Playing the Jew's Harp - Textbook Volume 1

Enjoy Playing the Jew's Harp - Textbook Volume 1

Jew's Harp: A Beginner's Textbook with No Previous Knowledge
Wolf Janscha



The jew's harp is one of the oldest musical instruments in the world and completely unique. It is played in a variety of styles around the world. It is a rhythmic drone and harmonic instrument that is struck and played simultaneously with and without air. The mouth and throat serve as the resonating body. More than thirty different nuances can be clearly heard on the jew's harp. The beautiful melodies have been an integral part of folk and drone music in Europe since the Middle Ages.



The sound of the Jew's harp is unusually colorful, meditative, shamanic, rhythmically moving and impressive.



Wolf Janscha developed a notation system for the jew's harp in collaboration with the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. It is based on the western notation system. However, it also has a special tablature that presents the different playing techniques in a transparent manner. With the help of this system and the analysis of the playing techniques, the world's first comprehensive textbook for the jew's harp was created.



All content is explained in such an understandable way that the player can easily learn and master the techniques of the game. Detailed explanations, graphics and audio examples also contribute to understanding. Special emphasis was placed on style independence in order to develop a technical playing skill that can be used in any style as desired or helps develop one's own playing style.



Due to the enormous scope and complexity of the various playing techniques on the Jew's harp, the textbook will span several volumes:



Playing the Jew's Harp - Volume 1



A systematic guide to self-study



The first volume is the ideal introduction for beginners with no prior knowledge of playing the Jew's harp or any background in music. The textbook is intended to enable the performer to improvise in the most important bars and to vary rhythmically and tonally.



From the content:

- General description of the instrument and its history.

- Basics of playing the Jew's harp: posture, embouchure, attack movements and preparation.

- Easy-to-understand explanation of the notation system and music theory from the beginning: tempo, meter, basic binary and ternary note values, time signatures, permutations and their practical implementation on the Jew's harp.

- More than 300 exercises for the progressive development of touch, breathing, coordination of individual movements, hearing harmonics through vocal positions, intonations and closing techniques.

- General information about the instrument, tips for buying a Jew's harp, useful physical and mental exercises.

- Creative techniques to design your own grooves.

- Numerous audio examples of the most important exercises on CD.



For players with prior knowledge, the work is a valuable training book for perfecting playing technique and gaining new insights into playing the Jew's harp. It is especially useful for teachers as accompanying material for lessons.



The audio CD included with the first volume contains the most important exercises for listening and playing. The Jew's harp and rhythm are arranged in stereo channel separation so that they can be listened to separately or together.



A preview of: Playing the Jew's Harp - Volume 2



The second volume of 'playing jew's harp' will deal in detail with the subject of harmonic melodies.



From the technical sophistication of being able to intone up to 30 harmonics on a Jew's harp, to advanced rhythm, musical phrasing, advanced breathing techniques, dynamics and music theory for melody and much more, this book offers the ideal expansion for the ambitious performer.



Drone musicians in particular will appreciate this work, as it allows traditional pieces from the Scandinavian and English/Irish/Scottish regions to be played on the Jew's harp.



Volume 2 is expected to be published in 2012.

Textbook for beginners with no prior knowledge
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