one when they lose or break it. This because: 1. it will happen 2. you can't learn it if you don't have it 3. the likelihood of learning is decent IF you keep one around.
I have A LOT of experience with this and agree with much of what has been said above. Starting with:
"Make it known that you are not a teacher although you would be happy to provide some guidance and coaching on some basic stuff."
This point means if you are not a teacher what is appropriate is to frame your role as a guide/coach. Most people wouldn't bother much with this distinction because they don't recognize teaching as an art (and far more complicated than playing harmonica). That should never stop us from trying -I suggest that you consider one or two of your favorite teachers and what they did that worked for you. Most of us have one, or two teachers like that (rarely more).
"Basic melodies, like folk tunes or Christmas songs, are fun for kids and will impress the family, too."
This is a great approach although many of them are not easy. Oh Christmas Tree is perfect.
Big River
Last Edited by Littoral on Dec 13, 2014 5:33 AM
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Thievin' Heathen
444 posts
Dec 13, 2014
10:26 AM
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Expose your student to the music of the great ones. New and old, and the ones who are playing the genre which your student is interested in.
Just in case you have stumbled upon a prodigy, connect the harmonica with the keyboard, ala Howard Levy.
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TmickyD1
4 posts
Dec 13, 2014
8:49 PM
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Thanks for the advice so far guys.
From what I heard at his concert, he has single notes down pretty well. I was actually impressed lol.
It'll be about a month or so before I can give him lessons because of winter break and all that, so I have time to figure out a plan of attack.
One more question, do you think a basic train rhythm would be too difficult? Since it sounds cool and doesn't have any bends I might be able to introduce him to 2nd position that way.
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Kingley
3774 posts
Dec 14, 2014
12:27 AM
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First and foremost make it fun. Don't try teaching them blues or trying hooking them into Little Walter immediately. Get them playing tunes they like and know. Stuff like The Simpsons theme tune comes to mind. Get them doing train imitations and things like that. Over time they will learn to bend notes from playing those tunes. Then you can start expanding their musical vocabulary with blues tunes, pop tunes, elemental jazz, country, etc. That way they begin to see the musical connections and develop an eclectic musical mind. But always, always, always make it fun. If they are looking bored, stop doing hard stuff and teach them how to talk through the harp with things like Sonny Terry whooping, make wah wah sounds, doing growls, etc. Make games of things. For example teach them a train and then get them to play it as fast as they can and to do a train whistle when you clap your hands. Stuff like that.
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colman
325 posts
Dec 15, 2014
9:56 AM
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in the USA the first thing to learn on a harp is train chugging and blow the whistle...the "dit-dit- huu-dat-dat--whoo-whoo"basic stuff and makes one happy with a harp doing this...dit-dit/hole 2+3 draw/huu-2+3 blow/dat-dat/hole2+3-draw.whoo-whoo3+4 -draw...this is out of a book in the 60`s...
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