Advanced Jew's harp players face the same problem as newcomers to the art. How can one learn various playing techniques if one does't have the opportunity of attending a workshop or access to a teacher? A possible alternative is to buy a classical Jew's harp training course with book and CD. Often it is a help when learning to play an instrument if the learner can watch and thus learn by watching. In this category we keep you up to date with useful online workshops and videos which demonstrate how to play the Jew's harp and explain how to do it.
Jonathan Cope, the British multi instrumentalist has just released a Jew's harp course on line. Newcomers to the Jew's harp can find a thorough video guideline in English on the udemy.com platform. Jonathan Cope is an author of a Jew's harp tutor, "How to play the Jews Harp - The comprehensive guide" (available at DAN MOI), and guarantees the quality of the course with a money back guarantee. In the 35 lessons, Cope introduces the instrument step by step. First of all, the basic skills concerning the Jew's harp and making music are established. Johnny Cope demonstrates how the teeth and lips Jew's harps are played, that is how one plays a classical Jew's harp such as a Khomus and how one plays a Dan Moi. He describes the physiological conditions by which sounds are formed and demonstrates various different playing techniques. In further steps, different rhythmic patterns and the use of the tongue when playing are explained. In the final stage of the workshop Cope demonstrates special effects which go beyond basic level skills and give a perspective of what a possible advanced level looks like. To participate in the course, one has to register at udemy.com.
Franz Harrecker demonstrates how to play a bamboo Jew's harp. Franz makes bamboo Jew's harps himself and shows some easy exercises to create a pure clear sound in a 10-minute German-language video. He explains how one can increase the volume of a Jew's harp, how one creates different pitch levels and in what way breathing can be effectively used.
A Jew's harp workshop in many lessons by Aron Szilagyi can be understood by all even if Aron explains some aspects in Hungarian. The Jew´s harp tutorials are primarily helpful because they demonstrate exactly which body movements Aron executes in order to achieve a particular sound on the Jew's harp. Aron plays the doromb, a hungarian Jew's harp. Besides the basics, one can learn how to play the tremolo and different intonation techniques from Aron. With a little bit of luck, one may also meet Aron Szilagyi face to face at one of his workshops. He receives invitations to meetings all over Europe as a Jew's harp trainer and musician.
Anyone wishing to play the pluck Jew's harp can find encouragement to play the Bali instrument, the genggong, on a video made by Dutchman, Hans Smeekes Smeekes met various genggong players on Bali and and asked them to present the instruments to him and to explain some playing techniques. One has to search for, and select, the relevant video sections.
For anyone who prefers a printed course, the Jew's harp training courses by Wolf Janscha (in German only) and Robert Vandré are to be recommended. Clemens Voigt of DAN MOI contributed to Robert Vandrés current school.
Furthermore, there is the possibility of attending a real workshop at one of the various meetings of Jew's harp players such as the Ancient Trance Festival in Taucha (Germany), the Norwegian Jew's harp festival in Gjövik or one can visit a Jew's harp teacher in Austria.