Tuesday, October 30, 2012

What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 286 #329)



Chord Structure!!!

Joe's still playing hooky but Shoji is doing a great job of running classes! Conversation this week was an expansion on last week's topic of truly understanding the songs. Using song examples he talked about how to listen for the tonic of a song, hum it to yourself then pick up harps and blow the one hole to find that same note. This is a terrific way to determine the key of the song and also to learn to "hear" that key. I for one was surprised that he listened through the whole song form to feel and hear that tonic, not just the one chord.

With the tonic and one chord under control, the next step with your twelve harps and his chord handout is to work to determine the rest of the song form and the chord changes. Remember that the most valuable lesson Shoji imparts with these lessons is how little time he spends with instrument in hand and how much time he spends using his ears! We all should do the same.

Thanks for the inspiration, Shoji!


Class Notes
  • Announcing the Zoe Savage Level Two Blues Harmonica class! Register now (and tell your aspiring friends) for her Saturday class, 4pm in the new Lincoln Avenue building.
  • Joe will be out of town November 5 - his private lessons will not meet but his group classes proceed as normal in the capable hands of Shoji Naito.
  • Al Taylor may, or may not be leading an informal jam session from 3:30-5:30pm next week in B1. Stop by and see!
- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew