Basic Blues Harmonica for Harmonikats and Harmonikitties
A workshop for kids in the basics of the harmonica, using popular tunes such as "Orange Blossom Special," the Beatles' "Love Me Do"and fun novelty tunes by Woody Guthrie, Doctor Demento and Jack Elliott In a communal "call and response" format.
“Doctor Noe” Gold
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(170)
What's included
1 live meeting
2 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursHomework
Practice on songbook and technique handouts and charts are useful for continuing lessons. I like to hand out song lyrics with harp chords on them and charts that show the basics of music theory for learners to practice 15 minutes a day on songs, techniques and jams.Projects
includedAssessment
The learner is assessed on how well they are able to play the assigned music pieces in the learning text. They are also assessed on their tone quality, breath support and overall dynamics and tempos. But please note, I am not a judge, except maybe in the way Howie Mandel is a judge on America’s Got Talent. What that means is: there will not be a test – but I will give you encouragement if you get it right and the class will do virtual high fives all around.Class Experience
Learning to play the harmonica – a wind instrument to blow your blues away. A workshop for kids in the basics of playing the harmonica, using popular tunes such as "Orange Blossom Special," the Beatles' "Love Me Do," "This Land Is Your Land" and fun novelty tunes by Woody Guthrie, Doctor Demento and Jack Elliott In a communal "call and response" format, with audio-visual cues that teach a little bit about the social currents that are associated with the harmonica – the Civil War, the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. We will also understand the notes and keys on the harmonica and the basics of playing along with a guitar or piano. The class will be fun and playful in nature and by the end of the session kids will be total “harmonikats” and “harmonikitties.” Please see my other classes: Basic Blues Harp for Harmonikats and Harmonikiddos Ages 4-9 Basic Blues Harp for Harmonikats and Harmonikateens Ages 10-16 I am not the typical button-down teacher, more like a performer who lets his audience in on the tricks of the trade – and I will be poking around behind the curtain of the Wizard of Oz, a fun wizard in my world. Learners will get involved in various lesson exercises that include games, slides, music videos, prepared handout materials, charts and what I call “jamming the bebop blues” – in other words, making a joyful noise. Lessons are peppered with elements of technique, call-and-response, fun jamming exercises and performance. We will work on the techniques of bending notes, making train sounds, breathing and “kundalini harmonica,” learning chords and shuffle sounds as well as how to play along with a band and recorded music. We will also work on how to play varying speeds and dynamics to make wonderful music. In order to improve, students should find time to practice various techniques discussed in class at home in front of a mirror and a music source.
Learning Goals
Students will learn to play at least one song per session on the C harmonica
Know what key harmonica is used for playing in C,D,E,F, and G
Make various go-to sounds like “train sounds,” “bluesy shuffle,” “bending a note”
Jamming with a band and knowing which harmonica to use for a given key
Other Details
Supply List
The learner will need a simple diatonic harmonica in the key of C, which may be purchased at a supplied merchandise provider – see the plastic harmonicas in my teacher profile pic for an example. I will show you how to get one before the class begins so you can have ample time to fool around with it and get to know your instrument before you come to class: To get a Hohner harmonica key of C like the one in the picture for $10US via US Mail ... Use PayPal to send the $10 for delivery by US Mail to U.S. or Canada Just email to noemedia@pacbell.net with the Subject line: “Harmonikats Harp” and Guitar Galaxy will send you a PayPal e-Invoice. They will need your address in U.S. or Canada. Outside U.S. I will provide an Amazon dot com link. If you have a PayPal account: Use ... PayPal.Me/NoeGold/10 Cheers, "DoctorNoë"
1 file available upon enrollment
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
Youtube videos and Apple Music songs – curated for age-appropriateness and fun by Doctor Noe
Joined April, 2020
4.9
170reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have been teaching music and writing to kids and adults for over 20 years, performing onstage with rock stars and blues musicians even longer than that and I love what I do.
