The Toot Suite – Page 4 – where junior harp players make music

A Boy Band

June 28, 2011 Richard

What do you call a group of four musicians?

Robbie stood up in class today and played a perfect rendition of the nursery rhyme London Bridge Is Falling Down. It was only his third week of learning the harmonica and he did really well.

“What do we call one musician playing alone?” asked the teacher. Lots of hands went up. The teacher pointed to one child. “Solo!” came the answer. “That’s quite right, well done you, and well done Robbie for being our very first soloist!” replied the teacher. Read more

Harmonica ferret

June 26, 2011 Richard

Harmonica ferret

Now be honest, how many times have you lost your ferret and wondered what to do? Loads of times right? Well the solution is simple. Play a harmonica.

Too bad this doesn’t work with TV remotes and car keys!

Robert McClung (1936)

June 26, 2011 Richard

Robert McClung – Pigskin Parade (1936)

Welcome back to our crazy harmonicas series. This clip comes from the film Pigskin Parade made in 1936, which featured a young harmonica specialist called Robert McClung. Robert lived from 1920-1945.

At 16 years of age, watch Robert play a Fox Chase (mixing a galloping harmonica with the sound of baying fox hounds), use his nose to play harmonica, and demonstrate a harmonica steam train. No microphones, no amplifiers, just the amazing natural sounds of harmonica and human voice. Truly amazing

That’s The Way I Like It (Part 4)

June 26, 2011 Richard

Don’t blame it on the sunshine

Now you’re hip to the groove and diggin’ it! Ok, ok, ok, getting down with the funk. Time to check out the lead part dudes.

This takes two forms. The chorus and the verse. Basically the bit that goes before the A-ha, Aha’s and over the chord accompaniment we learned in part 3. Ok, let’s keep on truckin’

That’s The Way I Like It (Part 3)

June 22, 2011 Richard

Yeah they were dancin’ and singin’

Well now we’re really motorvatin’. We’ve worked out the chorus and the intro, so now it’s time to learn a chord accompaniment to fit behind the verses.

This won’t take long at all. You just have to play some long notes and keep to the beat. Let’s get movin’ to the groovin’. Read more

That’s The Way I Like It (Part 2)

June 22, 2011 Richard

Dance with the boogie, get down

In the first part of this series, we learned two lines you can play to fill the chorus to the song. The ‘A-ha, A-ha’ parts.

Now it’s time to learn the Intro Theme. This starts the song and is repeated towards the end. It’s not difficult. But like the rest of the song, you need to keep it funky!

Ok, ok, ok let’s boogie on down brothers and sisters.