Re: Kick-starting 2005

>With the New Year, I am hoping to really kick-start my tremolo and 
>octave harmonica playing.  
>
I am trying to wait patiently upon the Man Upstairs for opportunity :)  
Topeka Kansas can be weird.

>1) Impressions of the Huang Tremolo (Musette):  Not bad for the 
>price.  I got them online from http://www.mymusicmart.com for a 
>pretty low price.  One thing that immediately sticks out is that the 
>tremolo effect is *very* pronounced - nothing subtle about it 
>(unlike the Hohner Weekender, which has a straight tuned layout, but 
>more subtle tremolo)!  Time will tell if it will hold up, and I am 
>still adjusting to the sound, but it seems pretty nice thus far.  
>Plus, it does come in a nice cloth lined case.
>  
>
Mine too.  Subnote for you:  as a given gig progresses, the tremolo 
effect will slowly become more usual, very like a Tombo 3121 after 
perhaps ten minutes.  I think it's reed temperature, but I am not 
certain.  Before this occurs, I have found my Musette to be excellent in 
ensemble, but almost awful in solo.

>2) I picked up a copy of the Mel Bay "Tremolo and Octave Harmonica 
>Method" book/CD.  Not too bad.  It does have the nice feature of 
>listing the different layouts of the notes in the various models of 
>tremolo harmonicas (including the Huang and Hohner Weekender).  
>Unfortunately, the notations in the songs are based (I think) on the 
>Richter tuned tremolos.  The upside is that I'm going to be forced 
>to learn to read music...
>  
>
aaaaargh! 

Maybe someday I'll be motivated to invent a notation system for solo 
tremolo...:)

>Well folks, hope that this generates some posting and discussion.
>
>Happy 2005!
>
>Jeremy.
>  
>
Ditto!

-- 
Jonathan E. Brickman
http://joshuacorps.org