Comments on: Craig Buhler: Keys To Music

By: Craig Buhler

Craig Buhler — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:29:25 +0000

Dear Bob,
I am pleased that “Keys to Music” is helping in your harmonica studies. There is no reason for anyone to denigrate the harmonica. Doubtless you have heard Toots Thielman on the chromatic harp? I heard him in person improvise over a blues in all 12 keys, a difficult challenge on any instrument, but especially on a harmonica, with it’s strong bias toward the key of C. There is also a diatonic harp player named Norton Buffalo who wears a holster containing all 12 blues harps. He takes advantage of the modal concept in choosing which harp to play at any given moment.
Be encouraged to persist in your struggle to read directly from the treble clef without the intermediary of the tableture. One way to do this is to begin by reading the 12 major scales, until the linkage between the staff and your instrument becomes instantaneous.
cb

By: Bob Green

Bob Green — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:28:32 +0000

Bob Green Says:
Dear Craig.

I have just purchased your “Keys to Music” for C flute which I have somewhat adapted for a harmonica. I have played a chromatic harmonica since I’ve been eight years old. ( I’m now 66) Some people say I haven’t gotten any better at it, but I’m still working on it. I play mostly by ear. It seems so hard to get musical help or instruction for Harp. As soon as I say, “I play harmonica” I get funny looks or comments from music instructors. I would like to read music and play better. Your “Keys to Music” for C flute is a real help and gives me great satisfaction. I feel like I am really learning something at last. Only problem I have is I have to write the harp tab notation myself. Harp tabs are, as you probably know, are like the fingering chart for all instruments. I expect that if I continue to work I will no longer need the ‘finger charts’ or ‘Tabs’ but it is a long haul. Yes, I can learn it by ear, but that does not teach me how to read. Other help I need is in reading rhythms which will come if I continue to practice. I really love the new idea of having a CD which actually plays the written music for me. In the past I would play the notes on the piano, then translate them to harp tab to learn the music. I still do this when I play for my church. I don’t really want to learn how to play it on the piano first, then harmonica. Any suggestions please email me.

Hope to hear you someday, and would like to meet you also. Great book and CD. Need more.
Bob Green, Sequim

By: Sig

Sig — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:26:24 +0000

Hey Craig-
I think you should include something directed at teachers, since teachers can find a good etude for any level of proficiency.