Background Check
Winslow Y.
Background Check
Teaching Locations:
Online
About Winslow Y.
My focus is on you - helping you achieve your goals with the harmonica, whatever they may be. Whatever inspires you to pick up the harmonica, whoever you want to emulate, whatever style grabs you, I bring the background, deep knowledge, and teaching experience to enrich your understanding and grow your skills and ability to express yourself musically.
I'm a harmonica specialist, known internationally as a player and teacher. I'm the author of the books Harmonica For Dummies and Blues Harmonica For Dummies. I can teach all styles, all levels of expertise and all types of harmonica.
Reviews
Write a Review
Student's Home
So awesome, very knowledgeable and patient teacher. Can't wait to practice and do more of these!
Great instructor. Very patient with the basics and advanced technique.
Teacher's Studio
Great foundation in harmonica
Teacher's Studio
I had fun and learn something new.
Online
Very good teacher; he wrote the book on playing harmonica.
Online
Great teacher. Knows where I am at and knows where I need to go.
Teacher's Studio
Great lesson. Already sound coming from harmonica is better.
Student's Home
Very patient. Knowledgeable.
Online
Great first lesson- Winslow is easy to talk to and very knowledgeable. He is very good at explaining and demonstrating technique in a clear way. Thanks again!
Online
Winslow is very knowledgeable and an excellent teacher.
He's very passionate about the harmonica, which makes for a great learning experience. I look forward to future lessons.
Teacher's Studio
My first lesson went very well and was just as I had hoped.
Online
Far exceeded my expectations. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot. Winslow is a GREAT instructor and a well respected expert, well known in the worldwide Harmonica community.
Online
Winslow is an excellent teacher and I feel fortunate to be learning from him. He is a harmonica master, both in his playing and in his in deep knowledge of the mechanics of the harp and how to play it. He has literally written books on learning to play (Harmonica for Dummies, Blues Harmonica for Dummies).
What I like about our lessons is that he's a great listener. He can hear where I need work and he offers not just one but often several exercises and riffs that address the issue. In addition, he knows the blues, the players, the songs, and the harp riffs for reference. To top it off his manner is light and warm. I feel honored to be learning from him.
Online
In my first lesson with Winslow he listened to what I had to say about my experience, my frustrations and my goals. He listened to me play and quickly diagnosed some issues and offered some helpful advice on how to address them. I came away with a much better sense of how to structure my practices to make them more productive and with some specific things on which to work.
Teacher's Studio
Good first lesson. Teacher listens and explains clearly. I look forward to my next lesson.
Teacher's Studio
Winslow is great. He really knows what he's talking about and helped me improve a lot! I highly recommend him.
Photos & Videos
16 Photos & Videos
Experience
Author, Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition
Jan 2014 - PresentJohn Wiley and Sons
Harmonica For Dummies is now in its second edition, a 400-page book with online audio, video, and animation clips to supplement the written content. The first edition has been translated into French, German, Russian, and Portuguese.
Performer
Jan 2014 - PresentTin Sandwich
Arrange for, lead, and perform with four-piece harmonica ensemble Tin Sandwich, including an appearance on America's Got Talent and local performances.
Producer
Aug 2012 - PresentHarmonica Collective
The Harmonica Collective is an annual gathering of some of the best harmonica players, crafters, and performers to share their knowledge with intermediate and advanced players for three days. Enrollment is limited to 50 in order to give individual attention to each attendee.
Author, Blues Harmonica For Dummies
Jan 2012 - PresentJohn Wiley and Sons
Advice Columnist
Jan 2010 - Presentbluesharmonica.com
Roving advice columnist for the discussion columns at bluesharmonica.com, an instructional site and course for blues harmonica instruction
Performer
Jan 1971 - PresentVarious
Sat in with, opened for, or backed major acts on harmonica, including blues icons Muddy Waters, Charlie Musselwhite, John Mayall, Mark Hummel, Jason Ricci, Magic Dick, Lee Oskar, Rick Estrin, and Jerry Portnoy, traditional violinist Alasdair Fraser and the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers, and jazz singer Paula West.
Faculty instructor
Apr 2008 - May 2018Jazzschool Community Music School at the California Jazz Conservatory
I taught the ten-week Beginning Diatonic Harmonica Courses when they were offered. I still teach private lessons on Saturdays at the Jazzschool location in Berkeley, California.
Performer
Jan 2008 - Apr 2018Winslow Yerxa/Tuula Cotter
Wrote, arranged, performed, and recorded with violinist Tuula Tossavainen Cotter with various accompanists.
Performer
Jun 2001 - Apr 2017San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers
Was featured soloist, ensemble member and occasional gig leader with this large traditional music ensemble that included a range from beginning amateurs to world-renowned professionals.
President
Aug 2012 - Aug 2015SPAH, Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica
Since 1964 SPAH has produced a quarterly magazine and an annual convention for up to 500 attendees, with seminars, one-on-one teaching, jamming, open mic, and concerts, along with exhibits by vendors and manufacturers.
Conductor
Jan 2008 - Nov 2012Fiddle Rising
Conducted and performed with this traditional music group, an offshoot of the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers, which I co-led with violinist Tuula Tossavainen Cotter.
Performer
Jan 2009 - Aug 2009San Francisco Harmonica Ensemble
Worked with co-members Steve Malerbi, Damien Masterson, and Michael Peloquin as a four-part harmonica ensemble, including a recorded performance at the 2009 West Coast Jazz Harmonica Summit, which can be viewed on Youtube.
Performer
Apr 1996 - Aug 2000Winslow's Bunch O'Guys
Founded, arranged for, led, and performed with a five-piece harmonica ensemble with rhythm section accompaniment. Members included, at various times, Joe Filisko, Dennis Gruenling, Richard Sleigh, Larry "Iceman" Eisenberg, Chris Michalek, Michael Peloquin, Damien Masterson, Beth Kohnen, and Allen Holmes. Performances included at the annual Buckeye and SPAH harmonica gatherings and the World Harmonica Festival in Trossingen, Germany.
Editor and Publisher
Jan 1992 - Nov 1997HIP - the Harmonica Information Publication
Published and distributed internationally a 40-plus page harmonica magazine with news, instruction, historical articles, reviews, and general harmonica information.
Performer
Feb 1979 - Sep 1986Cool Breeze
Played keyboards, percussion, occasional harmonica, and sang harmony vocals and collaborated with bandleader/composer Pietro Giacomo Poggi and musical director David Somers on arrangements for horns, vocals, and rhythm section for 15-piece band playing original music based in Caribbean and African styles.
Performer
Jan 1970 - Dec 1974King Luxsac
Was lead singer, songwriter, and harmonica player for this pioneering Vancouver, BC, blues and R&B band that included such notables as Gordon Bertram, John Doheny, Olaf de Shield, and Rick Baker. This band was integrated into a shifting network of casual ensembles that included future members of Doug and the Slugs Simon Kendall, John "Wally" Watson, and John Burton.
Education
Music composition, voice
Sep 1976 - May 1977McGill University
Music composition and arranging
Sep 1974 - May 1976Vancouver Community College
Languages
English
Fluent / Native Proficiency
French
Limited Proficiency
Awards
Pete Pedersen Lifetime Achievement Award
Aug 2016SPAH, the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica
Affiliations
California Jazz Conservatory
Apr 2008Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica
Jan 1991Let Our Student Counselors Help You
We can match you with the perfect teacher and take care of all your scheduling needs.
- {{ subject.value }}