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About Winslow Y.
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.
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.
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, 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.
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.
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
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.
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, 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.
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 and arranging
Sep, 1974 - May, 1976Vancouver Community College
Music composition, voice
Sep, 1976 - May, 1977McGill University
Awards
Pete Pedersen Lifetime Achievement Award
Aug, 2016SPAH, the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica
Affiliations
Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica
Jan, 1991SPAH is the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica. It is a non-profit, member organization dedicated to serving the harmonica community.
California Jazz Conservatory
Apr, 2008The California Jazz Conservatory is a nationally accredited music conservatory providing a dynamic community of students, artists, educators, scholars and audiences with a forum to study, perform, teach, research, appreciate and enjoy jazz and related styles of music from throughout the world. Comprising two distinct education programs, the California Jazz Conservatory, a postsecondary degree-granting program, and the Jazzschool Community Music School, a non-degree-granting community education program, the institution honors the contributions of past masters and promotes artistic innovation, bringing together a diverse music community to develop practical skills, acquire artistic sensibility, realize creative potential and find artistic voice.
Languages
French
Limited Proficiency
English
Native Proficiency
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