The 2024 KFF three-day Harmonica Workshop will be held Monday, June 3rd - Wednesday, June 5th. Registration is $375 through April 15th, or $450 beginning April 16th.  Your registration fee includes three days of admission to the festival and campground (including Sundown Concerts and tent camping), three days of harmonica classes, lunches on class days, a commemorative t-shirt and a Hohner harmonica. There is also a registration option that does not include festival tickets ($300 through April 15th, or $375 beginning April 16th. Because registrants must have admission for all three workshop days, festival tickets must be purchased separately or registrants must have alternate means of admission. (This option is designed for attendees who already hold tickets for those days.) 

A 10% discount is also available for current SPAH members (use code: SPAH10)

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The Harmonica Workshop is led by Rob Roy Parnell; faculty include Nic Clark, Buddy Greene and Michael D'Eath.

 

Mission of the Kerrville Folk Festival Harmonica Workshop: To provide a positive learning environment for teacher and student that engages all to learn, study and promote a broader understanding of the harmonica and to inspire all in becoming more passionate about becoming a better player and person outside the workshop environment.

 

What Should Students Bring?

• Harmonicas in the Key of A, C, D and F in good working order. A harmonica in the key of C is good to bring for 3rd Position Study and Chromatics. The key of C is recommended for the Chromatic for all positions.

• Notepad with a hard back for writing notes while sitting in a chair with a pen or pencil.

• Hand held recorder to help capture specific information helpful to the student from the teacher

• Container to drink water. Kerrville Folk Festival has reasonably priced souvenir thermos cups to purchase or you can bring your own from home.

 

Syllabus (May be adjusted to meet the needs of the students)

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Day 1

• 10:30 am: Hour 1 – Introductions by teacher and students around the stage to get everyone comfortable to learn.

• 11: 30 am: Hour 2 thru 2.5 – I, IV, V chord progression and other types of chord progressions and discussion on scales and how they relate to the harmonica. Brief discussion on circle of fifths. Discussion on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd positions.

• 12:30 pm: Lunch – 30 minutes

• 1:00 pm: Hour 3 – Two to Three teachers will take students at 20-minute intervals for the ‘one-on-one’ learning environment. One teacher explains  24 bars of a I, IV, V progression as well as intro and outros on a song.  All play a 24 bar first position solo. All play a second position solo. All play a third position solo.

• 2:00 pm: Hour 4 – Two to Three teachers will take students at 20-minute intervals for the ‘one-on-one’ learning environment. One teacher holds class with remaining students and talk about using the circle of fifths to understand and master  the first three positions. Use 1st, 2nd, 3rd and explore 5th positions, using diatonic and chromatic instruments. Talk about bends, tone, vibrato, use of the upper comb and over blows. Meet briefly as a group to discuss homework and the events for the next day.

 

DAY 2

• 10:30 am: ½ Hour 5 – General Session  discussion with faculty and students.

• 11:00 am: ½ Hour 5 + Hour 6 – Two to Three teachers (teachers will rotate) will take students at 20-minute intervals for the ‘one-on-one’ learning environment. One teacher holds class with remaining students and talk about chromatic and other types of harps, go back over bends, over blows, vibratos and the first three positions of the harps. Playing in different musical  styles.

• 12: 30 pm: Lunch – 30 minutes

• 1:00 pm: Hour 7 – Two to Three teachers (teachers will rotate) will take students at 20-minute intervals for the ‘one-on-one’ learning environment. One teacher holds class with remaining students to discuss jam etiquette and microphone etiquette when accompanying a vocalist, or playing with other musicians (duos, trios and full band).

• 2:00 pm: Hour 8 – Two to Three teachers (teachers will rotate) will take students at 20-minute intervals for the ‘one-on-one’ learning environment.  One teacher holds class with remaining students and continues discussion of the circle of fifths and how the first five positions can be used on different melodies and grooves using both diatonic and chromatic harmonicas. Use 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th position, on songs & grooves with guitar accompaniment. Continue to focus on tone across the instrument.

• 3:00 pm: Hour 9 – Two to Three teachers (teachers will rotate) will take students at 20-minute intervals for the ‘one-on-one’ learning environment.  One teacher holds class with remaining students and re-visits about how the circle of fifths and the first three positions are important to master. Use 1st, 2nd, and 3rd position scales, pentatonic scale on songs/grooves with guitar accompaniment.

• Brief General Session on homework and  this evening’s campfire song circle

• Approx.. 9:30 pm (after evening concert) meet at Energy Camp to play in a campfire song circle

 

Day 3 

• 10:30 am: Hour 10 – Teachers will discuss “Every Groove A Harmonica Player  Needs to Know.” It’s about how to communicate with a band. What kind of lingo and slang terms musicians use to quickly convey the groove they want. Approaching different musical styles and jam etiquette and microphone etiquette when playing with other musicians (duos, trios and full band).

• 11:30  am:– Hour 11- Two to Three teachers (teachers will rotate) will take students at 20-minute intervals for the ‘one-on-one’ learning environment.  One teacher holds class with remaining students  and teaches approach to  playing  different musical styles in diatonic & chromatic and tunings available on the harmonica  to enhance your overall skillset.

• 12:30 pm: Lunch – 30 minutes

• 1:00 pm: Hour 12 – Two to Three teachers (teachers will rotate) will take students at 20-minute intervals for the ‘one-on-one’ learning environment.  One teacher holds class with remaining students and re-visits about how the circle of fifths and the first three positions are important to master. Use 1st, 2nd, and 3rd position scales, pentatonic scale on songs/grooves with guitar accompaniment.

• 2:00pm pm: Hour 13 – Teachers go over playing amplified through mics and PA as well as mics with amps. Discussion on gear etc. Teachers give feedback to each student to launch them into successful wood shedding. Students fill out teachers evaluation. Group picture taking. Last minute discussions on the upcoming performance.