[Harp-L] Best starter harp for a young boy - teaching aids
Peter Langlois
really started to take to it. Individual notes and rhythm. Then a sibling
stepped on and broke it. I an looking for a recommendation for something
that will play adequately at under $20. A beginner harp, but durable enough
to survive a boy. Also, what good learning aids for young kids exist?
Thanks
PETE
Eric Nielsen
$23 and the Suzuki Folkmaster for around $16. Both are good, solid
instruments for the money (certainly beyond toy quality). I remember
the Folkmaster being lighter than the Big River, and you didn't have to open
your mouth as wide as with the Big River; so it may be a better choice for a
young person.
Eric
Eric Nielsen
Eric
Paul Marconi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRWZ1mO-vnI&feature=related
Michael Rubin's are also free on Youtube - and are heavy on music notation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0Kdf-KDRNY&feature=related
Paul
On Sat, Jun 11, 2011 at 10:38 AM, Peter Langlois <more...@gmail.com> wrote:
michael rubin
Thanks for the mention. I think the term notation suggests reading
music and I am not talking about that. What you probably meant is my
lessons are heavily about knowing the names of the notes on the
harmonica.
Michael
Michelle LeFree
> A friend of mine at work has young boy who recently got a toy harmonica and
> really started to take to it. Individual notes and rhythm. Then a sibling
> stepped on and broke it. I an looking for a recommendation for something
> that will play adequately at under $20. A beginner harp, but durable enough
> to survive a boy. Also, what good learning aids for young kids exist?
Peter, you didn't mention the boy's age, nor did you say what kind of
"toy" harmonica he was given. There are some nice harmonicas that cost
less than $20; some have been mentioned. If the youngster is old enough
to take care of a nice harp and not lose it, I'd step up another $10 and
get him a Lee Oskar diatonic. They're nearly bullet proof and come in a
nice plastic case. One would last him for years unless he really abuses it.
If, on the other hand, the young feller isn't old enough to own a real
harp like the LO, I'd think seriously about the colorful Hohner "Clearly
Colorful" plastic diatonics.
http://coast2coastmusic.com/cgi-bin/cart/HHCCH48.html
While you're at it, pick up one of these inexpensive nylon belt cases
(just mentioned recently on the "L"). It will help him keep track of it,
keep it clean and protect it and it would help add that elusive "cool"
factor that is sometimes key to a youngster's acceptance of a gift:
http://coast2coastmusic.com/cgi-bin/cart/BRKG45889W.html
You could get 9-10 of these fun harps for your $20. They are
"regulation" size, and in spite of their colorful appearance and low
cost aren't a toy at all from a player's standpoint. They play and bend
well and sound nice. Yet they are inexpensive enough that if he loses or
steps on one, pop out another. Let him take the broken one apart to see
what's "under the hood." Amaze him by showing how you can make a reed
sound by "puckering" and drawing on a naked reed plate. They gave these
babies away a few years ago at a SPAH banquet. I was quite pleasantly
surprised at how playable they are OTOB and had no trouble starting my
young niece on them. I wish I had a bucket of them to give to kids now
that I think of it. Just grab your favorite "C" harp and let the lessons
begin!
Michelle
Richard Eisenberg
I think it is always best to get a beginner a good instrument.
It will:
Sound better- so they will enjoy it more and want to play it.
It is easier to play- so they will play it more and advance at a quicker
rate.
If they quit playing it it, it is still a good instrument that you can clean
and use.
With harps, this is only a $30 investment.
Obviously, there are limits; you wouldn't give a 9 year old a vintage Martin
guitar to run around with. However, they should be using it when you are
there to keep an eye on it!
The same logic works for tools, too. Get good ones.
Rich
Mund...@aol.com
In a message dated 6/12/2011 3:15:26 P.M. GMT Daylight Time,
catk...@gmail.com writes:
<<
Instruments for Beginners
I think it is always best to get a beginner a good instrument.
It will:
Sound better- so they will enjoy it more and want to play it.
It is easier to play- so they will play it more and advance at a quicker
rate.
>>
I couldn't agree more!
When I was 8 years old my big sister gave me her spare Hohner Super
Chromonica (270) in the key of "G"... That was my very first "harp".
She gave it to me to "keep me quiet".... But that didn't work. I have loved
playing harmonica ever since that day.
I still have that chromatic, and regularly play it many years later,
although of course it has been serviced quite a few times....
A good instrument will encourage a young musician! A cheap instrument
simply, won't.
John "Whiteboy" Walden
Now back in England once again....
_http://johnwalden.freevar.com_ (http://johnwalden.freevar.com)
The Iceman
Peter Langlois
messed around with some really cheap harps, and wanted to get him something
that would let him get a sense for what it could do. His father plays
guitar, so I"m going to show dad how he can play some basic blues and son
can play along. I ordered a Suzuki Folkmaster in C from Rockin Ron.
Cheers to all.
PETE
On Sat, Jun 11, 2011 at 5:01 PM, Mike Rogers <bull...@gwi.net> wrote:
> Hi. I give an introductory harmonica workshop to people of all ages. I
> use the Hohner "Blues Band" harmonica. They retail for less than $10. As I
> recall, they used to be for sale in the Cracker Barrel restaurant gift
> shops. They are fairly rugged.
>
> Bullfrog
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Langlois" <more...@gmail.com>
>
> To: "harp-l" <har...@harp-l.org>
> Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2011 10:38 AM
>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Best starter harp for a young boy - teaching aids