I've just added a new page to this website entitled "harmonica teachers." It is, of necessity, an exclusive list: these are people in most cases whom I know, have worked with, and have the highest respect for as teachers and players. I simply want to present interested blues harmonica students with a short list of superior teachers who offer private lessons.
I'm doing this for purely altruistic reasons. I don't take kickbacks and get no % on this business. But I know that I benefited immensely from the handful of private lessons that I took, many years ago, and I'm quite sure that 90% of people who purchase my videos and tabs, not to mention watch my YouTube stuff, would benefit greatly as well.
The list is focused specifically on BLUES harmonica teachers, which is why, for example, Randy Singer, Howard Levy, and William Galison don't show up. I'm sure they can all teach blues harmonica, but they're mostly jazz players. The people on my list are the hard core.
If you think there's somebody else I should include, please email me directly rather than posting your suggestion here. But please keep my caveat in mind: I'm interested in people who teach and play blues harmonica at the highest level, not people who play a broad range of styles (folk, country, jazz, etc.). (Buddha, for reasons that should not need belaboring, is on this list, even though he has a wide range.)
Two other teachers whom I DO plan to include in the list, FYI, are Deak and Wade Schuman.
Deak, send me your contact info.
Anybody who has Wade's email, please send it to me or post it here. I'm not sure that Wade has a regular teaching practice.
I've also emailed Billy Branch, who gives private lessons, and hope to include him, too.
I'm not going to debate my inclusions and exclusions. These are highly personal recommendations and will of course fail to include some terrific people--including great teachers in England and Australia. People looking for private teachers in those two countries should use the plentiful information available from the National Harmonica League and the like.
I just wanted to let you guys know about the new page. Here it is:
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/harmonica_teachers.html
Last Edited by on Jul 10, 2010 11:56 AM
Actually, I will make an exception for Howard. There's only one Howard and a modern blues harmonica player who could take a private lessons or two with the Howard would be a fool not to.
I just can't get no respect LOL I teach in Philadelphia, PA WEST Philly to be exact. I give private lessons and will be offering a beginners harmonica class in the fall as well as a music theory class. I teach both diatonic and chromatic. oatss_oatflakes@yahoo.com
