Steve Baker Replaces Grant Dermody on Harmonica Staff

It is with regret we have to announce that Grant Dermody will not be attending Blues Week this year. One of his close relatives is very ill and Grant sends his regards to everyone.

To take Grant’s place, Steve Baker will be joining us and below is a short biography and class description.

STEVE BAKER, Harmonica
Born and raised in London but a long-time German resident, Steve Baker is one of today’s leading diatonic harp players. A full-time professional since 1975, he has also been a consultant to the Hohner company for over 30 years. He has made countless recordings as a studio musician, released numerous albums under his own name and is founder and musical director of the Harmonica Masters Workshops in Trossingen. His 1990 book “The Harp Handbook“ is still a standard work on the instrument today.

Blues Harmonica (beginner/intermediate)
This class will concentrate on breathing, learning to make the harmonica sound good both on chords and single notes (rhythm and melody) and the basics of tongue block and note bending.

Blues Harmonica (intermediate/advanced)
Steve will be looking at the finer points of articulation and timing, learning to play punchy, syncopated lines where what you leave out is just as important as what you put in. He will be looking at the basics of harmony and how to play lines which fit to the accompanying chords as well as enhancing the song. If there is enough interest, Steve will devote one or more lessons to using special tunings – e.g. major 7th / country tuning for ragtime, or natural minor tuning for minor key blues.