Harmonica School Blog

Blog/News

Feb 21
howard

Just a little reminder that you can "Like" me on Facebook:

howard levy facebook

www.facebook.com/howardlevyfanpage

Posted in harmonica, Howard Levy
0 comments
Feb 16
howard

This is a Bluesy, Intermediate level tune in 5/8 time from Macedonia. It's a dance rhythm in Eastern Europe, as natural to them as 4/4 is to us. Check out the lesson here. The tune is fun to play, even if you just figure out the rhythmic vamping, or play one section of it.

macedonia

Posted in harmonica, Howard Levy
0 comments
Nov 7
AW

howard levy harmonicaHoward Levy was recently in Kiev, Ukraine for a harmonica workshop sponsored by the Kiev Harmonica School. The workshop had over 85 harmonica students in attendance, including some who take harmonica lessons online with Howard here at ArtistWorks

The following night Howard played a solo concert to a captivated audience of almost 300. Organizers later told him he was the first harmonica player to ever get a standing ovation in Kiev. There's a nice clip of Howard playing that night at the Kiev JazzVa club that someone in the audience recorded, check it out here.

© Igor Snisarenko www.live.kiev.ua 
Posted in harmonica, Howard Levy
0 comments
Oct 10
AW

howard levy

I've spoken with many people who want to learn to play an instrument.  Naturally, my advice is to learn how to play harmonica, the friendliest of all instruments. You can put this little baby in your pocket, take it out whenever the urge hits you and bang- instant music. Even if you barely know how to play, the humble harmonica is very obliging- put your mouth anywhere and blow, and a major chord comes out. Do the same thing on the inhale, and a seventh chord, a ninth chord, or a minor chord will come out. It’s the only wind instrument that can play chords- not to mention rhythms, and of course, single notes. Or combinations of chords, rhythms and single notes, and even counterpoint! There is so much music hiding inside this little instrument! As you learn harmonica, it will delight you, impress your friends, fill you with a sense of wonder, even joy, at the hidden treasures that you gradually unlock as you play more and more. 

Posted in harmonica, Howard Levy
1 comments
Jul 31
AW

Today we celebrate the birthday of the amazing Howard Levy!

For anyone not familiar with Howard's unique musicianship, have a look at how he plays Amazing Grace on harmonica. This was recorded at the 2010's SPAH Convention (Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica), where Howard was awarded "Player of the Year" .

Posted in harmonica, Howard Levy
0 comments
Jul 9
AW

Aside from teaching students how to play harmonica online at ArtistWorks, Howard Levy is most in his element when he's on stage. He recently played two shows at the Green Mill Jazz Club in Chicago with his group Acoustic Express. Howard Reich, Arts critic for the Chicago Tribune, was in an attendance on Friday and wrote a fanstaic review of the show. 

Posted in harmonica, Howard Levy, jazz
0 comments
May 2
AW

Fresh off a long tour with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, harmonica teacher extraordinaire Howard Levy will be featured this Saturday, May 5th on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. Howard is no stranger to the show having been a frequent guest for many years. Other musicians on the show will include Pop Wagner, Charlie Maguire, Tony Glover, Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele, Dean Magraw, and Andra Suchy.

 

 

 

Here’s Howard on an old Praire Home Companion playing a gypsy jazz tune, or more accurately, here’s a hand puppet playing along to Howard’s harmonica. Either way, it’s pretty impressive!

0 comments
Feb 28
AW

ArtistWorks harmonica teacher (and recent Grammy Award winner) Howard Levy recently sat down with Bill Moller on WGN Radio to share the story behind his original Grammy-winning composition "Life in Eleven".  Howard is introduced as "one of the greatest performers on one of the smallest instruments there is" - which, if you've ever heard him play harmonica, is a pretty accurate way of describing the man. 

0 comments
Feb 13
AW

We are proud to announce that ArtistWorks harmonica teacher Howard Levy has won the Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition!  The Bela Fleck and the Flecktones song  "Life in Eleven" was co-written by Howard after reuniting with the band in 2010 and is featured on the latest Flecktones album Rocket Science.

 
Howard teaches how to play the harmonica part for "Life in Eleven" as well as a full comprehensive harmonica method only at the Howard Levy Harmonica School.  
 
 
Posted in Grammy, Howard Levy
0 comments
Nov 1
howard

Interesting historical footnote to this unusual harmonica. Check out the fourth "Harmonica Facts" video in the "Resources" box.

Posted in harmonica, Howard Levy
0 comments