I'm always looking for any avenue which might help my harp progress in even the slightest way. Recently, I was searching to see if you could do something similar to bodybuilding resistance exercise to strengthen the muscles which facilitate breathing,the diaphragm being chief among them. I came upon an article about how hospitals are starting to use harmonicas as therapy for those with lung problems such as asthma. Having studied an old school Chinese martial art system for the last 18 years, I realized how important the diaphragm is in our art. The sudden guttural shout known in Karate as a kiai, used when striking, is actually a way of connecting the wave of power generated in the legs and hips to the upper body, and out through the hand. Kind of like the crack of a whip. I've decided to share harmonica therapy with my fellow students as a way of strengthening the lungs and diaphragm, as well as gaining greater awareness and control of this essential muscle. I'm estimating that approximately 20 to 25 students will be interested in purchasing a harp to join in this endeavor. Although only a small number will probably seek to join me in delving deeper into the world of blues harp obsession, all should have a decent harp that will encourage them to play regularly. These are people who have adopted self discipline as a way of life, and make a habit of drilling anything which advances their skills, helping them become more well rounded as a human being. I was thinking something in the quality and price range of a Special 20 would be best, and was wondering if anyone offers bulk pricing for these harps. The key of "C" seems to be a standard for new students, although I'm hoping for the benefit of your knowledge as experienced players and teachers. What harps, key, and songs would you start them off with. One of my favorite in / out rhythms is in the big Walter song "The Honeydripper" (B flat harp). Please check out the link to the article, and share your ideas. Thanks, Jim
Seydel makes a harp specifically for this. But it's expensive so not what your looking for but you should still check it out.
If your students will not really be playing but more just breathing in and out. Maybe an octave harp would be good orsomething like that. As far as diatonics adam often says newbies should get a D harp so they can more easily play the 2 Draw. I know that's not really the point here. ---------- "Trust Those Who Seek The Truth... Doubt Those Who Say They Have Found It."
There's a guy I know of who has a brick and mortar music store here in small town Missouri . . . but he also has a very large ebay presence. I was speaking to him last summer, and he had recently purchased a huge number (we're talking in the thousands) of Special 20s. In the store is a 10-foot tall, circular stack of Hohner boxes, with 6 Sp. 20s (key of C) per box. I was just in there last week, so it appears he still has quite a supply.
Don't have any idea if he'd cut you a deal for bulk, but I suspect he might. The name of the store is Butler Music (Butler, MO). I believe the owner's name is Jeff (don't recall his last name). Phone number of the store is available via Google. I don't know that dropping my name would matter, but if you do talk to Jeff feel free to tell him that Ron from "Marr's Guitars" recommended you call.
I've no business or personal connection with them, except for shopping there on occasion. I've always had a good experience; have bought a few harps and a couple of guitars in there.
Last Edited by Rontana on Jan 09, 2016 5:46 PM
I believe the special harps made for lung improvement are low key harps such as G or Low F. The low vibrations being good for clearing the lungs. You might want to buy as low as as you can.
You could probably go with like a tombo or cheaper made harp. I'm sure you could get a good bulk deal on them. ---------- "Trust Those Who Seek The Truth... Doubt Those Who Say They Have Found It."
Your subject title brought this breathing program developed by a couple of tuba players to mind. I have not purchased the program yet but I have used some of the exercises shown in the sample. I have used them with a group of boy scout musicians I lead and found them useful in this setting.
I also find that music and martial arts are closely linked. Both require discipline, constant practice, and developing an keen sense of timing. I sometimes use a metronome when practicing martial arts forms.
I think combining music and martial arts into one course is a great idea. I have considered developing a steel flute based on the Chinese Dizi that could also be used as a short staff. It might be useful for busking in rough neighborhoods. :-) This may have already been done but I have not come across it yet.
PS: Just came across it , guess I hadn't really looked.
Last Edited by STME58 on Jan 10, 2016 12:56 AM
If you're looking to develop the diaphragm and breath, a somewhat leaky harp may be more useful, which is often present in a less expensive harp. Rockin Ron's Music has bulk pricing on many models. Personally I'd suggest the Suzuki Folkmaster. It's a decent harp to get started on and is about $16 at Ron's.
