Workshop programme
Traditional Blues Harmonica Styles with Joe Filisko
Technical level: advanced, intermediate skills required
Language: English
Joe Filisko’s classes at the Harmonica Masters Workshops need little introduction. He has been with us from the very beginning and many of our regulars attend his workshop every year (aka the Bar 13 Harmaniacs). Joe’s encyclopedic knowledge of the harmonica and his mastery of traditional styles which may otherwise been lost ensure a uniquely rewarding learning experience for students, not least thanks to his structured and inspirational teaching methods. A great many players have gained immeasurably from studying with him.
As in previous years, Joe's course at the HMW 2026 will cover most areas of traditional playing including: tongue blocking, breathing, hand techniques and BIG TONE, which is how to get the maximum amount of sound out of your harp by learning to play to the strengths of the instrument. This will be applied both to rural country blues and Chicago Blues styles. Joe's class will offer students extensive opportunities to play and also to receive an individual critique. As in previous years, he will provide fresh study material in 2026.
Preis: 400,00 €
Admission to all concerts is included in the price during the workshop.
Gospel & Blues Harmonica and Vocals with Bonny B
Language: English or French
Join us for an intense musical journey with Bonny B, one of the true masters of blues and gospel! This course is designed for intermediate musicians who want to improve their skills and deepen their understanding of blues harmonica and gospel singing.
Class program:
- Getting to know each other and jamming together
- Intuitive approach for each individual participant
- The secrets of blues phrasing
- Tongue blocking
- How to improvise
- How to make simple but effective fills
- Adapt to every situation on stage
- Wah-wah and vibrato
- Chords and octaves
- Slides, dirty notes etc.
- The secret of the 3 blues bendings
- Learn how to sing and play fills with the harp
- Songs:
John the Revelator (Son House)
Wade in the Water (Soul Stirrers)
Bright Lights, Big City (Jimmy Reed)
Chain Gang (Sam Cooke)
The Final Land (Bonny B)
I'm Going Home (Bonny B)
Oh Happy Day (Traditional)
Mercedes Benz (Janis Joplin)
Join us for an unforgettable musical experience!
Preis: 400,00 €
Admission to all concerts is included in the price during the workshop.
After gaining asylum and growing up in Switzerland, he felt naturally drawn to blues and gospel music, perhaps because of the parallels between his own his life experiences and those of black slaves in the USA. He became a specialist in singing work songs and in the history of the blues and the harmonica. In 2000, he became a Hohner endorsee.
Bonny B has been teaching harmonica and singing for more than thirty years in his school in Fribourg (Switzerland), and has trained more than a thousand harmonica players. Thanks to his stage experience, he has developed an unparalleled pedagogy. He has organized numerous courses and workshops as well as performing thousands of concerts and has recorded more than 16 albums under his own name. Bonny B continues to breathe the blues with all his heart and soul and loves to share his passion with those who are willing to learn this immortal style.
He will be happy to welcome you to his harmonica and vocal masterclass. On March 1st 2009, Bonny B earned a place in the the Guinness Book of Records for the longest ever harmonica marathon. His record of 24 hours of uninterrupted harmonica playing was achieved at the Blues Club, Fribourg, Switzerland. Bonny was able to go for the whole duration without a single break. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/longest-harmonica-marathon
Rack Harmonica with Eddie Martin
Course language: English
Playing requirements: intermediate level
Introduction
Apart from hand cupping techniques you can do anything on a rack harp that hand-held harmonica players can do. So the sky is the limit as to what music you can make with your rack harmonica, from simple chord accompaniments to complex soloing and even duet soloing with your other instrument. From Folk to Blues to Jazz to Singer songwriting, any genre can have a place for rack harmonica playing.
The course will introduce rack players to these styles of playing, looking at songs by key stylists. In the later part of the course more intermediate/advanced harmonica techniques (for example direct bending and tongue blocking ) will be taught on the rack using simple guitar accompaniments where appropriate. More advanced guitar and harmonica accompaniments will also be illustrated and taught and the possibilities offered for duet soloing also.
1. first steps
Rack Essentials
Checklist for comfortable and secure rack construction
A secure comfortable rack is a prerequisite for getting anywhere with rack-harmonica playing. Although many models will work, the single best model I recommend is the Hohner Flexrack. I will check your rack to make sure it is suitable for you, suggesting modifications where necessary.
