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

Mondays, 8:00-9:15 pm: 4/6, 4/13, 4/27, and 5/4

In this 4-week course, students will learn to play one of the most enjoyable and creative pieces in the repertoire of American harmonica music: the musical imitation of the steam engine. Musicians have created this effect in a variety of ways over the last century of harmonica recordings. We'll spend time exploring as many of them as we can, and learning to master these techniques ourselves. By the end of the course, students will be playing their own versions of a steam engine imitation piece from start to finish, including imitating

the ways the train pulls into the station, boards its passengers, leaves the station, and then speeds along toward the next one. In the final week, we'll spend time with a similar type of song as well, the fox chase, which shares some of the same playing techniques and often

overlaps with steam engine pieces. Some of these songs may sound complex, but many of them take advantage of very simple illusions that once mastered can really take your playing to the next level, no matter what style of music you may play otherwise. A wide range of players, from those who have only recently mastered the basics to those who have been playing for many years, will find this course both exciting and illuminating. This course represents a rare opportunity for players to engage with a classic harmonica tradition in a supportive group setting and under the guidance of a contemporary practitioner of the form.

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.

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.

We are excited to enlarge our community and nurture our students, in that spirit, we are happy to offer a 10% discount for returning students!
*For financial aid email lynette@jalopytheatre.org.

Train Imitations & Fox Chases with Hyllus - A Four-Week Harmonica Group Class

Train Imitations & Fox Chases with Hyllus - A Four-Week Harmonica Group Class