If you want to focus on the diaphragm I would not suggest specific songs but rather excercises. In my first set of harp lessons, I was introduced to the "Harmantra", an excercise for both breathing and mindfulness. Place mouth over 1,2,3 holes of harp then breathe in and out deep and fully to a cadence. This can be done standing but even better when walking to the cadence around the room or even outside. E.g. left foot, breathe in. Right foot, breathe out. Slow to medium cadence so each breath fully fills and empties lungs using diaphragm.
Later, if students are interested in learning the harmonica for playing, the Folkmaster would still be ok and those who want to progress, could move up to something like a Special 20.
A low key would be good for breath work but key of A May me more versatile than G and as you said most lessons are in C so you would need to decide. If you bought Folkmasters, you could get both a key of C and a lower key for the price of a SP 20
Last Edited by ME.HarpDoc on Jan 10, 2016 4:51 AM
I'll give my recommendations for your project, but first a little more background information on what's already going on with pulmonary harmonicas.
Seydel produces two "pulmonary" harmonicas, the harmonicaMD, Dr. John Schaman's "Medical Harmonica," and the "Pulmonica" by Dana Keller, PhD.
The harmonicaMD diatonic/chord harp is essentially the bottom 4 holes of low F and a regular G harps with a 5th note added to the end of each to enable diminished chords (D7s). It is made on a special Seydel Noble frame (sandwich anodized aluminum comb) that separates the two 5-hole sections with a wider "tine" in the center of its comb. It uses stainless steel reeds. It is called a "diatonic/chord" harmonica for its ability to produce 8 chords -- the 4 major chords native to the bottom 4 holes (blow and draw) and the diminished 7th for each of those by adding the 5th hole. Dr. Schaman uses it as the basis for his "advanced" aerobic workout program. $170.
The Pulmonica is spiral-tuned low low G harmonica that is built on the Seydel Blues Session frame (plastic comb with recessed reed plates), with brass reeds. It is not advertised as being musically useful. The spiral tuning was chosen to avoid "sour" chords. The action of the Pulmonica is said to be twofold: the low keyed harp requires more breath, exercising the diaphragm and the low frequency vibrations loosen secretions in the lungs and sinuses. $100.
Both harmonicas are backed by clinical research studies, though Dr. Schaman's seems to me to be more thorough and scientific. Each study claims significant increases in pulmonary function with resulting lifestyle benefits.
The Pulmonica is advertised as producing meditative sounds and is not claimed to have much musical potential. Alan Sturgess does a good job of explaining it from a musician's POV here:
A duo known as "The Guitar Monks" has produced an album of meditative music called "Invoking Divinity" that features the Pulmonica prominently.
In addition to its medical applications, the harmonicaMD can be considered a mini-chord harmonica. You can play I-IV-V songs with it in the keys of C and F. A skilled player like Paul Davies can really make one "stand up and whistle dixie."
See his other Schaman harmonica videos, and all the rest for that matter. Paul is one of today's great harmonica players, IMO.
As to recommendations, I'd go for as low a key as you can find in the affordable harps you seek. Since Hohner no longer makes affordable low key harps I'd have to recommend the Seydel Blues Session Standard in the key of low F. At $35 (at Ron's) it's a bargain and with the low F key, your students will be able to play the myriad of songs in the key of C in 2nd position if they want to grow beyond "huffin' and puffin'."
As for actual exercises, the first is the obvious train song or fox chase. For that, there is no better instruction than Joe Filisko's section at Dave Barrett's
At $17/mo. Barrett's site is one of today's best bargains in the world of harmonicas. Note that Joe does play the historically correct key of A harp in his teachings. That might be a consideration in choosing the key for your students if you decide to share Joe's videos (which are superlative). Still, that low F is a very appealing choice.
For free lessons, you can't beat Jerry Portnoy's Masterclass series.
I'd advise starting them right out with chordal play, vis., chugging on that low end, just as Jerry does in lesson 1, followed very shortly with tongue blocking. (Again note that Jerry uses an A harp throughout.) The TB embouchure affords far greater possibilities for a pulmonary workout that does lip pursing, IMO.
Also, please note (if you didn't already know) that Paul Davies is one of the worlds' finest tongue blockers and at the top of the rhythm harp crop. Each of those videos on his Youtube channel are Masterclasses in the above. Truly one of my harmonica heroes!
