Workshops

Forthcoming workshops are advertised here. General information about how workshops run and what to prepare is lower down the page. We look forward to seeing you at our next event.

Workshops on offer:

• Beginners Diatonic
• Improvers Diatonic
• Beginners Blues
• Improvers Blues
• Intermediates Blues (6 session course)

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BEGINNERS’ BLUES HARMONICA (At Sussex Academy Of Music – SAM)

• When: Sun 27.June 10am-Noon 2010
•             Sun 28.Nov 10am-Noon 2010
• Where: Sussex Academy of Music, Shoreham-by-Sea
• Suitable for: Those who can play basic harp, can note bend, but want to learn blues specifically
• Bookings: Contact SAM on 0800 756 9411 or book on line

Content:

We will focus on introducing you to the blues..

• The blues scale – central to all things blues
• Twelve bar cycle – learning the I, IV, V chords and turnarounds
• Muddy licks - some signature Chicago riffs
• Walter’s Boogie - accessing twelve bar blues patterns with Big Walter Horton
• Blues styles and players – a review of the principal styles and stars
• Electric Blues – Using a bullet mic and amplification
• Jam tracks – play along to blues jam tracks

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IMPROVERS’ BLUES HARMONICA (At Sussex Academy Of Music – SAM)

• When: Sun 25.Jul10am-Noon 2010
•             Sun 30.Jan 10am-Noon 2011
• Where: Sussex Academy of Music, Shoreham-by-Sea
• Suitable for: Those who can play harp reasonably well, can note bend and want to build on our beginners’ blues content
• Bookings: Contact SAM on 0800 756 9411 or book on line

Content:

We will build on our last session, with a focus on you learning new blues licks and styles

• Chicago blues - raunchy and honking
• Country blues  - lighter and more rhythmic
• Octaving -  an essential skill when playing blues
• Tongue blocking – for that extra crunch and tone
• Blues licks - some more signature riffs
• Rockin’ Robin - study piece: a jump blues instrumental by Rod Piazza
• Blues styles and players – More about the principal stars and their styles
• Jam tracks – play along to more blues jam tracks

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INTERMEDIATE BLUES HARMONICA COURSE (At Sussex Academy Of Music – SAM)

• When: Sun 02.Jun 1pm-3pm 2010. Damn right I’ve got the blues – focus on 2nd position blues
•             Sun 25.Jul 1pm-3pm 2010.   Slant harping – focus on 3rd position blues
•             Sun 26.Sep 1pm-3pm 2010. Playing it straight – focus on first position blues
•             Sun 31.Oct 1pm-3pm 2010.  Rumbas to Cha chas - Latin styles in blues
•             Sun 28.Nov 1pm-3pm 2010. Blow the back off it Dickie! – power harping and rock harp
•             Sun 30.Jan 1pm-3pm 2010. Extreme chugging – fox chases, trains and percussive harp
• Where: Sussex Academy of Music, Shoreham-by-Sea
• Suitable for: Those who can already play harp, can note bend and want to investigate new techniques
• Bookings: Contact SAM on 0800 756 9411 or book on line

Content:

As specified above. Each session will look into it’s subject matter in depth and is lead by an experienced exponent of the blues harmonica.

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BEGINNERS’ DIATONIC HARMONICA (At Brighton Music Box)

• When: Sun 26.Sep 10am-Noon 2010
• Where: Sussex Academy of Music, Shoreham-by-Sea
• Suitable for: Beginners and Improvers. No need to read music or be able to bend notes.
• Bookings: Contact SAM on 0800 756 9411 or book on line
• NB: This does not focus on the blues but may use some examples

Content:

• Welcome and introduction - warming up the harmonica and yourself
• Physics of note bending - why reeds bend and what happens inside your harmonica
• Quantifying the bend notes - calculating how many bends are in each chamber
• Mapping the bend notes - locating draw bends and blow bends
• Draw bending technique - how to capture your first draw bends
• Blow bending  technique - how to capture your first blow bends
• Beefing up the bends – how to strebgthen your bending technique
• Direct bending - how to hit bent notes without scooping
• Bending tunes – learn some simple tunes and riffs which require good use of bends

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IMPROVERS’ DIATONIC HARMONICA (At Brighton Music Box)

• When: Sun 31.Oct 10am-Noon 2010
• Where: Sussex Academy of Music, Shoreham-by-Sea
• Suitable for: Beginners and Improvers. No need to read music or be able to bend notes.
• Bookings: Contact SAM on 0800 756 9411 or book on line
• NB: This does not focus on the blues but may use some examples

Content:

• Welcome and introduction - warming up the harmonica and yourself
• Physics of note bending - why reeds bend and what happens inside your harmonica
• Quantifying the bend notes - calculating how many bends are in each chamber
• Mapping the bend notes - locating draw bends and blow bends
• Draw bending technique - how to capture your first draw bends
• Blow bending  technique - how to capture your first blow bends
• Beefing up the bends – how to strebgthen your bending technique
• Direct bending - how to hit bent notes without scooping
• Bending tunes – learn some simple tunes and riffs which require good use of bends

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ABOUT HARP SURGERY WORKSHOPS

Workshops are fun, challenging and open to all ages. As a general guideline, our beginners are novice players who can’t yet bend notes. Some have literally just bought their first harp and want advice on how to get started. Others have had a harp for a while but need a little extra help finding their way round. Intermediates should be able to draw bend holes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6, and be aware of bend locations. Our intermediate workshops offer fresh challenges and skills which will help elevate playing to new levels, breaking out of old comfort zones.

Our underlying tenets are:

• Everyone is welcome
• You don’t need to read music
• It’s natural to make mistakes
• You are encouraged to ask questions
• You will pick up at least one important new skill
• You will have fun and that’s an order
• Workshops are inclusive and egalitarian

Student feedback

That was great, very thorough and very inspiring. Looking forward to the next one! Malcolm McLeod (Intermediate)

I came to your beginner’s harp class a while ago and have since been having a wonderful time chugging away on my harps so I just wanted to say a huge thank you. Max O’Brien (Beginner)

Media

Check out the BBC’s coverage of SAM.

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FAQ’s

Which is the diatonic harmonica?

It’s the short 10 hole harmonica. Sometimes referred to as the ‘blues harp’, it comes in a variety of brands including Hohner, Lee Oskar, Hering, Huang, Seydel Söhne, Bushman and Suzuki.

Do you teach Chromatic harmonica?

Apart from the third position blues style, no we don’t teach Chromatic (slide or push button) harmonica. But we can refer you to specialists who do.

Do I need to be able to read music?

Nope! As long as you have your ears, you’ll do fine.

What do I need to bring?

Beginners need a diatonic harmonica in the key of C, a note book and pen, ears and a sense of adventure. Intermediates should certainly bring a selection of diatonic harps and maybe a chromatic in C major. The lesson fee is always useful too!

Do you provide refreshment?

Sorry we don’t. For our workshops we ask you to bring non-alcoholic liquid refreshment and a snack to see you through the session.

Do you have toilet facilities?

Yes we do (all on site except for Brighton Music Box which is currently in the Pub next door).

Do you have parking facilities?

For lessons at SAM there is usually free parking available on site. At the Harp Surgery parking can be tight, depending on the time of day, so leave yourself a few extra minutes to find a spot before our lesson starts. For Brighton Music Box there is the option of meter parking, th New England Street multi-story or bus services to London Road.