fulleyes
7 posts
Apr 07, 2018
3:05 PM
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Well I bit the bullet and have decided to take some lessons from a pro. I'm a self taught intermediate player and am tired of playing the same old riffs.Need a boost so I contacted Carlos Del Junco and meet with him this week for my first lesson. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. Can anyone tell me what to expect getting lessons from a pro?
Thanks
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WinslowYerxa
1554 posts
Apr 07, 2018
4:16 PM
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I can't speak for Carlos' individual teaching style, but expect to be challenged. Expect to receive a lot of attention for clues as to your current capabilities and to what you will need to progress.
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Winslow
Harmonica lessons with one of the world's foremost experts
Check out my blog and other goodies at winslowyerxa.com
Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition with tons of new stuff
SPAH 2018 - August 14-18 in St. Louis
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slaphappy
353 posts
Apr 07, 2018
9:52 PM
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one of the best things about paying for lessons is it really forces you to work if you want to get your money's worth. The simple fact of the transaction itself will probably pay dividends for your playing (unless you're lazy and don't mind wasting money..)
I'll bet Carlos will be awesome too, let us know how it goes..
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4' 4+ 3' 2~~~
-Mike Ziemba
Harmonica is Life!
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ValleyDuke
226 posts
Apr 08, 2018
5:33 AM
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One-on-one lessons worked great for me. My instructor also had online materials, and I was able to ask follow-up questions via email. Wasn't cheap but like @slaphappy said it forced me to be more disciplined and I definitely got my money's worth. Some of the things I did was bring a list of questions to lessons, warm-up before my lesson, and actually put into practice what my instructor taught.
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arzajac
1852 posts
Apr 08, 2018
7:36 AM
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I can vouch for the quality of Carlos' private lessons. He's a great player and an accomplished teacher.
Expect as much homework as you can handle. Hands-down, you will get a much better return on your investment in terms of becoming a better player with lessons from Carlos than spending money on anything else.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica Combs and Tools.
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6SN7
798 posts
Apr 08, 2018
8:45 AM
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I took private lessons over a 6 month period. The first lesson was to learn the blues scale on G harp. It took 4 months to master.
That alone will put you ahead of 80% of the blues harp players on the planet who play by intutition/by feel. Learning the blues scale is the gateway to learning new licks. Good luck
Last Edited by 6SN7 on Apr 08, 2018 8:46 AM
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Martin
1457 posts
Apr 08, 2018
8:47 AM
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Carlos seems to be an intelligent and reflective man so I´m sure you´ll fare a lot better than Peter Madcat being given lessons from Big Walter Horton.
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Michael Rubin
1178 posts
Apr 08, 2018
9:10 AM
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Madcat received a story that takes up an entertaining 5 minutes of his shows. It was definitely worth the bottle.
Last Edited by Michael Rubin on Apr 08, 2018 9:11 AM
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Fil
377 posts
Apr 08, 2018
5:59 PM
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There's something about Big Walter's playing that suggest a kind of intelligence and a deeply reflective nature. Trouble in Mind is a good example I think. He may not have gotten a PhD in Musicology, but I wouldn't be quite so dismissive of him. I get lessons from him every time I hear him play. It's likely Carlos learned a thing or two from him as well.
Anyway, regarding the original question, +1 for all the endorsements of taking lessons.
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Phil Pennington
Last Edited by Fil on Apr 08, 2018 6:00 PM
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Martin
1458 posts
Apr 09, 2018
4:43 AM
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There is a difference to be observed in the explicit instructions given with a didactic purpose, as compared to what you can absorb from another players actual playing.
I´m not dismissive of BWH´s playing: in fact I´m terribly fond of it. (Especially when he had a decent sound system at his disposal.) His pedagogic approach though, appeared to be a bit brusque.
But yes, it gave Madcat a good story to tell.
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Fil
378 posts
Apr 09, 2018
6:55 AM
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Your point might have been clearer had you made it more clearly in terms of his pedagogic approach rather than intelligence and reflection. But, we see it differently. No problem with that.
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Phil Pennington
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barbequebob
3495 posts
Apr 09, 2018
9:47 AM
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One thing to remember is that not all great harp players are going to be great teachers and teaching is an entirely separate skill set on its own. Some people, regardless of how good they are, just don't have the ability to teach particularly well, so never assume that at all. Giving tips here and there is FAR different than actual teaching with planned and highly focused teaching.
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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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The Iceman
3530 posts
Apr 09, 2018
11:00 AM
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+1 on Barbeque Bob's comment!
I've watched for years as the conventions, gatherings, jam camps, Summits, etc, advertise their seminars and teachings to attract students. However, it became apparent to me that the philosophy of the promoters (which is probably a realistic one) is that, in order to draw attendees, one must dangle bright shiny objects in front of them - i.e., famous performers of high visibility and stature. Of course the hoi polloi would flock to be able to rub elbows with famous recording artists - a great source of bragging rights. However, as Bob stated, so many of these performers are really not teachers at all and do not know how to effectively convey techniques and concepts to an audience.
Having been intimately involved as attendee, student and then finally producer of events and clinician, I've seen this over and over again.
The problem is that those that are excellent and effective teachers do not have the same name recognition and draw as the stars do, so producers of these events are not as interested in a totally effective teaching/learning experience as they are in a "cool hang with the famous artist".
I suppose that is the reality, but would sure like to see a change in how these gatherings are formatted. Now, I'm not saying that they are ALL like this, but most really seem to be.
How wonderful for attendees to come away from a weekend with truly awesome new technique skills or much better understanding of the creative process rather than hand outs with transcribed solos and selfies with the stars.
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The Iceman
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fulleyes
8 posts
Apr 09, 2018
3:24 PM
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From what I gather Carlos is a great teacher. He studied under Howard Levy at one time and I imagine some of his teaching wore off on Carlos. I will find out first hand what type of teacher he is in a few days.
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