Ian
46 posts
Jul 23, 2015
3:56 PM
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Hi all,
I was just wondering what people's general opinion on the importance of getting real life instruction was? face to face with a tutor. A question perhaps especially relevant here, on a forum, on a website, which (amongst other things) is focused on distance learning.
Living where I do, the nearest tutor is about an hours drive from me which isn't all that convenient, so I've been learning over the last 6 months via Internet resources and books etc... Which I think can work really well, and I've been doing OK, and on a personal level I'm happy with my progress and I'm not particularly concerned about future progress, but.... The question is there, can it take you all the way? At some point do you just need that 1 2 1 guidance and feedback?
Over to you.............
I'm interested to hear your paths to 'harpyness'
Last Edited by Ian on Jul 23, 2015 4:07 PM
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timeistight
1825 posts
Jul 23, 2015
5:00 PM
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I don't think you necessarily need weekly lessons but I do think it's valuable to occasionally get together with top-level players. There are lots of harmonica festivals and workshops in the UK and the rest of Europe. Why not schedule some holiday time and go to one?
Last Edited by timeistight on Jul 23, 2015 5:00 PM
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RyanMortos
1500 posts
Jul 23, 2015
5:18 PM
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Why not learning on the Internet face to face with a teacher over Skype? I think it works well with harmonica.
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~Ryan
See My Profile for contact info, etc.
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asilve3
141 posts
Jul 23, 2015
9:28 PM
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I feel that with harmonica the answer is different than it would be with many other instruments. There is always real value in being taught by a great teacher. However harmonica is something that IMO is very hard to teach and to be taught. Many of the techniques have to be discovered or need to click on their own.
I have been fortunate enough to take lessons from some of the great harmonica players out there and yes there was value in what they taught me. They were able to listen to my playing and identify what needed improvement and offered feedback.
However what helped me the most was learning about music theory and harmony from a great guitar teacher. Not just a guitar teach but a GREAT guitar teacher and one that could work with my learning style and motivate me to practice and understand the material. He didn't know anything about harmonica but the way he taught allowed me to take those concepts and translate them directly to harmonica.
So in summary do you need an in person teacher? Most harmonica players don't have the luxury and do fine. Should you have in person instruction? yes! Finding a real great teacher is INVALUABLE!
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STME58
1386 posts
Jul 23, 2015
10:54 PM
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asilve3, I think you hit on an important point. A good music teacher can help even if their instrument is not harmonica. I have been taking trombone lessons lately and a lot of what I learned about timing, note choice, jam etiquette and many other things, applies directly to my harmonica playing. A very good choice if you do not play another instrument, would be to take voice lessons. The theory is all the same and there is a lot of overlap between singing and harmonica in things like breath control and vocal resonance.
Last Edited by STME58 on Jul 23, 2015 10:54 PM
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Rontana
145 posts
Jul 24, 2015
5:12 AM
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If you've got the scratch to take personal lessons on a regular basis, and if the teacher is good (not just good at playing . . . also good at teaching, explaining and listening) you'll see progress and benefits. But, that combo is not common or easy to find.
The online options - whether downloads or Skype - allow people to learn and progress in ways that just weren't possible in earlier times. It really depends on your personality and way of learning. I'd say personal lessons are most important when just starting out, letting you avoid bad habits that might become otherwise ingrained
But, all the lessons/teachers in the world won't help unless you put in the practice time on your own.
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Marr's Guitars
Over a decade's experience designing, building & playing Cigar Box Guitars
Last Edited by Rontana on Jul 24, 2015 5:14 AM
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RyanMortos
1501 posts
Jul 24, 2015
5:44 AM
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I think the real answer is it depends on your individual goals and what "all the way" means to you and what you're willing to do to get there. Pretty big difference from the end in mind being playing legit sounding 2nd position at jams and occasionally sitting in with bands or the end being wanting to be a touring top tier player with original voice and ideas that don't just sound like a cover artist. You probably can achieve the former without a teacher the later is a complete lifestyle change that a teacher can't do for you. But I think people can tell the difference between someone that played for X years for X hours without a teacher just copying records and YouTube/books and someone that played for the same X years and same X hours and had a good music/harmonica teacher. Things don't seem that simple, someone who had no teacher but spent the time and the years versus a newer player with a few years playing and a teacher well the former just seems to sound better each time.
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~Ryan
See My Profile for contact info, etc.
