groyster1
327 posts
Aug 15, 2010
6:16 AM
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I read an interview jeff sent out with billy branch-he said he thought that there was a harmonica revolution going on-what do you think has lead to this?is it that harp players are demanding respect on such a small instrument?has adams free you tube lessons played a part in it?
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eharp
746 posts
Aug 15, 2010
6:50 AM
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in a small way, i think adam has a had a part in the revolution, along with the many others that post on youtube of people playing and teaching.
the main reason, imo, is the internet. there are now many sites that deal with harp and the teaching of how to play. there has to be at least 1/2 dozen of good forums where folks like us form a community.
the harp is no longer an instrument that folks buy on a whim and their only resource is the little instruction that comes wrapped around the harp.
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mercedesrules
1 post
Aug 15, 2010
7:03 AM
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.....I recently started learning the harmonica/harp. What triggered it was the news piece on CBSs Sunday morning show about Harrison Harmonicas. I had a fresh "D", Special-20 that I had bought just to make a polite, token purchase at a store in Terlingua, TX but had never played it. Now, I'm obsessed. Yes, Adam's videos have played a part.
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waltertore
850 posts
Aug 15, 2010
7:21 AM
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I view a revolution as something that changes the landscape dramatically. There are a bunch of guys who enjoying playing the harp posting about it, using the net to expand it, sharing info, creating some festivals, etc. But it is not prodding the masses to pick up a harp to the point of changing the landscape that a revolution does. I see a revolution, musically speaking, as something like the electric guitar taking over popular music in the 60-70's. Gods like clapton,the beatles, etc, were created. That was a revolution because they were everywhere in the media, played huge concerts around the globe, sold millions of records/song books, and inspired literally many millions to pick up a guitar. I think more than anything the internet has allowed people with similar interests to connect. That is powerful for sure, but a harmonica revolution? I don't think so. No knock on Billy Branch. If he thinks there is a revolution going on, good for him. In reality it makes no difference what is going on as long as you are doing what turns you on! Walter
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Last Edited by on Aug 15, 2010 7:29 AM
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groyster1
329 posts
Aug 15, 2010
7:50 AM
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maybe the documentary 'pocket full of soul' will create more of an awareness of course we can continue playing anonomously regardless maybe there is a revolution,maybe not
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jonlaing
44 posts
Aug 15, 2010
1:23 PM
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I think if there is a "revolution" it is definitely in its infancy. Maybe in the next decade or two, we'll really see the harmonica community change. I've converted a "tooter" or two into actually taking it seriously, just from playing based on what I've learned through the internet, and I'm not even any good.
I think there's a bright future for the instrument.
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earlounge
135 posts
Aug 16, 2010
8:48 AM
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I went out and bought my first harp because of Ronnie Shellist, Jason, and Adam's videos on Youtube. Idk if you would call it a revolution, but there is definitely a boom in interest the last couple of years.
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Joe_L
541 posts
Aug 16, 2010
10:49 AM
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I tend to agree with Billy. There are a lot more harmonicas on the market. There is a lot more harmonica related swag available than ever before. There are more people customizing harmonicas than ever before. There's more instructional material available than 30 years ago. There are a lot of fairly accomplished players.
Unfortunately, the number of truly great blues players are dwindling.
There were a couple of transcription errors in that article. One of the players listed as Guy Bradbury is actually Scotty Bradbury of Scotty and the Bad Boys. He played with Jimmy Rogers, John Brim, Homesick James and a bunch of the older guys.
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harmonicanick
841 posts
Aug 16, 2010
11:27 AM
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Well, here in the UK, harmonica and ukelele are starting to be taught in schools instead of the traditional recorder.
The man responsible for this is a guy called Ben Hewlett who has set up a franchise based business model, see www.harpscoolfranchise.co.uk
Billy Branch runs a blues for schools programme in the states.
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bonedog569
60 posts
Aug 16, 2010
8:30 PM
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If not a revolution - a vastly accelerated evolution.
a. overblow technique - is still new relatively new development.
It has opened up the potential of the diatonic - to become chromatic.
That is not a small thing.
b. the internet and youtube have accelerated the advancement of the new techniques by doing two related things:
1- exposing those who are interested to many more excellent players than we otherwise would have known existed.
I'll cite Alex Paquin and Jay Gaunt as examples - here and below
2-sharing of advanced teaching to anyone interested to learn - at zero cost. Teaching by teachers anywhere in the world who care to share their knowledge and do.
To continue the Alex and Jay emamples - I have been learning from them (and others of course) - who don't even have recordings out yet - and who themselves have been learning from others in the online world.
This shit was just not happening twenty years ago. It is a new era for many things - the advancement of the harmonica being one we here happen to benefit from.
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N.O.D.
104 posts
Aug 16, 2010
10:20 PM
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Revolution = PC or Pesonal Computer:)
Revolution = Youtube:)
PC + Youtube = Evolution:)
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Move Forward:)
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Kyzer Sosa
741 posts
Aug 16, 2010
11:15 PM
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i wouldnt be playing today without the likes of adam and others who helped me get past oh suzannah...
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scrybe314
83 posts
Aug 17, 2010
1:38 AM
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@Kyzer and more or less everyone on here: I've got to agree. When I first picked up the harp, I bought one of those "YOU CAN TEACH YOURSELF" books, and it didn't really do a lot for me. Once I found Gussow's lessons, I took off like a rocket. Here was a source of information demonstrating what to do, how it was supposed to sound, what I was probably doing wrong, with some good life-experience lessons thrown in for good measure.
The internet has opened up a wealth of information to anyone who wants it on any number of subjects. It stands to reason that musical instruments would be at the forefront of this; musicians tend to enjoy teaching people, like talking music, and are happy to help if someone has a question. Now we have access to musicians from all walks of life, all over the world.
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bonedog569
62 posts
Aug 17, 2010
2:07 PM
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Did not mean to slight Adam, Jason, Buddha - and others, all of whom have been a huge help and inspiration.
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DeakHarp
162 posts
Aug 17, 2010
2:41 PM
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Billy Branch probably got more kids into playing harp than anyone els i know .... And i was a witness when Billy had 1.500 students playing harp In a Parade on the way to BB Kings Museum .. i was the Coach keeping the kids in line and playing there harp ...It sounded like a bunch of Bees ... but it was neat ....I can bet my life he has influnced lots of kids to stick to playing harp ....Adam Changed the times with all the info he put out there .... Adam is the man who got good players ... to play better than they ever did ...New Players off the ground ... And has helped Me personaly to get me off the ground ....With my OMB Show ... Thank You Adam ..... Yur the man ....
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Have Harp Will Travel
www.deakharp.com
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groyster1
348 posts
Aug 17, 2010
5:24 PM
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@Deak
love to see the POSITIVE in this forum-hip hip hooray for adam
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