You'll Sound Better With Sunglasses!

Harmonica workshops for non-harmonica players

 At the front of the harmonica workshop a lady in a wheelchair embraces the Mick Jagger impression and waves her right hand manically across the harmonica.

“Put your sunglasses on, you’ll sound better” I shout.  

“Give it more wah-wah, and more crazy hand action”.

The others join in and pretty soon the whole group is playing the blues.

When I first taught beginner harmonica workshops at festivals I was the proper teacher.  I started with a history of the instrument, instructed the group on breathing and required them to play slowly and methodically. I deflected any questions about trickier techniques.

I'd respond with "Tongue blocking's too difficult" or "you should only try to bend when you've mastered single notes". All my workshops were methodically planned to the minute.

These days I chuck it all in. I figure they may only ever play harmonica today for one hour so why not enjoy the experience? It should be a giggle for me too, not just going through a boring routine.

I don’t buy the cheap harmonicas off amazon any more. I get half decent ones and explain they are getting an almost professional quality instrument for the price of a couple of craft beers.  

I've found that once people have a small investment in learning, it perks em up no end.

For the craic I teach them single notes and bending.

“Pretend your sucking the last bit of Gin and Tonic through the straw”.  I explain.

Teaching for The Idler at the beautiful Fenton House

We play along to aerosmith and do Steven Tyler impressions.  I play them Little Walter and we play through a megaphone (A bullhorn if you’re from the US).  I tell the group about my passion for cajun music so we try split octaves.  

It sounds awful!

“How the bloody hell do you get your tongue to do that” one excited Northen lady shouts.

I enjoy letting the group take the 'bluegrass challenge' and chug chords at breakneck speed on the offbeat to a selection of banjo backing tracks. 

“It’s like reggae but much faster  -  yee-hah!”

Sometimes people end up on the floor doubled up.  A guy once peed himself laughing.   

Who says novices have to be taught novice material?

At a folk festival I make the impulse decision to get them playing like the king of folk blues- Sonny Terry.  The group chugs their way through a complex breath pattern us harp players call the Fox-Chase and I have them whoopin’ and hollerin’ like barnyard animals.  

Down towards the side of a haybale, a ten year old boy is the most serious person in the tent. He’s the one soaking it all up, keeping low on the ground so he can hear himself over the rabble.  

We finish the session playing along to Canned Heat, one of the best harmonica led bands of all time.  They go bonkers for the familiar 12 bar blues progression and they’re on their feet, sunglasses on.  

I shout for them to go freestyle making train sounds on the bluesy notes or giving a head shake.

A fair size crowd has now gathered around the tent. I've given out three boxes of harps and latecomers are asking to join. I remind myself to bring double the amount next year. Many stay for the whole workshop and try some the breathing patterns even without a harmonica.

"I had no idea the mouth organ could make all these sounds" one enthusiastic elderly gentleman tells me after the workshop.

Later that afternoon, I see a lady from the workshop in the queue for the bar. She wears a Black Sabbath T-Shirt and an amazing top hat. She pulls out her brand new harp unannounced and does a crazy headshake throwing her head back and laughing. Everyone in the queue cheers and claps.

After the dust has settled I receive an email from the mum of the ten year old saying he’s been in his room playing harmonica non-stop since the festival.

See you next summer………

Ed