Hi all-- I will be presenting a seminar on the SCCH56 Compact Chord harmonica--but that's not as interesting as:
1. What’s Wrong with the Harmonica? Brendan Power Brendan describes some of the weak points of the harmonica, and leads a brainstorming session on possible ways of overcoming them. Involvement encouraged, all players and ideas welcome.
2. How to Play in Every Song at a Gig without Becoming Boring Boris Plotnikov This seminar is for chromatic and diatonic players. Boris will discuss the main roles in a band, ways to play lead, chord and bass, and tricky ways to play rhythm by using technique and electronic effects.
3. Harmonica Adjustments Bertram Becher Learn to adjust the standard out-of-the-box harmonica for improved tone control, bending, and overblowing. The out-of-the-box harmonica is adjusted to meet the basic needs of the majority of players; however, each player from beginner to professional is unique. Adjustment and customization can dramatically improve reed response and tone control. This workshop will take the mystery out of adjustments and customization by providing the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to make adjustments, making the harmonica a truly individual and intimate instrument. Amongst his other talents, Bertram just happens to be Seydel's Product Manager.
4. The "Gazell Method" for Chromaticity and Expression PT Gazell If you have heard him play, you will have experienced his uniqueness. Join PT as he shares his experience and technique and demonstrates his instruments.
5. Exploring the Dimi: An Introduction to the Diminished Layout Chromatic Harmonica Jason Rogers Having just written Exploring the Dimi, Jason will answer why one would want to play a Dimi. He will compare the Dimi Chromatic to the Solo Chromatic and discuss and demonstrate approaches to getting started on the Dimi layout with its three patterns of four notes to play all Major scales. An introduction to enharmonics, exercises and melodies are also included.
6. Blues Improvisation Ronnie Shellist In this interactive seminar, you will gain some insight as to how you can build your improvisational skills in a blues setting. We will primarily use C and A harps. All levels are welcome. Be prepared to take notes as Ronnie helps you discover the power of focusing on rhythm and groove first, as a foundation from which to build musical ideas.
Too bad I have to work--I think I might be playing a little hooky at one point or another tho.
If you aren't coming to Denver in two weeks, this is what you are missing out on!
It's not just the seminars. Walk the halls of SPAH at any hour and hear blues, jazz, bluegrass, country, classical, celtic, old school, samba....... Hear diatonic, chromatic, chord harp, bass harp, half-valved harps, fully valved harps, triple reed plate harps, miniature harps. See teenagers, twenty somethings, thirty somethings, forty somethings, fifty somethings, sixty-somethings, seventy-somethings, eighty-somethings and ninety-somethings ANY of whom will blow you away with their skill. See harp players play the guitar, the piano, the ukelele, the harmonium, the tambourine, .... See the worlds most beautiful microphones...... ---------- *************************************************** /Greg
I’ll be doing a workshop entitled “Everything you always wanted to know about custom combs – but were afraid to ask”. Combs are the only thing harmonica related that I am even remotely qualified to talk about. The title is sort of tongue in cheek – after all, how much do you really want to know about combs? That said, I did this workshop at the recent Harmonica Collective in Indianapolis and it was well received. I’ve been in business for four and half years and in that time I have made and sold many 1000’s of combs. There must be some reason why people are buying them. Are the benefits real or imagined? Or do guys just like eye candy?
I’m up against some stiff competition in the same time slot – Wednesday from 3:30 – 4:30 PM: Duo Playing Part 1 – Joe Filisko & Eric Noden Racking up and Rocking Out - - Lonnie Joe Howell The Fundamentals of Diatonic for Beginners – John Gindick
If nobody shows up, I’ll just go the bar and have a beer.
---------- Tom Halchak www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
Last Edited by florida-trader on Jul 30, 2015 11:53 AM
Last year my SSCH chord seminar was up against Buddy Greene. I stopped him in the hall later and complained--he was startled but sympathetic. Nice guy!
