Blues Education

Johnny Ward

Our Third Sunday Educational Clinics will resume this month with Northwest traditional music icon, Johnnie Ward, on January 21st.  John is a distinguished multi-award winning harmonica player; one of the region's most respected and admired. He is thought of as mentor and teacher by many fine players in the Northwest, and is also an incredible performing artist. Johnnie Ward plays several reed instruments, and many string instruments. His clinic promises to provide basic and intermediate demonstration and instruction on acoustic guitar, and basic, intermediate, and advanced instruction and demonstration on diatonic (and time allowing) chromatic harmonica.

     If you are interested in playing Blues, by yourself or in an ensemble, this is a clinic NOT TO BE MISSED! Johnnie Ward has performed at every major festival and event in our area; he has played for generations of Blues, Jazz and Traditional music lovers. John will discuss many aspects of the ART he performs. His insight to the music itself, as well as the application and theory for various forms, is PRICELESS.

     I can't stress enough the absolute authority of this man's knowledge! Johnnie Ward is an amazing example of musicianship AND an encyclopedia of music, musicians, their histories, and their instruments.

     The clinic will be held at the 45th St. Pub, located at: 4936 SW 45th Ave. (corner of 45th & Beaverton / Hillsdale Hwy.) in Raleigh Hills; their phone number is (503) 246-7061. You can easily take the Hwy. 10 turn-off from Barber Blvd. if coming from Portland, or take Hwy. 217 to the Beaverton / Hillsdale (10 exit), go right, and it's a few miles up the road, on the left corner at 45th! 

     The staff is great, they have a very nice "brunch deal", with full bar service. The 45th is not only our Third Sunday host venue (going into the second year), but several of the patrons there have made a point of attending each clinic, and even telling their friends! The support from the 45th and the friends of Bob and Christina Ordlin (owners, and patron supporters of Third Sunday Clinics) has made all the difference with continuing to provide the clinics. It is sad to me that very few aspiring performers have taken the time to attend! Each one of the clinics hosts have been from the very top of their field and the demonstrations provided by THEMSELVES have been worth YOUR time to hear... For just a couple of bucks, and a couple of hours of your time, you can learn from successful performers. You can see why THEIR music "works", and what it takes to be a player here in Portland and other areas. You can tap into some of THEIR hard-earned experiences, as both player AND performer.

     I thank the 45th staff AND patrons for their considerable support, and hope to be able to thank YOU, the CBA members, for YOUR support as well.

     The cost for attending this clinic will be announced at the clinic, but knowing Johnnie Ward, it will be ridiculously small. I will be on hand to sign folks in, provide and set up a small PA, and generally do anything you might need. I hope to see you there from 1 - 3 pm on January 21st.

Timmer Blakely

     The 45th St. Pub (located on the corner of Raleigh Hills Blvd. & 45th St. at 4936 SW 45th - phone [503] 246-7061) and the CBA are proud to announce a very special Third Sunday Clinic to be hosted by "The Bassman"  Timmer Blakely. Timmer is a widely respected musician, both personally and as an endorsing artist for Peavey Electronics, The Lane Poor Music Co., and Gore/ Elixir Strings.  He has been a core member of several great Northwest bands, including current stints with Geoff Achison & The Soul Diggers, The Robbie Laws Band, The Russ Finley Band, The Imposters and Full House.

     Timmer Blakely has a special presentation in store with band-mates Rob Laws and Don Shultz. Timmer will discuss specific bass lines, grooves, form and feel, utilizing the extraordinary talents of Laws on guitar and Shultz on drums to demonstrate topics covered in lecture form. Timmer has many years experience as performer, teacher and music writer. He also has ongoing lessons available and his clinic would be a great chance to check out openings on his student roster.

     Make a note to attend this informative workshop on February 18th from 1 - 3 pm. The opportunity to hear these guys play is a great reason to attend by itself! But, if you are a bass player, or want to learn to play bass, don't miss the chance to attend! Timmer is an excellent player, a wonderful teacher, and a real nice guy. His clinic will be of great value to any bassist looking to upgrade their skills.

     The cost for the clinic will be $5 per person, and there will be printed learning materials available upon request.

I'll see ya there!     
- LynnAnn Hyde   

Dave Hoover

     This month, our Third Sunday Clinic Host is veteran Bluesman, Dave Hoover. Once again, the 45th St. Pub (located on the comer of 45th & Raleigh Hills Blvd., in SW Portland, phone (503) 246-7061) is graciously donating their lovely, all ages stage area for our clinic. The hours are the usual 1-3 pm, the kitchen and full service bar are open before, during, and after clinic hours.

     Dave Hoover has been a fixture in the Portland music scene since the early '80s. He has been a professional singer for nearly 40 years, and has also been a vocal coach and choirmaster for several singers and choral ensembles. Dave still performs regularly with various Blues and Blues-based bands, as well as providing lessons in voice and guitar.

     Dave plans to deliver a seminar on "vocal research".  He will give a lecture on the following topics, with demonstrations to accompany each topic: melody lines, harmonies, impromptu harmonization skills.

     Dave's son, Marshall Hoover, is an award-winning singer in his own right, and will assist in demonstrating harmonies and supporting vocals. Dave and Marshall will demonstrate lead and harmony lines in tandem, and as soloists.

     Both Dave and Marshall have many years' experience in performance art, and also have many years' experience working in choral ensembles. Their presentation will prove to be of value to anyone who enjoys singing and wants to sing better. Dave will provide attendees with many tips to enhance their singing and listening abilities, and demonstrate techniques that will promote better pitch and tone.