The special requirements of the rack for playing with an amplifier are also covered.
The particular requirements of the rack for amplified playing will also be covered.
“San Francisco Bay Blues” Jesse Fuller
Guitar key A
Harp A, 1st position
“Piano Man” Billy Joel
Guitar key of C
Harp C, 1st position
“Heart of Gold” Neil Young
Guitar key of A, capo 7th fret
Harp A, 1st position
Simple blues accompaniment („vamping“) in E
“Rock This House” Jimmy Rogers
Guitar key of E, standard tuning
Harp A, 2nd position
Simple solo playing: Blues in 1st and 2nd position
“Honey I Do” Jimmy Reed
Guitar key A, standard tuning
Harp A, 1st position
“Baby What You Want Me To Do” Jimmy Reed
Guitar key of E, standard tuning
Harp A, 2nd position
Riffs in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions
“I Aint Got You” Jimmy Reed, “Mannish Boy”, “Hoochie Coochie Man” Muddy Waters and “Help Me” Sonny Boy Williamson II
Guitar key A, standard tuning
Harp A 1st position, D 2nd position or G 3rd position
One Man Band: Blues and Rock
Boogie and 2nd position harp, w. single foot percussion Dr (Isiah) Ross Style “Chicago Breakdown”
Led Zeppelin “When the Levee Breaks”
2. advanced playing techniques
Direct bending
“Stone Fox Chase”
Guitar Key of E
Harp (A, 2nd position)
Tongue Block Traditional Folk
“Ach Du Lieber Augustin” G Harp 1st position
Tongue Block Licks and Effects in Slow Blues Soloing
3rd Position - Minor Blues
Duet Soloing in Blues Scale / Chromatic runs/ Myxolydian Mode
Unison and Harmonising
Tongue block licks and effects for slow blues soloing
3rd position - Blues in minor key
Duet Soloing in Blues Scale / Chromatic runs/ Myxolydian Mode
Unison and Harmonising
Duet solos with the blues scale / chromatic runs / myxolydian mode
Unison / Harmonise
Preis: 400,00 €
Admission to all concerts is included in the price during the workshop.
Harmonica workshop for beginners with Chris Kramer
Attention: The beginner workshop with Chris Kramer is a 2-day workshop and will take place on Fri., 30.10.2026 + Sat., 31.10.2026. statt.
Course language: German or English
Number of participants: max. 20
The workshop is aimed at absolute beginners as well as beginners with previous knowledge. No knowledge of sheet music is required! All you need is a 10-hole Richter harmonica in C major and the joy of playing the harmonica.
Please don’t bring double row harmonica models such as Echo or Unsere Lieblinge! If you don’t own a suitable instrument, you can purchase one from the instructor.
Goals:
Learning to play clean single notes, playing familiar tunes using these clean single notes, getting the first sound effects and taking the first steps in the blues together. Learn draw-bends, trills, glissando, wah-wah, tremolo and enjoy a gentle introduction to the first improvisations in the 12 bar blues form.
Chris Kramer has been giving harmonica workshops since 1991 and promises to bring out the best in each participant through individual supervision.
According to the motto, “There’s more in you than you may think”, Chris looks forward to helping you realise your potential.
Preis: 200,00 €
Admission to all concerts is included in the price during the workshop.
Chris Kramer's intention has always been to use the harmonica in different genres beyond the blues. National and international colleagues enjoy working with him on a regular basis and have praised him in the highest terms.
German rock star Peter Maffay was equally impressed and engaged Chris for several tours and a studio production, while TV host Jürgen von der Lippe invited the harmonica virtuoso on his Saturday evening show "Geld oder Liebe" (Money or Love) and thus introduced him to an audience of millions.
Since 2013, he has presented a variety of projects for children in schools and is also active as an author of children's books. The protagonist of his novel "Die kleine Mundharmonika" (The Little Harmonica) not only experiences all kinds of exciting adventures, but also encourages children to make music themselves and regularly comes up with "meaningful thoughts" promoting tolerance, respect and peaceful coexistence in addition to music. Bringing children and young people to music is dear to Chris' heart, which led him to initiate the Chris Kramer Foundation in 2012, a charitable organisation dedicated to promoting art and culture, especially music.
