This book is a complete guide to playing the 10-hole diatonic harmonica. Its purpose is to help the beginning student avoid the trail and error method of playing the harmonica through step-by-step technical instruction and an extensive, graded repertoire. Rather than overwhelming the student with the all at once approach, fundamentals of note reading are gradually introduced throughout the book's 100-plus pages. This method progresses from very simple melodies and exercises to concepts as complex as inserting harmonica chords within a melody. Guitar chords are provided for most of the well-known tunes in the book.
Phil Duncan earned his Masters of Music Education degree in 1973 at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. His thesis focused on the study of methods for teaching the beginning student of any musical instrument. He has taught piano, guitar, and harmonica since the age of 16, having been introduced to the harmonica by his grandfather at age 7. With a versatile educator's experience ranging from elementary school through university levels, Phil served for many years as the vocal and general music teacher at Lakeview Middle School in Kansas City, Missouri. He is currently teaching at Park University in the Music Department. He instructs choir and voice as well as a class in Kansas City Jazz Style and classes on Music Education for Elementary Teachers.
As a clinician, Phil has conducted workshops at several harmonica conventions and at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the University of Arkansas, the Texas Music Educator's Conference, and has presented many other clinics throughout the Midwest. He is also active in community education, and has advised teachers in techniques to better instruct their students in the art of playing the harmonica.
Phil's career as an author for Mel Bay Publications began in 1979 with the publication of The Deluxe Harmonica Method. This work was the result of ten years of research and two years of diligent writing. Since this auspicious beginning, Phil has published over 20 books and videos with Mel Bay Publications on virtually every aspect of playing the harmonica, making a significant contribution to the repertoire for this instrument. He also has 8 published instructional videos and is a recording artist with 15 albums to his credit.
He also performs on guitar and keyboard. Mel Bay has published his Learn to Play Rock/Blues Electronic Keyboard. Missouri Middle Schools's Journal published his article on teaching harmonica playing in the middle school. The Missouri Conservation Commission published several of his harmonica arrangements in its Songbook in 1982. He also is a contributor for the Society for the Preservation and Advancement's Harmonica Happenings news magazine.
