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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Teaching / learning from scratch
Teaching / learning from scratch
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captainbliss
68 posts
Apr 19, 2010
7:59 AM
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I'm curious as to what all the other students and teachers of the harmonica here at MBH think...
What's the best way to start the journey from non-player to player? What are the best lessons to learn first? What are the best first steps for a beginner to take?
xxx
PS when teaching a beginner, I usually start with "the art of breathing in," getting an "open" tone on a (123) draw chord and doing a simple train piece very firmly in time...
To which British self-deprecation requires that I add
"if anyone's remotely interested in what I do, that is..."
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waltertore
423 posts
Apr 19, 2010
8:06 AM
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I approach each learner from their natural way of learning. If it meshes with mine, we have a fit. If not, they need to search elsewhere. I am not in it for money, only joy and if it is a good fit that is what we have. I wouldn't fit doing a group teach. I enjoy 1:1. Walter
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" No one can control anyone, but anyone can let someone control them"
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Apr 19, 2010 8:13 AM
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Greg Heumann
405 posts
Apr 19, 2010
8:09 AM
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I think the most important thing for teachers to realize is that not all people learn the same way. Some want to be told exactly what to do, others want only the goal demonstrated so they can figure it out on their own. Some are very disciplined and will devote many hours to practice - some are content to learn and develop more "naturally" and slowly. Does the student have musical ability even though he/she doesn't play harp? Can they "hear" a I-IV-V progression? Do they have pitch? Lessons for a complete newbie to music will be different than those for a transitioning musician.
The best teacher identifies and supports the particular student's learning style. This is a luxury for both when doing lessons one on one as opposed to in a classroom with multiple students.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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Oxharp
270 posts
Apr 19, 2010
8:26 AM
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I gave it some thought over the weekend with what you said about teaching so I will be looking for a kind of lesson plan for beginners to focus on.
I enjoyed the workshop very much on Saturday even though it was for beginners I still got a lot out of it.
I guess I have learnt to ask the right sort of questions about my weaknesses.
I thought the pace, structure and explanation of your lesson was just about right.
The expectation of what a complete beginner should and could do on the first lesson was equally well presented.
I found that I was actually enjoying helping those around me who were struggling with the basics and got a lot of satisfaction that way.
I look forward to other members input.
I Love to Count ….. Ah Ah Ah Ah
Oxharp
Last Edited by on Apr 19, 2010 8:26 AM
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5F6H
76 posts
Apr 19, 2010
9:15 AM
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If there's a specific piece that the student wants to learn, then help them with that, may as well get straight in there, they'll learn faster if they're doing something that they are interested in.
If they don't have anything in mind, then teach them Happy Birthday, you can gurantee that it will be the one tune requested...and you can build on it, play it straight, introduce the bent notes, then the octaves etc...something you can keep going back to & embellishing.
"Open" tone? That can wait a while, while they loosen up, I'm sure that for the 1st few months they will nod thoughtfully every time you mention it, but won't necessarily hear the difference between what they do & what you mean.
Playing the rhythm thing in time is cool, but after "x" amount of lessons, you'll just have someone who can go "Chug-a-choo-choo" when asked what they can play...unless they have asked for that, is necessarily going to be much use?
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captainbliss
83 posts
May 15, 2010
5:33 PM
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@Oxharp:
*blushes*
Thank you for your kind words!
Much appreciated.
(No more, though, or it'll go to my head)
@waltertore, @Greg Heumann:
Thank you for your responses.
I sense a strong similarity between
/I approach each learner from their natural way of learning/
and
/The best teacher identifies and supports the particular student's learning style/
to which I'm tempted to say...
Yes and hmmmm.
Yes for the MANNER of teaching (the interpersonal dynamic and so on)
I'm not so sure about the MATTER of teaching (what's being taught, the "content").
I suppose I like the very first formal focus to be the mechanics of making a nice sound, whilst encouraging learners to mess around with the harmonica informally and find what sounds / tunes / melodies they can by themselves.
@5F6H:
Thank you for your response.
/If there's a specific piece that the student wants to learn, then help them with that,/
If that's what I'm being hired for, it would be ridiculous not to, wouldn't it?
/"Open" tone? That can wait a while, while they loosen up, I'm sure that for the 1st few months they will nod thoughtfully every time you mention it, but won't necessarily hear the difference between what they do & what you mean./
Interesting you say that. I'm amazed at the difference a fledgling player (even a rank beginner) can hear (and the delight this causes) when they open up, drop their jaw and BREATHE...
/Playing the rhythm thing in time is cool, but after "x" amount of lessons, you'll just have someone who can go "Chug-a-choo-choo" when asked what they can play...unless they have asked for that, is necessarily going to be much use?/
Absolutely!
Moving onto melodies pretty quickly has to happen (for precisely the reasons you give. Happy Birthday is a great idea - thank you - never occured to my country blues obsessed mind...)
