Harptime :: Warren Bee

Welcome to Harptime!

admin — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 11:38:53 +0000

Working on some changes.

STAY TUNED PLEASE!

Music & Pics

admin — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:07:26 +0000

Below are a handful of recent recordings that have me blowin’ some harp. Peter Kanelous, a songwriter/guitarist from Baldwin, NY just released a new CD “Just a Dream”. On “I See the Light” I have a solo that comes in around 1:10. On “Railroad Gate” I get to honk around 2:50. Jim Sharp of Batcave Recording Studio in Southbridge , MA , recently asked me to lay down some harp tracks for his “Americana” project. “Jackson” lets me comp throughout but I get to really step out around 2:30. “Misty” is my first stab at jazz standard material. Way outta my normal wheelhouse!

Warren "Bee"

Warren and Charlie Musselwhite

Listen To: “I See The Light”

Listen To: “Jackson”

Listen To: “Misty”

Listen To: “Railroad Gate”

Harmonica Sales

admin — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:56:55 +0000

Click here for current inventory available for immediate sales in Webster, MA.

I stock a limited amount of diatonics and other harmonica related items. Click link above to see what I currently have available. All sales made by appointment.

508-461-9983 / 631-521-0472 / Email by Clicking Here.

Harmonica Parties

admin — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:51:26 +0000

Kids Birthdays: Give the gift of music to the birthday child as well as all of the guests that attend the party! I will “crash” the party playing my harmonica as I enter. After a tune or two I will introduce myself and meet the gang. Then I will gather the troops into a circle and give everyone their own new harmonica! For the next half hour I will share the magic of what a harmonica is and the basics on how it is played. In the process we will be creating our harmonica “band” to play along with the singing of Happy Birthday for the guest of honor as the cake comes out!

Adult Events: There are many ways to “harmonicize” your next party. It’s all about helping to make your next event an incredibly great time and an unforgettable experience! I will “crash” your party blowing my harp. After a few tunes I will introduce myself and meet your guests. Then I will announce the news that their host has bought them all brand new harmonicas! As I hand out the harmonicas I will start a short presentation on how to get started playing their new harps. Then it is “Kamikaze Blues Karaoke Time”! I set up a sound system with special backing music and your guests have a blast creating their own blues songs! The sound system will also be on hand for me to handle DJ duty and for musical friends to “plug-in” and do their thing.

( All harmonica party events have the option of giving each guest a brand new Hohner Blues Band harmonica to play and take home with them. These harmonicas retail individually for $6.00. When planning a party these harmonicas can be discounted down to only $3.00 each depending on how many people are attending )

Harmonica DJ: I have an awesome collection of music with much of it featuring the harmonica. Lot’s of great blues along with other tasty treats as well. Turn the lights down and take a little trip with Warren Bee. Give your guests a mega-dose of harmonica magic!

Bottom line: Any holiday party or special event can become a HARMONICA PARTY!

Please contact me for details and availability.

508-461-9983 / 631-521-0472 / Email by Clicking Here.

Private Study

admin — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 13:26:19 +0000

One on one lessons are available in my Webster, Massachusetts studio.

Harmonica School

admin — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 23:41:07 +0000

The Harptime Harmonica School shares my approach to playing the standard diatonic (ten hole) harmonica. I have put together two entertaining and informative classes designed to facilitate a smart start and a positive direction for new students. My main goal is to help new players make a solid connection with their instrument so they can start developing their own sound with good tone from day one.

Details about classes can be found through the menu on the right →

My bootcamps and jamming/improv workshops are designed to assist players that are past the beginner level. I am an “ear” player and that is how I teach. If you are looking for a teacher with more traditional theory & music reading skills I would be happy to recommend one of my harmonica teaching friends.

508-461-9983 / 631-521-0472 / Email by Clicking Here.

Harmonica Inventory

admin — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:29:39 +0000

This is the current list of what I have on hand here in Webster, MA.

Hohner Blues Band in key of (C)

Hohner Blues Band “starter” set (7 different keys w/case)

Hohner Big River Harp * Hohner Special 20

Hohner Marine Band Deluxe

Seydel 1847 Classic & Silver * Seydel Blues Session

Calendar

admin — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 20:10:17 +0000

Jamming / Improv Workshop

admin — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:31:50 +0000

This three-hour class is designed to help get you out of the basement, garage, bedroom, living room, car or whatever room you have been hunkering down in to get your chops together. It’s time to hit the stage! We will cover how to play harmonica with others in three different ways; raw acoustic, through a microphone “clean” into a PA and through a vintage microphone into a classic tube amplifier. Sometimes you need to just play back-up and sometimes you have to step up and take a lead break. We will cover the ins and outs of both. Lot’s more playing than talking in this workshop! We will be playing along with jam tracks and pre-recorded music. There are some rules to learn about “sitting in” with bands especially in a public place like a club or bar. You will learn some helpful tips to help you communicate with the band and “find your spots”. I will share my thoughts and approach to improvisation to help you play “on the fly” to songs you may have never heard before. We will discuss ways that you can mix things up to help you keep sounding fresh instead of repetitive. We will talk about developing a “stage presence” so you can make a good impression and give yourself some added confidence when playing for an audience. Lots to cover and LOTS of fun. It’s time for you to get out of the house and shine!

NEXT CLASS DATE: TBA

Blues Harmonica Boot Camp

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:59:55 +0000

A day of nothing but the blues! Six hours total of class time to get deep into the blues groove. This class is for harmonica players that have the ability to create clear single notes and that have developed some solid bending technique. Most importantly you need to love the blues and have a desire to “join in the conversation”. The blues world is full of incredible music that comes in many flavors and styles. The sound of blues harp is a wonderful thing! The magic of the blues is that it is a very emotional and heartfelt genre of music. It was born as a result of incredible human experience. Everybody has something to say in the “blues conversation”. The first half of the class will be digging deep into the connection of harp and soul. Bending notes is what makes the blues work on the harmonica. We will do some heavy bending and some very light bending. We will learn the “positions” for playing blues in different keys on the same harmonica. We will start or continue building your vocabulary of “licks” and find ways to duplicate them in other places on the harp. Most importantly we will close our eyes and seek to create NOT duplicate. This is not a class to start dissecting songs and copying other peoples work. Together we will work to develop your own voice on the harmonica. How good it becomes is up to both of us. I have to share my journey as best I can and you have to dig deep and FEEL not FEAR. This is all about HAVING FUN. When it ain’t fun…we’re done! After a lunch break we will then crank up the sound system and listen and play and listen and play and listen and play. We will take a tour of the many “brands of blues” and see how you can jump on the bus! In my studio there are over 3000 blues recordings and hundreds of blues “backing band” recordings. You can even bring some stuff you like and we can take it for a spin! When it’s all over you will have made some new “blues buddy’s” and you will have a real good idea of the things that you want to focus on as you continue your fantastic journey into harmonica addiction!

NEXT CLASS DATE: TBA