So, Jim, I hope you find some of this information helpful. I dig your idea and really would appreciate you keeping us informed as to your choice of harps, teaching approach(es) and any feedback from your students.
Good on Ya!
Michelle
PS: Though I still like the idea of a low F harp for its benefits for a pulmonary workout, given that both of the instructional resources I recommend use A harps, that is a real consideration. If I were to you teach your students directly I'd use Joe's lessons as a basis and act as interlocutor with a low F harp. If I were to follow along with Joe's lessons as a group, I'd have to use an A harp. A harps are cheaper, too.
PPS: I'm no Paul Davies but I'm really digging my harmonicaMD!
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Last Edited by mlefree on Jan 10, 2016 10:45 AM
Stme that sa good idea making a staff from adizi ... or perhaps a digeridoo.
Mlefree. These are the harmonicas i mentioned above. But being that these are chord harps. Wouldn't you think you could get something similar in a cheaper model rather than going to diatonic?
Just a thought. ---------- "Trust Those Who Seek The Truth... Doubt Those Who Say They Have Found It."
Wonderful! In short order I've got a seven course meal of food for thought. This group is always an endless well of knowledge and great ideas. Already I can see an array of possible group situations, and the appropriate equipment based on the type of members in the group, and their variables of goals and interests. The approach I'm leaning toward so far, is to consider an "A" harp, since each of my fellow students says they like blues music, and they would probably be motivated to play more frequently if they can do the 12 bar blues rhythm Jerry Portnoy demonstrates in the above video. Although our goal would be to improve lung function, it also would be to make harp a healthy partner for life by feeling the sense of accomplishment that comes from being able to play a simple song that gradually evolves into something more sophisticated as they learn to play single notes, then bend. The "A" seems to hit the sweet spot of giving the lungs a good workout, while not making it too difficult to learn some simple bends to add to their rhythm. These are people who enjoy the challenge of taking on increasingly more detailed routines, and are used to an ever increasing flow of new information to digest and drill. Since our goal will be to keep everyone constantly inspired to play often, and discovering new songs has always done that for me, what key strikes you as the one you go to most often, due to the number of favorite songs which use that key. B flat seems to be that key for me. How about you.
Killa, I knew those were the harps you mentioned but I felt that additional information might be helpful, not only to Jim but to anyone interested enough to read the thread.
I wonder what cheaper models you might suggest? I wouldn't want them to start out with a real cheapie as they can be quite airy and not very durable. But, in concept the "student" harmonicas wouldn't have to be a chord harp or even a diatonic. Maybe a tremolo?
But since the preponderance of available instructional material is diatonic-based, there's a very good argument for sticking to a regular short harp.
And one of aromatic breath, A has always been my #1 choice. The Portnoy Masterclass CD set was the key that unlocked the door to my blues harp journey (long before they were available on Youtube) after several false starts with other instructional media so I've always been partial to the key of A. Plus, many if not most blues are in the key of E and as I said above, it's the traditional key for authentic train songs and fox chases.
Michelle
---------- SilverWing Leather - Custom leather creations for musicians and other eccentrics.
Last Edited by mlefree on Jan 10, 2016 8:40 PM
Mlefree ... idk what other models. I don't know much about anything other than diatonics. I hoped someone else would. I was just trying to put it out there.
I didn't know they were actually going to try and play blues. I thought that these were only for breathing excercises.
And you have a point about the wealth of info being for diatonics ---------- "Trust Those Who Seek The Truth... Doubt Those Who Say They Have Found It."
Tremolo harps are used extensively in Asia for music training of elementary school children. Kind of like a recorder is used here in the US in those few elementary schools that still have music programs. If you go into a music store in Hong Kong or Shanghai you will see lots of tremolos and few diatonics. I expect there is quite a bit of info out there on teaching music using the tremolo. The tremolo is a fun instrument for playing tunes on and it is not laid out to differently from the diatonic. I found I could pick out melodies on the tremolo after just a few minutes of familiarization. It does take more air because of the double reeds.
Last Edited by STME58 on Jan 10, 2016 10:19 PM
Not to give away trade secrets here, but a certain harp player we all know who seems to have a lot of force in his playing also is a distance runner. :)
Jim, I thought I might mention that Rockin' Ron has those Suzuki Bluesmasters on sale at the reduced price of $33.00. And the key of A is in stock (Wednesday afternoon).
