CategoriesHarmonicaNews

‘Harmonica’ most commonly used word in Gloucestershire

Posted on December 22, 2016by Dan

According to Oxford University Press (OUP) the most commonly used word in Gloucestershire is ‘Harmonica’. The OUP analysed 123,436 entries for the 2016 BBC Radio 2 Chris Evans Breakfast Show’s ‘500 Words’ short story competition. For the first time in the competitions history they used specialised software, every entry was analysed by an academic and technology team from Oxford University.

The results then found the top ten most commonly used words in each county’s entries in the competition.

In Gloucestershire the top 10 words used more than any other are:

  • harmonica
  • moles
  • sheriff
  • gangsters
  • blitz
  • ballerina
  • flowery
  • tracker
  • pepperoni
  • snowmen

 

It is always nice to have the harmonica (otherwise known as the “mouth organ”) recognised in any way, what better way, than to be the most commonly used word.

CategoriesHarmonicaNews

Harmonica used to help health of patients

Posted on November 2, 2016by Dan

Now here is something you maybe weren’t expecting, the Harmonica is being used to help the health of patients with breathing difficulties. The University of Michigan’s pulmonary rehabilitation program meets once a week for an hour to play the Harmonica. The class has people suffering with chronic lung conditions or breathing difficulties. They happen to be making music with the thing that they suffer with most, their breath.

While many in the medical profession refute the evidence that playing the harmonica improves lung capacity, that doesn’t stop patients from saying that it has helped them breath deeper and gain strength. Carlos Marinez a medical direct believes that breathing with pursed lips can decrease the amount of air that remains in the lungs, which can provide some relief from shortness of breath.

A former rehab coordinator at the University of Michigan started the harmonica class in 2003. She raised donations to buy instruments and music stands and found a patient’s wife to teach the class. Over the years, classes have ranged from six participants to as many as 20. Ms. Rubadeau, who suffers from lymphangioleiomyomatosis, or LAM, took over as teacher about 10 years ago.

Not only will the patients gain some benefit from using a harp to mimic the breathing exercises used in pulmonary rehab, but the social aspects of being part of the harmonica group can lift morale and become one of the only place patients go to outside their home.

There are a number of other harmonica groups for rehab patients, including at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, Calif. The Harmonicats play at UCHealth in Aurora, Colo. At Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., Larry Rawdon, a retired Broadway cellist, has been teaching the harmonica to lung-transplant patients since 2013. And the COPD Foundation launched a Harmonicas for Health initiative in February, which has helped 25 treatment centres start classes.

It is wonderful to see classes popping up all over the USA to help patients.

PHOTO: UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HEALTH SYSTEM

CategoriesHarmonica

Buying your first Harmonica

Posted on September 8, 2016by Dan

So, are you looking to buy your first harmonica? this guide should help you understand the difference between a diatonic, chromatic and tremolo, and help you select your first harmonica (otherwise known as the ‘Mouth Organ’).

The harmonica is the perfect instrument, it has ease of portability, easy play-ability and extremely affordable in comparison to other musical instruments. Despite there size and price, harmonicas are used in a huge list of different musical genres. The most obvious ones being blues, country, and rock, nevertheless you will hear them played in jazz and classical music too.  So what should you select for your first harmonica, well beginners would traditionally start with a 10-hole diatonic harmonica in the Key C, the word “Diatonic” means that the harmonica plays in a standard major (or minor) scale. You can find our range of diatonic in Key C here

Diatonic Harmonicas

These are the most commonly used harmonicas, and you will find them in blues, folk and often pop music. They are designed to play in a specific key. Nevertheless with different and specific “overblowing” techniques some players have learnt to play them in unofficial keys. It is worth looking for Carlos Del Junco or Howard Levy, they have both created a very good overblowing technique. Known as playing chromatically on a 10-key diatonic harp.

As already suggested, most music teachers will advise you to get a diatonic (10-key) harmonica in the key C, as your first harmonica.

Check out our full range of diatonic harmonicas here

Chromatic Harmonicas

Most chromatic harmonicas use a button-activated sliding bar to redirect air from the hole in the mouthpiece to the selected reed-plate. With the right skill and technique, you can play nearly any scale or mode using the chromatic’s “gear shift.”

Due to the larger reeds, it is harder to bend and overblow in comparison to the diatonic. Toots Thielmans and Stevie Wonder were well known to be proficient. Chromatic harmonicas usually come in the key of C or G, however you can learn to play nearly any music that uses the standard 12-tone scale.

Check out our full range of chromatic harmonicas here

Tremolo Harmonicas

The distinguishing feature of the tremolo-tuned harmonica’s is that it has two reeds per note, with one slightly sharp and the other slightly flat. It is this that helps them produce a unique warbling sound. You will find the diatonic version in folk music, however the chromatic counterpart is usually found in Asian rock and pop music.

Check out our full range of Tremolo Harmonicas here

Our store has huge ranges of different harmonicas, however we also stock amps, mics and books that can help get you started. Do not be daunted by selecting your first harmonica, and if you require lessons, or want to learn how to play, then we have a tutor on hand to teach you via Skype sessions.

CategoriesHarmonicaHarmonica PlayersNews

Jazz Harmonica great Toots Thielemans dies aged 94

Posted on August 22, 2016by Dan

Toots Thielemans was one of the greats in the harmonica world, his illustrious career saw him use his harmonica skills on the theme tune for the iconic TV show ‘Sesame Street’. His harmonica was also prominently featured on movie soundtracks, including those of the Oscar-winning “Midnight Cowboy,” ”The Pawnbroker,” ”Jean de Florette,” and “The Sugarland Express.” Also adept as a whistler, he could be heard on the Old Spice after-shave commercials. He performed and recorded with Benny Goodman, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Paul Simon and Billy Joel, among many others.

Toots Thielemans was born in Brussels, Belgium, on 29 April 1922. His parents owned a cafe. He began playing music at an early age, using a homemade accordion at age three. During the German occupation of Belgium beginning in 1940, he became attracted to jazz, but was then playing on full-size accordion or a harmonica, which he taught himself to play in his teens. Since 1959, Thielemans led his own small groups and toured internationally when not working in the studios.

Although mostly recording straight-ahead jazz albums, he released two albums in the 1990s as “The Brasil Project,” featuring such prominent Brazilian artists as Dori Caymmi, Gilberto Gil, Milton Nascimento and Caetano Veloso.

Even despite suffering with asthma most of his life he still managed to be one of the most instrumental harmonica players, being one of the first to blow complex bebop lines. His harmonica of choice was a custom-made Hohner chromatic.

Toots died in his sleep at the age of 94 in a Belgian hospital.

After the announcement, the Netherlands-based jazz and pop orchestra Metropole Orkest, along with American trumpet player Quincy Jones, performed at London’s Royal Albert Hall in Toots Thielemans’ honor. Another concert was performed at the Brussels’ Grand Place.