Method for Chromatic Harmonica

This is an outstanding introduction to the Chromatic Harmonica... BUT... it's not an introduction to music itself. The author, Aloe, assumes you can read sheet music, dynamic markings, key signatures, etc. If you've played any other instrument then this isn't a problem. But if you only know how to read tabs this ain't gonna work for you.That being said, I strongly recommend this book. The method is great. The exercises are great. Aloe explaining "make sure you double back to these pages when you learn a new key" is great. This is a sound book.

I should say, I didn't keep this item, I returned it. The only problem was, a good portion of the book was musical pieces written on music staff. I can't read music, I've always played instruments 'by ear'. But I did flip through the book and was impressed with the quality of the work. I could see that this would be very helpful to the right person.

What missing typically missing from most books focused on learning chromatic harmonica is an educator's awareness for how to introduce the student to the musical instrument, not so here. Be forewarned, not only will the student learn chromatic harmonica, she will also learn to read music. Tablature/aperture numbering is not used. As the author points out, instruction books for the saxophone and trumpet do not make use of such things, why should books focused on chromatic harmonica rely on them?The student will will begin with study and practice focused on the harmonica's middle octave, a practice that will develop her embouchure as it develops her ability to read C5 through C6 on the staff, initially as whole notes, then half, then quarter, then a mix. Scales transform into melodies. The harmonica's lower octave is approached before the upper, and at this point rhythm and melody together become significant.The slide is not tackled until chapter 5, when a new key, G, is introduced, next come, chapter by chapter, the keys of F and then D and B-flat major. A chapter on the blues comes before a chapter on keys A and E-flat major. As assignments become more difficult, the author explains their specific purpose, why this challenge, how building from this point serves towards learning the instrument.Learning without a teacher's individual guidance is never easy, learning a musical instrument beyond a rudimentary knowledge is also challenging. Short of learning within the environment of live instruction, I cannot point to a better book for learning the chromatic harmonica. The approach found here is not easy, it is time-consuming, but I believe students will find it rewarding.Sher Music, the publisher, provides a Web site from which to download the practice exercises.

As someone classically trained in music, one of the biggest challenges in picking up the chromatic harmonica is how it is rarely treated as a serious instrument, with instructional material and information not given the rigour that other "serious instruments" are usually given. Max De Aloe's book does this for the most part. Introducing the chromatic harmonica in a systematic fashion from middle, low, to high registers, then introducing the slide and progressing slowly to keys with more sharps/flats and more difficult melodic patterns and technical exercises.Yet a severe deficit nonetheless is the complete lack of emphasis on dynamics and articulation. Melodic exercises have no dynamics nor articulation markings, and a student has to be aware of this deficit and put serious thought into finding a way to include dynamics and articulation practice or otherwise find oneself severely lacking in expressive ability. Dynamics and articulation something a good method book should aid the student in dynamics and articulation training, rather than leave them out and allow the student to figure them out alone.

The Harmonica is probably one of the hardest instruments to teach especially with genera of music. It's one of the only instruments that not only utilize the inhale and exhale but most if not, all harmonica players close their eyes and feel their way around the instrument. So, it's difficult to write music or even teach it. This book does it all. This is a reel book. He teaches you how to do drills and reels. I love the fact that he teaches you how to read music which is amazing considering you could pick up any piano book and learn how to play through the 12-hole chromatic harmonica. That's an invaluable skill. But he also leaves room for exploration as well. I love the fact that there is a one-year plan in this book. It gives you licks and a few drills, but it also gives you a song to learn utilizing all those different things and putting them together. This is perfect for the beginner or an intermediate player who is growing board with the instrument. I would recommend this to everyone.

Not a beginners book.