Links
Tuition
Some people are lucky enough to be able to "pick up" a musical instrument without apparent effort, and don't you just hate them!?! The complexities of technique and music theory are casually brushed aside and they are playing The Flight of the Bumble Bee while you are still doing battle with When The Saints...
The majority of us, of course, are mere mortals, and we need some help. If you have already browsed through our books and DVD page, then you will by now have a fair idea of what is available in the way of tuition material for players of all playing standards from the absolute beginner onwards.
Occasionally, of course, you might find yourself banging your head against the proverbial brick wall. Why can't I get that whole-tone bend on draw three? Why are blow bends so difficult? Why can't I really nail that Sonny Terry lick?
These are the sort of problems that keep you awake at night. Well, perhaps not, but you might have reached the stage where some help from a teacher could just save your sanity...
Sadly, tutors for either diatonic or chromatic harmonicas are not too thick on the ground. Your local library or musicians union may be able to help you.
The National Harmonica League www.harmonica.co.uk run Blues Weekends, which as we understand, are primarily aimed at beginning and intermediate players. These are residential weekend courses involving people such as Steve Jennings.
Check out Adam Gussow's amazing site, for instructional videos and tabs .. www.modernbluesharmonica.com www.youtube.com/kudzurunner
If you live on the South Coast, Richard Taylor runs a monthly workshop for beginners and intermediatesat the Sussex Academy of Music in Shoreham-by-Sea. He also offers individual lessons from his Harp Surgery in Hove. Full details are available at www.harpsurgery.com or call 07525 256954. Richard is local Rep for the National Harmonica League, columnist for Harmonica World and a former national champion.
Learn Harmonica in London http://londonharmonicas.tumblr.com/ in an enthusiastic, supportive and friendly atmosphere. Come and share your skills and learn from your peers in this informal group. We meet the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Beginners from 7.15 - 8 p.m., Players and improvers from 8 - 10 p.m.
Dead Cat Bounce frontman Dave Shannon, an HTAB-accredited teacher (diatonic and chromatic), is now taking private harmonica students looking to improve their playing - especially of blues. Dave taught three-times National Harmonica League Junior Blues champion Theo Games and has himself won the NHL jazz contest. He teaches at his home in Finchley, north London on Sunday afternoons. Tel 07918 147548
If you live in the Cheltenham area, drop this chap a line! Adam Pritchard is Gloucestershire's only NHL accredited harmonica teacher. His Internet correspondence course should improve your playing even if you are stuck on a North Sea oil rig!
If you live in East London (or even further afield -- we understand you have this system in London called the "tube" -- sounds far-fetched but we're assured it's true) contact Dave Toussaint. He lives in the Stratford (E15) area and is teaching and doing sessions (including working on the soundtrack of a recent John Malkovitch film). Get in touch with him via the e-mail link at the top of the paragraph!
The Crossroads Club the coolest place around. www.towerofsong.co.uk/blues
Play...the evenings usually kick off with a blues open mic session - all abilities and styles welcome. The Tower of Song is an acoustic venue but there is a good house PA and electric guitars are welcome as long as you don't view making people's ears bleed as a musical achievement.
Listen...each week, we feature a guest artiste, duo or band for the second half of the evening. We focus on the huge pool of local talent on The Midlands scene but will occasionally be looking further afield - and we encompass as many styles of Blues as possible.
Enjoy...there is plenty of good beer and time to talk about important things such as what really happened at The Crossroads, how to play Harp in the 3rd position and how (or why) Chickenbone John makes guitars out of cigar boxes!
