play harmonica – Page 7

Yolonda’s Genius by Carol Fenner

October 16, 2013October 22, 2013 The Good Doctor 0 Comments blues harp, Carol Fenner, learn harmonica, play harmonica, Yolanda's Genius

Yolonda’s Genius – Carol Fenner

The Doc discovered this excellent read while researching harmonica stories for the 12-15 year olds he teaches around the County. It would make an excellent Christmas or birthday present for girls or boys in this age bracket. It’s also a fun read for adults!

Yolonda is smart, tough, and big for her age. Back in Chicago where she used to live, everyone knew better than to mess with her or her little brother, Andrew. Andrew doesn’t talk very much and he can’t read, but he can create unbelievable music on the old harmonica his father left him.

Carol Fenner paints a great picture of US School life, building her story on modern Afro-American culture, including Double-Dutch rope jumping and the annual Chicago Blues Festival. There’s even a cameo featuring BB King. Fenner also addresses issues of family life, bullying, drugs and special needs learning, with the magic of harmonica music providing the all-important central thread. True genius rearranges old material in a way never seen before. Find out where Andrew’s genius takes him.

Yolonda’s Genius is published by Simon & Schuster (ISBN 0-689-82172-7). Buy at Amazon UK or Amazon US

Harp Tips Reviews - Books

Au Clair De La Douzième Position (Shedding Light On 12th Position)

April 8, 2013October 17, 2020 The Good Doctor 2 Comments 12th Position Harmonica, Au Clair De La Lune, Harmonica tab, learn harmonica, Overblow harmonica, Overblow hole 6, Pat Missin, play harmonica, The Ultimate Miniature Harmonica Tune Book

Au Clair de la Lune, mon ami Pierrot

Today Otis the Harp Surgery’s postman dropped off a delivery from those lovely people at Amazon; Pat Missin’s handsome new manual, The Ultimate Miniature Harmonica Tunebook. And as he trudged round the duck pond, amidst the late snow and expectant quacks, Otis was whistling a familiar French folk tune.

‘Pour l’amour de Dieu’, the Good Doctor sympathised as he gingerly opened the Surgery’s front door, ‘come inside and warm yourself before you freeze your assets’. ‘Don’t mind if I do’, replied Otis pausing from his musical méandre, ‘Get that kettle on. Mine’s a Julie Andrews’. (more…)

Reviews - Shows

Doublecrossed and Blue

February 4, 2013February 20, 2016 The Good Doctor 10 Comments Double Crossed And Blue, learn harmonica, play harmonica, Steve Baker

I’m gonna pack my bag

A third annual day of Harpin’ By The Sea completed, and another bucket load of memories collected!

This year we had the very great honour of welcoming Steve Baker to his UK homeland, fresh from his tour of India. During a full programme of harmonica workshops, Steve offered his wisdom and expertise to a select group of advanced harmonica players, many of whom had travelled across the country to meet him. Meanwhile over forty newcomers attended the workshop for complete beginners with the Harp Surgery’s Good Doctor. (more…)

Harp Tab How Do They Do That?

Jesu Joy Of Man’s Desiring – J.S. Bach [..with tab]

October 29, 2012March 3, 2014 The Good Doctor 10 Comments Buddy Greene, harmonica lessons, Harmonica tab, Harp tab, Herbert Harris, Jesu Joy, JS Bach, learn harmonica, Moog, play harmonica, Switched On Bach, Terry McMillan

Hark, what peaceful music rings!

[To the Memory of the great Herbert Harris, Choirmaster and Organist of All Saints Church, Harpenden, UK].

Welcome to the Harp Surgery, where one minute we’re honking the blues and next minute we’re power harping on a tangent. Time now to turn the clocks back three hundred years to the ornamentation and etiquette of the Baroque.

Whether or not you’ve studied classical music, it’s a certainty you’ve encountered its superstars. In absentia, these dudes have colonised elevators, call centres hold messages and even TV theme tunes (check out The Antiques Roadshow ) for decades. Our house favourite is Johann Sebastian Bach. Jesu Joy Of Man’s Desiring, composed in the early 1700’s, was regular fayre for the Good Doctor as a junior. And somehow, Bach was hip. (more…)

Harp Tab

I Feel Good (I Got You)…[with tab]

February 28, 2012February 28, 2012 The Good Doctor 2 Comments Funk harmonica, Harp tab, I Feel Good (I Got You) on harmonica, James Brown, learn harmonica, play harmonica

Funkin’ it up on the blues harmonica

What shall we play now? Well, as the late great James Brown put it, whatever we play, it’s got to be funky! Wise words from a guy who learned harmonica as a kid; as well as the guitar, drums, piano, and of course, some hefty vocals.

Harp players are – or should be – conscious of their scope for providing not only a horn line, but a whole horn section on the humble tin sandwich. By this I mean everything from a melody which might otherwise be delivered by a single brass instrument, to a fanfare or complete horn-style fill. It’s all there waiting to be mined. So let’s dig deeper… (more…)

How Do They Do That?

Boogie On Reggae Woman..[with tab]

December 31, 2011December 31, 2011 The Good Doctor 0 Comments 1st Position Diatonic, blow bends, Boogie On Reggae Woman Harmonica, Harmonica tab, learn harmonica, play harmonica, Stevie Wonder, Top End

Stevie Wonder diatonic harmonica

It was 1974. With a string of hit singles under his belt, Stevie Wonder recorded Boogie On Reggae Woman amidst some more reflective compositions for his new album, Fullfillingness’ First Finale.

The song’s title is slightly misleading. This is no Trench Town rasta vibe. There is a reggae skank for reference, but underneath it’s as fundamentally funk as Superstition and just as ground breaking.

For Harp Surgery fans, what makes the song especially interesting, is its infusion of a bluesy piano line and some highly expressive first-position blues harping. Let’s look more closely..

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One of the best..

Simply one of the best jobs I’ve ever seen on the internet about the harmonica: very clear and at the same time I can feel your dedication to this instrument.

Christelle Berthon

Great job!

Harp Surgery is one of the best harmonica sites on the internet: consistently both informative and entertaining. I visit it regularly. Great job!

Jerry Portnoy

Wisdom (with humor!)..

I’ve been a fan of Harp Surgery for many years now. I especially enjoy the manner in which you impart wisdom (with humor!) on how the harmonica can be employed to great musical effect in a variety of genres.

Aki Kumar

The best..

I love your site, it’s the best of them all.

Mark Feltham

Good site..

I enjoyed the style of the reviews and was delighted to see a bevy of my favorite young harp players presented in The Kids Are Alright.

Steve Baker

Super smart..

Hey I love your website and you are a super smart writer, a great thinker and thorough contributor to our wonderful harmonica community. Thank you for all you do for everyone. You rock!

Jason Ricci