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Ian
47 posts
Jul 24, 2015
9:25 AM
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Th as for your opinions guys. As always, you bring up some interesting points.
The idea that maybe we have reached a point where technological advances have somewhat negated the reliance on traditional face to face instruction.
Its a good point that even if you find a real tutor then they may not be a great teacher or even a great player... So in that case, what would be the point? Very little.
Maybe, with access to such quality instruction online from the likes of Adam etc then all you need is online lessons and perhaps the occasional Skype session to keep you on course.
Luckily my brother in law is stupidly talented at guitar (as in... Crazy good) so I have a great player to jam with.
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KingoBad
1654 posts
Jul 24, 2015
9:34 AM
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I suggest that you spend some time in person once or twice with a top level player.
You can fill in the rest of your life with Skype and online stuff, but you need to be in the acoustic presence of a harmonica played very well at least once.
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Danny
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Ian
48 posts
Jul 24, 2015
2:49 PM
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I'm sure that would be of use for sure. I'm going to try to meet up with good players this winter when I'll have more spare time. On a side note I finally nailed 6 Overblow... Woop woop
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Diggsblues
1871 posts
Jul 27, 2015
10:03 AM
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I'm always amazed at the resistance to study with a teacher. I spent years in study and I think this will help you move along so much faster and the feed back from the teacher each lesson is so important.
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barbequebob
2983 posts
Jul 27, 2015
12:21 PM
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I've largely taught myself how to play, but for a harmonica player, two HUGE advantages for you that too many harp players often don't understand the need for and by themselves, are often= too damned hard headed to learn are basic music theory and TIME, and those are two things the average non pro player often sucks at because too often they idiotically think that that's just too small, too boring, and too unimportant for them to be bothered with, and that's a really foolish attitude because those things will not only improve your overall musicianship TREMENDOUSLY, but at the same time, learning time will also make a huge improvement in your LISTENING skills as well. Why? It will teach you not only to notice when you've messed the time up, but in turn, it'll be impossible for you NOT to notice whenever somebody else you're listening to either on recordings or when your in the audience or on the bandstand is screwing the time up and you won't even have listen for it because it will absolutely stick out like a sore thumb kind of obvious and you'll be on your way to listening to music not like jam hack, but more like the way professional musicians, recording engineers and record producers listen to music, meaning yo'll be listening to things in much greater detail.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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BronzeWailer
1744 posts
Jul 27, 2015
3:56 PM
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I'm in my fifties so need to make up for lost time. I grab any resources I can. Started with YouTube, Gussow, Ricci et al. I have also taken 1-on-1 harp lessons and am doing 1-on-1 voice lessons. There is no substitute for in-person teaching. Not only will they tell you what you are doing wrong (plenty in my case) but can give you instant feedback, and also let you know where you are making progress. And it is tailored to your strengths and weaknesses (which you may not be aware of. I was pronouncing my vowels wrong apparently). As a mere student, one doesn't necessarily know what is the right path forward. My harp teacher started me tongue blocking from lesson one. At the time I thought it was merely another way to get the notes.
My singing teacher has me learning jazz ballads for breath control. I wouldn't have done that on my own.
I heartily recommend it.
BronzeWailer's YouTube
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Ian
49 posts
Jul 27, 2015
4:07 PM
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I'm certainly open to proper lessons, in fact I'm sure I will get some in the next year... It feels like a natural progression for where I'm at right now.
Its not too easy to find good teachers in my area though so I might go down the Skype route initially.
It will be strange though as the last music lesson I had must have been when I was about 13 when I last played the clarinet. Back then music was kind of a chore, I liked the idea of it but I hated the hard work that was involved. 20 years on and I find I really like the sense of achievement you get from practice...
Again, thanks for the feedback
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detroit
1 post
Jul 29, 2015
11:34 AM
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Four years ago I got a harp as a Christmas gift and started to teach myself to play using youtube, tabs, and other internet resources. This did not work for me.
I was able to blow notes and do some tabs so I did learn some tunes this way but I really couldn't play the harmonica. I got bored and put it down, but couldn't forget it.
I searched, unsuccessfully, for a teacher local to Detroit. Today, I am now into my third year skyping with a teacher out of Austin TX and I am learning what the harmonica can really do.
For me, having a teacher has proved to be very valuable. Without his guidance I never would have continued to learn.
Last Edited by detroit on Jul 29, 2015 12:13 PM
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