toddlgreene
2066 posts
Nov 08, 2010
3:04 PM
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Once again, the holiday season is upon us! Last year, myself and a handful of others went out and played two different charity gigs-one at a Ronald McDonald House, and another at the Tulane Cancer Center. Both were redeeming. I'm pushing for more involvement and more gigs this year when we have our meeting Wednesday.
Who else plans to get out and spread some holiday cheer via harmonica at a local charity, nursing home, etc?
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Todd L. Greene, Codger-in-training
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eharp
903 posts
Nov 08, 2010
3:24 PM
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a friend suggested this to me once and this will be my 3rd year doing it.
when i am at a store with the salvation army ringing the bell out front, i take some time to play some xmas songs.
the bell ringers never have complained.
one even thanked me because he thought it brought some different aspect to the cause.
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harpdude61
461 posts
Nov 08, 2010
3:34 PM
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Locally we are having a "Blues Christmas" with 3 bands. A toy will get you in.
I like the Salvation Army idea. Do the ringers have rhythm?
I've been practicing Little Drummer Boy. Fun to play tongue blocking in 1st.
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Buzadero
622 posts
Nov 08, 2010
3:35 PM
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Every year, for what is now probably a decade or better, myself and a couple of my locals have done a couple of nights at the state penitentiary about an hour from my house for the Holidays.
It is really just background music while a big gymnasium full of lesser offenders with good behavior get some family time to let their kids sit on their knee and open some gifts.
Just harp, double-bass, guitar and piano. We have had a cocktail drum set a couple of years. Christmas tunes only. We can do about two hours non-stop, with each of us dropping ut for short periods to have some water or get some air.
Fun stuff. The same bunch of us have done some elderly care places and one time did a Children's Hospital thing.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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Jim Rumbaugh
332 posts
Nov 08, 2010
6:33 PM
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The Harmonica Club just played the Ceredo-Kenova Veteran's Day parade Saturday Nov 6th. A small PA sitting in the back of a pick-up truck. We rolled through the streets playing "The Marine's Hymn","Cassond Go Rolling",and "When the Saints"
Sunday Nov 21'st, we play for 1 hour at The Festival of the Trees at The Paramount theater in Ashland, Ky.
This is about the 4th or 5th time we have been there.
Here'a a 2008 picture of the gang.
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intermediate level (+) player per the Adam Gussow Scale, Started playing 2001
Last Edited by on Nov 08, 2010 6:35 PM
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MakaInOz
24 posts
Nov 08, 2010
7:06 PM
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The harmonica ensemble (sounds a lot fancier than ‘the six of us that play harp together’) I play in has played retirement villages, nursing homes and charity festivals. One of the local radio stations runs a huge kids Christmas party for special needs kids and this year ‘Harpers Bizarre’ has been invited by the local Ukulele group to play with them at the Special Kids Christmas Party. It should be a hoot – the only problem I see is that they play for two hours. Not sure my lips will last that long!
Cheers
Maka
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Buzadero
623 posts
Nov 08, 2010
7:17 PM
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"Not sure my lips will last that long!"
Sure they can. You need to train your lips for the longterm.
Practice by filling a shallow, wok-shaped dish with uncooked rice. Then, slam our face down with the initial point of impact focused into your mouth. Your face should be relaxed and your lips in natural repose. In your mind, think of your target as if at the back of your throat. By visualizing the back of your throat as the length of the travel to the focal point, you will impact the rice much more naturally. Start off slowly at first. Don't push it and injure yourself needlessly. Just hard enough and frequently enough to feel the improvement. In your first session, you may only be able to repeat one or two dozen times. The trick is to persevere. You're in it for the longterm. You are developing life habits.
Good luck.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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Jagrowler
8 posts
Nov 09, 2010
1:46 AM
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@Buzadero - As a fairly new player I find is sort of advice invaluable! Thanks for posting.
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Littoral
180 posts
Nov 09, 2010
3:41 AM
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The rice method, wow.
The Cambridge Harmonica Orchestra used to do big mall shows and other events. I loved doing all that stuff. These days I break it out at a mall spontaneously or in stranger places. I challenge myself to just put some spirit on people. Of course I get the most. One thing I always do is learn a few new carols. That reminds me, what position works for White Christmas? That one eludes me.
This topic got me to thinking about the many funerals I've played. Perhaps another topic to start.
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Buzadero
624 posts
Nov 09, 2010
6:09 AM
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"what position works for White Christmas?"
Try 1st, first.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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barbequebob
1422 posts
Nov 09, 2010
7:45 AM
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You can also use a country tuned harp in 2nd position as well for that tune.
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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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