[Harp-L] Out of the Moment

["John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>]

Johnny,

In order to form the largest possible opening or air aperture  
consistent with still getting a clean single note,  the lips should  
be relaxed, but pouted out or pushed forward in a position which some  
have referred to as "fish mouth."  The harp should be put so far into  
the mouth that it's actually the area inside the mouth just past the  
lip line that grips the harp, and lips themselves are OUTSIDE except,  
of course, where the lips come together at the corners of the mouth  
which is the only point where the lips themselves actually contact  
the harp, if this makes sense.  (It's more easily done than  
described).   I've posted on this before, and each time, I've  
received emails from other players afterwards who told me that doing  
what I suggested helped their playing and their tone. I know it sure  
has helped mine.

If you watch Christelle's videos, she usually pouts her lips out in  
this manner (almost as if she was about to give someone a kiss) right  
before she puts the harmonica in her mouth and starts to play.  It's  
really not necessary to position the mouth this way ahead of time,  
but it's a pretty decent illustration of the desired positioning.

Depth of embouchure, staying relaxed, dropping the jaw, and  
maintaining  AS LARGE AS POSSIBLE AIR APERTURE consistent with still  
isolating a single hole are all important, IMHO. Also, it is  
essential  to be certain that all air pressure is generated from the  
diaphragm (not the mouth and not the lips).  How far one tilts may  
depend on the particular player's anatomy and what is comfortable.

My upper teeth are not actually in contact with the top cover plate  
while playing because I maintain a large opening and a relaxed, open  
mouth position (almost as if i am yawning).  But if I deliberately  
close my upper jaw a little, my upper teeth will contact the top  
coverplate.  I've never thought about it before because i did not  
realize i was doing it until very recently, but this may provide a  
guide to proper depth and positioning of the harp:  where do the  
bottoms of your 2 front teeth hit if you close down your upper jaw  
with the harp in playing position?  I don't know for sure if this  
test will provide a useful guideline for everyone, since other  
player's anatomy may very somewhat.  But it certainly works for me.

I don't OB, so I have no suggestions to offer about that.

Best regards,

JP