I have been playing the harmonica since I was a kid, driving people crazy on the crosstown bus in the Bronx until I finally mastered the instrument. I truly believe that this little gadget is the key to making the world – and myself and all the folks who join me in the harmonica circle – better through music.
If you want to continue in a class that suits you, just do a search on my teacher page and if you can, please join me and the other kiddos.
Just use the links below to find it on my teacher page (or ask for it at a time that suits you):
The class will be fun and playful in nature and by the end of the session kids will be total “harmonikats” and “harmonikitties.”
Please see my other classes:
Basic Blues Harmonica for Harmonikats and Harmonikiddos
Ages 4-9
Basic Blues Harmonica for Harmonikats and Harmonikitties
Ages 8-13:
Basic Blues Harmonica for Harmonikats and Harmonikateens
Ages 10-16
Just go to my profile and sign up ... easy peasy!
“Doctor Noe” Gold.
https://outschool.com/teachers/DoctorNoe
Aloha Oi from da Noë
Cheers,
“DoctorNoë”
aka Noë Gold 诺亚
I have interviewed movie stars and rock stars from Mick Jagger to Marty Scorsese, David Bowie, Jimmie Page and Tom Hanks, Patty Smith and The Rock. I am an expert on Jimi Hendrix and the history of popular music. I have jammed with everybody from Albert King to Joe Satriani and Van Morrison to Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.
I am a published author and journalist, and I have taught on the continuing education level — I was an Adjunct Associate Prof. at NYU’s School of Continuing Ed. for five years and I have also taught the elements of magazine editing at the high school level, as a substitute teacher at the Harvard-Westlake School in Studio City, where I taught the journalism class and advised students on their school publications. I am a teacher specializing in English, music and history, and I am hoping to convert my substantial real-life experience as a writer and editor into that of an educator.
As to my specialty, teaching music basics with the joyful noise of the harmonica, there’s no mystery about it! And if you join me in this magical un-mystery tour, I will help you to become any kind of musical genius you want to be – a virtuoso, a jammer or the life of the party with your friends! With the harmonica, once you learn the basics in a fun, no-pressure environment, anyone can master it if you have the right basic training and, like the maestro said when asked, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” – practice, practice, practice!
A harmonica circle is like a drum circle with harmonicas. People gather round the campfire and trade licks and tunes, and make a joyful noise. I already have the template and a bunch of lessons from my classroom at the Mission Harmonica Circle™ and I am gonna use songs by the Beatles, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and all the blues greats I learned from as a blues traveller. My workshop for kids in the basics of playing the harmonica, uses popular tunes such as "Blowin' in the Wind," the Beatles' "Love Me Do," "This Land Is Your Land" and fun novelty tunes by Woody Guthrie, Doctor Demento and Jack Elliott In a communal "call and response" format, with audio-visual cues that teach a little bit about the social currents that are associated with the harmonica – the Civil War, the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. We will also understand the notes and keys on the harmonica and the basics of playing along with a guitar or piano.
Music tells the story of our “Shared Connection” and is the reason why arts education is crucial in times of Crisis. It will get you through the good times and the bad times and it is a universal language. We must continue to sing and dance, and we must continue to play to make the world a better place – that's my philosophy. I urge you to continue to hone these otherworldly powers of expression online so that as a community we will emerge from any crisis ready to take back the stage.
Who’s in?
Mission Harmonica Circle™
Making the world a better place through music and harmonicas.
Academic background:
BA w/ Honors in English, CUNY. Teaching Assistant, graduate faculty of York University, Toronto, Ontario. Recipient of the Wall Street Journal Newspaper Award.
Adjunct Ass't Professor publishing workshop at NYU School of Continuing and Professional Ed.
Managing Director, Mission Harmonica Circle™ at the Potocki Center for the Arts, City of Mission Viejo, CA.
Fun fact: I once house-sat for Bob DylanReviews
Live One-Time Class
$1
per classMeets once
150 min
Completed by 30 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
2-9 learners per class
