From: "PM" Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 15:09:00 -0400 Subject: Augusta Recollections#2-Joe Filisko Class
I spent the week in Joe Filisko's blues class. Joe was completely prepared, and practically "mesmerized" the class for a week.
He laid out the entire tradition of blues harmonica from soup to nuts. He took train patterns from Palmer Mackabee and Deford Baily, and used them to demonstrate how to develop stronger tone and vibrato . . . (it works too-and I've been using them as exercises every day-and will continue doing so) . . .
He has developed a tool called the Filisko Tongue- Block Trainer, to demonstrate what different tongue- block patterns look like, and it was very helpful to me in refining how to approach certain tongue-block issues.
Joe's tone and vibrato really made a big impression on me . . . his physical preparation to play each note or phrase with maximum "support" has really given me a lot to think about and work on . . .
Finally, Joe was available to anyone and everyone on an individual basis to work on any particular issue that they were working on . . .
One of the last times I saw him, he was sitting on a bench(very)late at night with a student, tongue-blocking folk tunes in first position, obviously giving a last bit of instruction . . . completely dedicated and passionate about teaching and "reaching" each person he encountered at whatever level they were operating from . . .