Chris Kramer appears live on stage 100 nights a year, mostly with his current band Chris Kramer & Beatbox ́n ́ Blues, together with two-time German beatbox champion Kevin O Neal and guitar dervish Sean Athens. Together they have made it their mission to transport the blues into the present and enrich it with rock and hip-hop.
Tian Long Li
Mastering jazz chromonica with Tian Long Li
Target Audience
This workshop is designed for chromatic harmonica players with an intermediate technical level. No prior experience in jazz improvisation is required.
Language
The workshop will be conducted in both English and German, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for participants from diverse backgrounds.
Workshop goal
The Jazz Chromatic Harmonica Mastery workshop invites participants to explore the vibrant world of jazz improvisation with confidence — without relying heavily on complex music theory. Through practical, hands-on techniques and intuitive musical approaches, players will gain the tools to create expressive, melodic, and authentic jazz solos.
Key Concepts
- Theme Analysis and Interpretation
Participants will learn how to analyze jazz themes to identify key notes for improvisation. Using these essential tones as a foundation, they’ll develop thematic variations and explore phrasing inspired by jazz vocalists — strengthening their melodic awareness and creative phrasing. - 2. Rhythmic Mastery
This section delves into the rhythmic pulse of jazz improvisation. Through exercises with whole notes, eighth notes, triplets, and syncopations, participants will discover how rhythmic variety can transform even simple note choices into captivating musical ideas. - Inspiration from jazz Masters
Listening and analysis of recordings by legendary jazz musicians will provide context and inspiration. Participants will observe phrasing, timing, tone, and articulation — and learn how to translate those qualities to the harmonica. - Interactive learning
Play-along exercises and guided improvisation sessions form the core of the workshop. Participants will apply concepts immediately, gaining real-time feedback and deepening their practical understanding of jazz phrasing and interaction.
Jazz Standards Selection
The workshop repertoire includes a selection of timeless jazz classics, including:„Take the ‘A’ Train“, „Bluesette“, „Blue Monk“, „Girl from Ipanema“ and „Body and Soul“.
Participants are also invited to bring one or two of their favourite jazz pieces to work on in the workshop. This personal contribution enables each player to combine what they have learnt with their own musical tastes and goals.
Participants are also encouraged to bring one or two of their favorite jazz tunes to explore during the workshop. This personal element allows each player to connect the material to their own musical taste and goals.
A live jazz accompanist — either a pianist or guitarist — will join the sessions, providing harmonic support and creating an authentic ensemble setting. This
Preis: 400,00 €
Admission to all concerts is included in the price during the workshop.
The cultural festival "China and Germany Moving Together" gave Tian Long Li the opportunity to travel to Germany to play concerts there and he began his first formal musical training on the chromatic harmonica at the Hohner Conservatory in Trossingen in 2011. He went on to study for a Bachelor of Arts in Performance at the Jazz- und Rock Schulen in Freiburg in 2013, graduating with honours in 2017. From 2017 to 2019 he completed his first master's degree in performance with Domenic Landolf and Hans Feigenwinter at the Jazzcampus in Basel. He also took private lessons from French chromatic harmonica luminary Olivier Ker Ourio. He is currently studying for a master's degree in pedagogy with Matthieu Michel.
Tian Long Li's music is stylistically wide ranging, encompassing not only jazz, but also blues, world music and pop. He has recorded and performed with Brazilian guitarist Fabio Gouvea and his Collective and recently founded his first quartet in Basel, playing his original compositions and displaying a strong personality of his own. His class for Jazz Chromatic at the Harmonica Masters Workshops 2024 (in English and German) is aimed at empowering participants to delve into the captivating world of jazz improvisation with confidence and minimal reliance on complex music theory.
Dieter Kropp - Blues Harp - fat toned & traditional
In Dieter Kropp's workshop, participants can deepen their existing knowledge of the typical blues sound on the diatonic Richter harmonica (the “blues harp”) and learn further essential playing techniques. Traditional blues harp styles in 2nd position /cross harp play a major role as the basis for an expressive sound. The class will also cover topics such as tongue blocking, hand effects, tone formation and shaping, and the subtleties of articulation and phrasing will be discussed. The focus is on practical implementation.
Prerequisites are basic technical skills in single note playing, familiarity with 2nd
position / cross harp, and bending. Students will need blues harps in the keys of C
major, D major, and A major. Knowledge of musical notation is not necessary.