     The cost of this clinic is only $2! I suggest you bring a tape recorder, and get ready for a real tour through vocal techniques, disciplines, and deliveries. This is a great opportunity to take advantage of Dave's talent as both a vocalist and educator! I will see you there!

- LynnAnn Hyde   

LynnAnn Hyde

     Thanks to our host venue, The 45th St. Pub, for their support in our educational program.  The 45th is located on the corner of 45th St. and Raleigh Hills Blvd. (Hwy. 10) in Portland. Their phone number is (503) 246-7061. Bob & Christina Ordlin (owners) have donated their lovely wood-floor stage area for over a year to the Third Sunday Clinics and their staff has provided excellent service from the kitchen and the bar. As usual, this month's clinic will run between the hours of 1:00 and 3:00 pm.

     By popular demand, I (LynnAnn Hyde) will be hosting another harmonica clinic on April 15th. 1 have had hundreds of requests to host another clinic, so I will! This year, I have some new instructional materials published by harmonica "ACE", Tom Ball * Tom has some really great books out and I will be using some of the text from his "Sonny Terry Songbook", and his "Sourcebook of Little/Big Walter Licks for Blues Harmonica", both published by Center Stream Publishing, Anaheim, CA.  This clinic will also feature a 45-minute lecture and demonstration of straight harmonica playing styles in the fashion of Will Shade, Sonny Boy I, and Jimmy Reed.

     My best pal and partner, Stu Kinzel, will provide guitar accompaniment for the demonstrations and I will have a lot of printed instructional materials available as well.

     This particular clinic is geared toward the intermediate harmonicist, but even beginning players will find a wealth of resource materials and helpful hints to further their playing.

     There is NO FEE to attend the clinic! The printed instructional materials will be priced as marked (the entire packet is offered for $3.50) and will include some tabulature in Tom Ball's "arrow" system, and in my own (recently copyrighted/patented) "extra easy to read" circle and slash tab notation. It is my hope that each one of the harmonica jammers who frequent both the Tuesday jam at the Cascade and the Sunday jam at the Trail's End will attend.  This clinic will provide you with the tools to build better harmonica skills.

     My thanks to Tom Ball for allowing me to use portions of his instructional books!  You can order Tom's books directly from him at: havaball@silcom.com or from Kevin's Harps, Amazon.com, Elderly Music, or Harp Depot. A really HUGE thank you to Al Eichler and his wonder-staff at American Harmonica (AH). Over the years AH has played a real important part in my continuing development as a musician. It can do the same for any harp player and I heartily encourage ALL harp players to subscribe to it. You can drop a line to Al at: American Harmonica, 104 Highland Ave., Battle Creek, MI 49015-3272. A full year's subscription is $24 American dollars.

     Hope to see many of you harp players at the clinic and remember, "It's your harp, face up to it"'

- LynnAnn Hyde
Hohner Harmonica Endorsee

Please Note!!!

Alternate Location and Time

The Drum Shop Of Portland

3366 SE Powell Blvd.

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Robbie Laws

     This month's clinic host is "Muddy Award Hall Of Fame" inductee, Robbie Laws. Robbie has participated in two other clinics as a supporting player in an ensemble performance. His clinic will be dedicated to guitar.  Rob is an awesome guitarist; a touring and recording artist, singer and songwriter.  His talent and skill has taken him into the national arena, and deservingly so. Rob intends to share some of the hard-learned guitar technique that sets his playing apart from the crowd. He will also provide tips to build better skills, get better tone, and play with better time and meter.

     Rob will have a presentation that follows a lecture / demonstration format.  He will be joined by the fabulous rhythm section of Timmer Blakely (bass) and Don Shultz (drums), both clinic hosts themselves! Rob's prowess on guitar is no secret to anyone who listens to Blues music. His willingness to share this extraordinary gift with aspiring guitarists is refreshing, and completely sincere. Rob has an active guitar lesson program going, and is accepting new students at regular intervals (see ad in BluesNotes) This clinic will be a great way to check out Robbie's approach to demonstrating basic, intermediate, and advanced guitar chords, arrangements; and technique. Mr. Laws will also demonstrate some of the single-note lead lines that have garnered so much respect and admiration from audiences and music industry professionals alike.

     Once again, Marty Leonard (The Drum Shop of Portland) has offered his most excellent teaching facility for the clinic on May 20th.  Marty has a great educational program going at The Drum Shop, and also keeps active with musically oriented community projects year round. His teaching space offers beginning, intermediate and advanced instruction for group and single lessons and workshops.  He also has concerts and demonstrations of various musical ensembles that feature the drum as both lead and supporting instrument. He has a great web site up at http://www.DrumShopOfPortland.com/ and is located at: 3366 SE Powell Blvd., just east of Cleveland High School, (503) 771-7789.

     The clinic will run from 2 to 4 pm, and there will be a very reasonable fee of $10 to attend.  I can't thank Rob, Timmer and Donnie enough for their generosity!  Not only have they all done clinics, but Robbie and his gang have gone into our schools and done BIS presentations also!  Their commitment to being the best musicians they can be, to playing Blues with love and respect, and to teaching other musicians valuable skill building techniques is a great example for the rest of us to follow. This opportunity is one NO musician should miss!

     See you at the clinic!

- LynnAnn Hyde