If you are a teacher of harmonica, give us your details, and we will put your name up in lights...
peter@harmonicas-direct.com
Tutor List
MJ Teaching. Tuition for beginners of the diatonic harmonica. Leeds: 0113 2531062 or 07782 213 560 morleyguitaracad@aol.com www.morleyguitaracademy.co.uk
Jon Burr - Diatonic/blues, etc tuition, LEEDS, West Yorkshire 0113 2491334.
jon@jonburr.wanadoo.co.uk
Eddie Armer - Diatonic and basic chromatic tuition.all styles, KENT, 01892 826040.
eddie@armer6807.freeserve.co.uk
Dave Toussaint - Diatonic/Chromatic tuition, LONDON, 07904 980835.
davetoussaint@hotmail.com
Gerry Ezard - Chromatic, Chord and Bass tuition, SOUTH WALES. 01656 784904.
gerald.ezard@onetel.net
Alan Glen - Blues/Rock harp, SOUTH EAST LONDON. 020 7732 1127. glenalan9@aol.com
Jim Hughes - Chomatic tuition, WEST MIDLANDS. 0121 744 6155 badger6@tiscali.co.uk
Steve Lockwood (BA Hons, PGCE) Harmonica tuition for Cambridgeshire and
Aiden Sheehan - Diatonic, folk and blues, CWMBRAN, SOUTH WALES 07812 143226
Dave Beckford - Chromatic and orchestral, KENT, 01634 352585
James Langridge - BLUES HARP, DONCASTER, South Yorkshire, 01302 329434
John McKevitt - BLUES, Jazz, Folk and Country Harp, South Yorkshire, 01302 738287
Julian Jackson - Jazz/classical styles, LONDON, 07930 801344 Joolsj@yahoo.com
Joff Watkins - Diatonic and Chromatic, all styles any level, LONDON, 07890 834002 joffharp@yahoo.com
Ian Briggs - Blues harp tuition, Nr. EXETER, Devon 01395 443158 ianb@btowers.freeserve.co.uk
Roy Green - Blues style etc, LONDON NW10, 01580 720148
Dave Shannon - Blues harp, LONDON, 07918 147548 dave@deadcatbounce.info
Eddie Martin - Blues harp tuition, BRISTOL, 0117 907 9358 eddie@eddiemartin.com
Richard Taylor - Blues, country, rock, folk and latin.
BRIGHTON, 01273 271203 / 07525 256954 hove.actually@ntlworld.com
Skype; bloozmeister www.harpsurgery.com
Adam Norton - Blues harp, ampified and acoustic, COLCHESTER, Essex 01206 367827
Al Price - Chromatic etc, SW SCOTLAND, 01671 404378
Keith Charnley - Diatonic and Chromatic, WEST SUSSEX, 01903 500445
Paul Gillings - Diatonic and blues, NORFOLK/SUFFOLK 01502 589439 aulgillings@oneworld.fsnet.co.uk
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Blues Matters. The definitive, most read, monthly magazine for the U.K. Blues scene. The magazine in the new compact A5 format is packed full of news, group and CD reviews, gig dates, and much, much more.
Available from all good news agents or subscription, see www.bluesmatters.com
The National Harmonica League. If you play the harmonica, and you feel a little isolated, I often hear "I don't know any harmonica players or tutors in my area", there is a whole harmonica world out there. Harmonica World the bi-monthly magazine, from the National Harmonica League, featuring artist profiles, music and instrument reviews, workshops and tutor lists. Join the Harmonica League now! www.harmonica.co.uk
See the web site of Jack Price, songwriter, producer and musician. www.jackprice.ukgo.com Jack's site contains a mine of information, spannig three decades of his career, and includes a discography of the records Jack produced, some of the songs Jack wrote and the records he released on his labels, Sioux Records and Crystal Records
Repairs
If your chromatic harmonica is tired or needs an overhaul, we know a great repairer, Michael Morino of Free Reed Foolery. Don't let the humorous name put you off, he's an expert and takes his job seriously. His contact details are thefool@free-reed-foolery.com 07885 506106
Music
We don't sell music, but we know of a fine company that does, Morning After Music. They have a fantastic range of Blues titles in CD, tape, vinyl, DVD and mini disc format, and if he doesn't have the title you want, he can probably track it down. Give Mal a call on 01654 703767
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Victoria House
20b Sandbeds
QUEENSBURY
West Yorkshire
England
BD13 1AB
Tel: + 44 (0)1274 411600
Fax: + 44 (0)1274 411600
Proprietor: Peter Blyth
VAT: GB 5003 167 06
