A Four-Week Group Class with Hyllus
Skill level: Intermediate

Mondays, 8 pm -9 pm: 9/14, 9/28, 10/5 and 10/19

This 4 week intermediate course is for players who are already comfortably and reliably playing single notes and bending at least some notes with excellent control (for students still struggling with bending notes the beginner class is recommended).

We'll focus on: using theory to aid in accompanying other musicians, creating grooves for solo playing, playing with dynamic control, using our hands and embouchure to sculpt our tone, improving (or learning from scratch) certain tongue blocking techniques, and close listening to famous harmonica players with an aim at understanding what they're really doing and how they're doing it.

By the end of the course, students will have a good understanding of how to focus their efforts and take their playing to the next level.

Required Materials: A 10-hole, Richter-tuned diatonic harmonica (that is, the standard harmonica with which most of us are familiar) in the key of C will be required for this course. An additional harmonica in the key of G is suggested but not required. Students are also encouraged to bring to class any other keys they may already own, the more the better. If purchasing new, the Hohner 1896 Marine Band is recommended.

Despite the rising costs and lower funding streams that are affecting cultural institutions, Jalopy still wants to be a home for everyone seeking to learn and develop their musical practice. Therefore, this semester, we are offering the classes based on a sliding scale, inviting each student to choose a price based on their income level. Those of you who can afford to pay more than the breakeven cost, will be making it feasible for Jalopy to give scholarships to those who cannot afford the courses.

Please note that these numbers are only suggestions, and you are free to pay what feels manageable and appropriate for you based on all your life's circumstances, not just annual income. As usual, you can inquire and apply for financial aid by emailing lynette@jalopytheatre.org.

Sliding Scale Chart based on Annual income:

$0 - $20k / year: scholarship (partial or full depending on availability)

$20k-$30k / year: $300

$30k - $40k / year: $350

$40k -$50k / year: $400

$50k -70k / year: $450

$70k and up: $500

Hyllus is a New York City guitarist, singer, and harmonica player specializing in both electric and acoustic harmonica styles. He studied extensively in Boston with blues legends Annie Raines (harmonica) and Paul Rishell (guitar), in addition to harmonica studies with Trip Henderson and Marcus Millius (New York) and the great Jason Ricci (of New Orleans). He has performed harmonica on stage with many of New York City’s finest jazz, folk and blues musicians, including: Charlie Apicella and Iron City; JJ Appleton; Miss Maybell and Charlie Judkins; The Milkman & Sons; Ernie “Papa” Vega’s Dream Shadows; Jackson Lynch & The Janks; Chris Murphy & The Automat; Felix Slim; Karl Schwarz of New Moon Acoustic Blues; Bill Carney’s Jug Addicts; and many more. As a solo performer, in addition to his traditional solo harmonica repertoire, Hyllus sings and plays guitar primarily in the style of the pre-war acoustic blues, with a smattering of world and folk music besides.

Intermediate Harmonica with Hyllus - A Four-Week Group Class

Intermediate Harmonica with Hyllus - A Four-Week Group Class