Not content to simply make music, however, Barrett is
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dedicated to parsing out the mechanics of the interaction
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between this simple instrument and the human mouth that makes
the music happen, in order to better explain it to his students.
“Everything happens in the mouth,” he said. You can’t see the
process by which the pitch and notes change like you can with
someone plucking the strings of a guitar. We control the pitch 1351 Pacheco Pass Hwy
Gilroy, CA 95020
on the harmonica by tuning our mouth to the reed we’re playing
(408) 842-3358
and every reed’s different.” He explained that the reed vibrating
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in the slot doesn’t create the sound, but the puffs of air that the
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person’s mouth releases, making the musician a living part of the
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instrument. “It takes a long time to learn how to shape the mouth
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so you can get a pleasing tone.” Smiling, he pointed out that
an unpracticed harmonica note is as sharp to the ears as the
screech of an untrained violin player.
His desire to understand the mechanics behind the harmonica
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technique known as “bending,” which he called “a very
mysterious technique,” led him to collaborate with physicist
Thomas Rossing, a professor at Stanford University’s Center for
Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). Together
they published a study to look more closely at this technique. In
the study Barrett wrote, “Players bending notes change the pitch
of a vibrating reed by precisely locating their tongue in their
mouth, tuning their mouth to the desired pitch—each reed and
bend requiring a different tuning position.”
These details, which might seem complex to the layperson
are just exciting information to Barrett. Eagerly he explained,
“Another neat thing about the instrument is that everything that
happens is invisible, so like a vocal coach we’re using strange
exercises to come into contact with what’s going on with the
body when you can’t see it, the kinesthetics of it.”
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Barrett’s enthusiasm is clearly a part of the success of his
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musical empire. Simple workshops eventually turned into a series
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of six annual Harmonica Masterclass workshops beginning in
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1994, which he and other musicians would teach around the
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country: on the east coast, west coast, Texas and “other pockets
Open
Mon-Tues-Thurs-Fri
10 am to 3 pm
of harmonica here and there.” He feels this really put his name
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on the map of blues harmonica. By 2002, riding on the wave
408-767-2990 • 8401 Church Street/Welburn
of energy in this little corner of the world, he started School of
the Blues, which he said, “is the first and only school focused on
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blues in the world that I’m aware of.”
People come from as far as Sacramento and King City for
blues workshops in harmonica, guitar, bass and band training
with Barrett and other established musicians. He also offers an
online component, BluesHarmonica.com, where participants
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can sign up for monthly access to lessons, courses, and even
guest-instruction from great musicians. This website attracts
and be tempted by
people from all around the world. He lists Portugal, Germany
our many wonderful
and Iran as just a few recent homes of origin. “This last month
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alone we had 4000 new people per month on the website,”
sauces, seasonings,
he revealed proudly.
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However, locals who have an interest in blues harmonica
need look no further than the greater Bay Area, which he said,
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“has the largest concentration of the greatest blues harmonica
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players in the world.”
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MARCH/APRIL 2017
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