EDIT @waltertore
/If it meshes with mine, we have a fit. If not, they need to search elsewher/
I hear you. Wise words...
xxx
Last Edited by on May 15, 2010 5:38 PM
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nacoran
1875 posts
May 15, 2010
11:06 PM
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When I started out playing I deliberately chose to just make noise for the first couple weeks, not trying to figure anything out. I wanted to learn the intervals without getting frustrated figuring out melodies that I wasn't ready for. Once I decided I didn't care what noises I made I was free to learn what noises I could make. Then I started picking out melodies that I remembered from playing baritone as a kid and other familiar songs. I can figure out most melodies as long as I can whistle or hum the melody well enough to keep it in my head while I play. Having some songs keyed for you early on helps a lot so you can play along without sounding awful, although if you leave learning to key songs too long you get lazy.
I'd let a new player know a couple basics, like pucker vs. lip block and have them switch back and forth so they get comfortable with both. A lot will depend on whether you have previous musical experience.
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Nate
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hvyj
333 posts
May 16, 2010
5:19 AM
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Teaching scales is a great way to have the player learn embouchure, breath technique, "open" tone, bending, single note technique, dexterity in moving around on the harp, breath patterns, breath shifts, intervals and some fundamental music theory all at the same time.
Since certain major and minor pentatonic scales have tcommon breath patterns in different positions, it's also an easy way to teach multiple position playing from the start instead of treating it as something that's more "advanced' (which it's really not). For example, it's technically easier to have a beginner play the minor pentatonic scale or the blues scale in third position than in second.
Last Edited by on May 16, 2010 5:23 AM
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captainbliss
89 posts
May 17, 2010
12:33 PM
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@nacoran:
/A lot will depend on whether you have previous musical experience./
A very good point. Some learners already know how to "do" music, they just need to learn to play harp. Others need to learn both.
/When I started out playing I deliberately chose to just make noise for the first couple weeks, not trying to figure anything out./
Looking back on that, do you think it was a good thing to have done?
Pre-empting your answer, perhaps, but...
I'm very much in favour of learners developing a relationship with the sounds they can get out of an instrument (gosh, that sounds a bit pompous, doesn't it, but heigh-ho) as early as possible. Seems more important than worrying about playing something "right."
@hvyj:
/Teaching scales is a great way to have the player learn embouchure, breath technique, "open" tone, bending, single note technique, dexterity in moving around on the harp, breath patterns, breath shifts, intervals and some fundamental music theory all at the same time./
And, I suppose, it's a simple jump from scales to scalar patterns to first steps in improvising...
@all above
Food for thought. Thank you!
xxx
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I'll be playing with Andy Sharrocks @ The Leicester Square Theatre, London (UK) on Tuesday 18th May. Hokie Joint (feat Giles King on harp) in support.
Details / tickets here:
http://www.leicestersquaretheatre.com/lqt/show/S1269349065/Andy+Sharrocks+%26+The+Smokin%27+Jackets
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Littoral
14 posts
May 17, 2010
12:48 PM
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ALWAYS: What are the students questions...
What a student can learn and will learn is inherent in the question(s) they ask.
AND: never run your mouth with a whole lot of information. Useless waste of time.
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captainbliss
92 posts
May 17, 2010
12:57 PM
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@Littoral:
/What a student can learn and will learn is inherent in the question(s) they ask./
In many (most? all? need to think more) cases, I agree. I think, though, the teacher has to probe those questions (I've had (harmonica and non-harmonica, primarily the latter) students who are so full of enthusiasm and energy that setting priorities, "chunking" things up, doing one thing at a time is critically important.
/AND: never run your mouth with a whole lot of information. Useless waste of time./
That horrible thing where those doing the educating start babbling, offering unsolicited advice, jumping from subject to subject?
Hate it when I catch myself doing that!
Anyhow...
More food for thought.
Thanks!
xxx
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I'll be playing with Andy Sharrocks @ The Leicester Square Theatre, London (UK) on Tuesday 18th May. Hokie Joint (feat Giles King on harp) in support.
Details / tickets here:
http://www.leicestersquaretheatre.com/lqt/show/S1269349065/Andy+Sharrocks+%26+The+Smokin%27+Jackets
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Littoral
17 posts
May 17, 2010
1:20 PM
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Make them write down their primary question.
If you have numbers of students then collect their questions and let the questions orient the session.
Make them repeat what they think you said -in their own words (twice). A good way to stay married, too.
These are all general teaching strategies.
For harp I emphasize:
1. Breathing Full Musical Chords
2. Single Notes
3. Nursery Rhymes
Last Edited by on May 17, 2010 1:21 PM
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7LimitJI
146 posts
May 17, 2010
1:34 PM
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Folk songs like Kum ba yah, Streets of Loredo, Sloop John B.
Basically 1 or 2 chord tunes.
These teach the ability to hit single, clean notes with good tone and breathing technique.
I played tunes like these non stop for the first 3 years of playing.
They are all good party songs.
Have a look at this book. It's the best beginners book I've come across.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Can-Play-Harmonica-CD/dp/0825615178/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274128279&sr=8-4
From that move onto David Baretts stuff.
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Those Dangerous Gentlemens Myspace
Due to cutbacks,the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off.
Last Edited by on May 17, 2010 1:35 PM
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