Learn harmonica with an excellent teacher and player
You can expect me to listen to what you tell me, listen to how you play, and then give you information and activities to increase your understanding and develop your abilities. It could be anything from which end of the harmonica is up to advanced classical or jazz performance, or anything in between - blues harp, Neil Young, you name it.
About Winslow Y.
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. 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.
Teaches all skill levels
Teaching since 1972
Music composition, voice
Teaches ages 5+
Speaks English, French
Has background check
Harmonica
Teaches 3 subjects. Different subject may have different prices.
Teaches Online
Work hours
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
Times are shown in your local timezone (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
Pricing
30 minutes
$30
45 minutes
$45
60 minutes
$50
New Student Special
First 3 lessons
$30
Photos & videos8 photos & videos
+ 3 more
ReviewsWrite a review
4.8
25 Reviews
5
92%
4
4%
3
4%
2
0%
1
0%
Filippo Rizzi
Teacher's Studio
Amazing teacher, with great experience! I started to play harmonica on my own with free material online and then decided to try some lessons and it has been really useful! Winslow gave me a lot of material to work on and great advices to improve my bending technique and establish a practice routine! I'll continue with other lessons to learn some 12 bar blues phrases!
Posted Feb 1, 2023
Lili
Teacher's Studio
Great teacher! Helped me bend in one lesson. I’ve been trying on my own for 1.5 years without success. Winslow is very knowledgeable, personable and fun. Highly recommend!
Posted Jan 11, 2023
Joel
Online
Winslow has been a wonderful teacher for my son. With his patience and wealth of knowledge and anecdotes, he has built a great rapport. We have subsequently also signed on for music theory for my son and me as well to learn further about musical notation and music history.
Posted Aug 8, 2022
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
Music composition, voice
Sep 1976 - May 1977McGill University
Music composition and arranging
Sep 1974 - May 1976Vancouver Community College
English
Native Proficiency
French
Limited Proficiency
Pete Pedersen Lifetime Achievement Award
Aug 2016SPAH, the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica
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.
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.
Let Our Student Counselors Help You
We can match you with the perfect teacher and take care of all your scheduling needs.Harmonica
Teaches 3 subjects. Different subject may have different prices.
Teaches Online
Work hours
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
Times are shown in your local timezone (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
Pricing
30 minutes
$30
45 minutes
$45
60 minutes
$50
New Student Special
First 3 lessons
$30