What Level am I.html

ALL levels are welcome at Blues Harmonica Jam Camp.

However, I get asked this so much, I decided to try to answer this complicated question. People learn in different ways. Some folks play for years with a shallow embouchure. They develop their "chops" but with thin tone. So, this guy or gal is an intermediate in chops, but a beginner in tone. Others have chops and tone, but are complete beginners in musicality. And the opposite is true as well. Some beginners are great at phrasing but they can't even get a single note yet. I hope this clarifies the difficulties in giving yourself a rating.

Raw Beginner: You are still working on single notes, breathing, understanding cross harp, and bending and articulation. You need face-time with the harmonica playing long notes, big mouth embouchure, and throat-articulating. You need to master 2 draw and 3 draw, and get started bending. You need to get an awareness of throat and breath control. This is a critical time to get feedback so
you know you are practicing correctly.

Beginner: You get single notes, chords and bends most of the time. Now you need to totally internalize riffs and songs. Other ideas: Need basic ear training. Internalize Question and answer articulation format. Need to feel musical. Need to start listening hard to musical qualities of advanced harmonica and begin mimicking tone. Need relaxation and deep breathing.

Advanced Beginner: You are getting the big tone through throat articulation, able to accompany using riffs, and articulation with clear tone. Able to jam using the Jon Gindick Certified Safe Note Learning platform, the principle of Repitition, and Q and A to using throat articulation and chords. Need to add emotion and attitude to without losing tone.

Beginning/Intermediate: consciously using bends, articulation, memorized riffs, and special effects.
Needs to develop phrasing, vibratto, better intonation and chordal awareness. If pucker player, start
tongue-blocking. Start using IV chord in 12 bar format. Can play Summertime , Amazing Grace,
or should get started learning. Can do a rough chug. Starting use hands flluently.

Intermediate: Starting to speak the language. Has theoretical, physical, and intuitive ability to initiate and play 12 bar blues progressions both solo and with accompaniment. Is comfortable with holes
1 through 6. The intonation is effective. Has several melodic, riff approches to improvising, but needs more experience, ideas, confidence and feedback. Needs to perform. Usually needs to articulate more decisively.

Advanced Intermediate: Has intermediate skills, plus polish. Can generate
rhythms, riffs, 12 bar blues progression on his own. Does well when it’s not 12 bar. Can listen to almost any rhytmmic groove and find a place for the harp in it. Is starting to mimic melodies when improvising. Is comfortable amped. If a lip blocker, can use t-b for special effects. Main problems: Needs a more developed theoretical framework in which to keep growing. (Also needs to forget theoretical framework when performing.) Needs to reconsider goals. Now that you are good on harp, what are you going to do with it?

Advanced: seamless integration of effects, tone, electronics, theory, melody-mimicking to
be a decided asset to whatever song you are accompanying, and to create energetic, relevant
solos through a variety of chord progressions, depending on your genre. You are using the harp
do something in the world.