Dieter Kropp is regarded as one of the most accomplished blues harp players in Germany. His CD „Herzensbrecher" won the award for best German blues album in 2005 and "Schönen Gruß vom Blues!" was nominated for the German Record Critics„ Award in 2010. His "Blues Harp School for Beginners", the "Blues Harp School, Volume 2„ and the "Blues Harp Songbook" are already regarded as standard textbooks.
Preis: 400,00 €
Admission to all concerts is included in the price during the workshop.
Konstantin Reinfeld - From pop to classical music: the harmonica today
Language: German and English
Playing requirements: from intermediate level
Contemporary harmonica has long since moved beyond its traditional role in blues and folk and is now showing its true potential in a wide range of musical contexts. This workshop invites participants to rediscover and rethink the instrument’s stylistic versatility – from pop and R&B to reggaeton, trap, afrobeats, bossa nova, and even classical and cinematic soundscapes.
At the heart of the workshop is improvisation – as a form of creative expression that transcends stylistic boundaries. We’ll explore melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic concepts that enable improvised playing within today’s musical structures. It’s not just about technique, but about musical thinking: How does phrasing work across different grooves? How can ideas be developed, varied, and organically integrated into a modern sound?
This workshop is for anyone who wants to experience the harmonica beyond “Blues & Co.” and explore improvisation in a stylistically open, hands-on, and contemporary setting – while bringing the instrument into the musical present.
Preis: 400,00 €
Admission to all concerts is included in the price during the workshop.
Reinfeld has appeared with renowned orchestras such as the Staatskapelle Weimar, NDR Radiophilharmonie, WDR Funkhausorchester, Badische Staatskapelle Karlsruhe, and the Big Band of Deutsche Oper Berlin, performing existing concert works for harmonica and orchestra. He has also brought the harmonica to major festival stages and collaborated with artists such as Saad Lamjarred, Nathan East, and Joscho Stephan, bridging the instrument into the worlds of pop, jazz, and global music.
As a producer and mixing engineer, Reinfeld works across genres and continents, contributing to releases by international acts such as Masterkraft, Rashmeet Kaur, Gaz Mawete, Ice Prince, Carla Prata, and Lioness. His playing features prominently in Arabic pop productions (e.g. with Omar Nasr) and in European crossover projects with artists such as Parov Stelar.
A former student of harmonica pioneer Howard Levy, Reinfeld is also a trailblazer in harmonica education. His instructional book, published by Hal Leonard, has become a widely used reference, and his ongoing work as a performer, educator, and creator continues to shape the global harmonica scene.
Sonderworkshops
Harmonica Therapy with Mattias Bogefors
Thur. 29.10.26 4-5 p.m.
No musical knowledge is required
The diatonic harmonica is the world´s smallest gym! Or maybe I should just call it a “medical instrument”. As versatile and portable as a Swiss army knife, it’s equally beneficial for both body and mind.
My experience with the harmonica following a bad car crash in 1995 changed my world completely. In cooperation with my physiotherapist I discovered that there are many similarities between playing the harmonica in a conscious way and standard physiotherapeutic exercises, including mindfulness.
My interactive workshop uses C, G and Bb harmonicas and is based on my “most bang for the buck” method to immediately play real music as well as to perform exercises tailored for different needs. The immediate feeling of success, the fun factor, is extremely important in my program. No musical knowledge is required, and “if you can breathe you can play the harmonica”! I address conditions connected with problems with the mouth, jaw, tongue, neck, lungs as well as stress and anxiety (for example; whiplash, speech and swallowing disorders after a stroke, COPD, asthma, Parkinson and PTSD).
Breathing, posture, ergonomics and gentle controlled subtle movements are central to this method, both for specific body parts as well as the whole body. By using the lower pelvic muscles one can learn to boost breathing, whilst simultaneously playing a fox chase rhythm. This extra boost is important for people with asthma and COPD, as they need more effort to exhale. Observations from my students including a Ukrainian medical doctor support this.
I’m currently cooperating with clinical physiotherapists, medical doctors (psychiatry, psychology, neurology and radiology/speech physiology) and patient organisations, who clearly see the potential and similarities with standard exercises. However, more scientific studies are needed and I am seeking new contacts within the medical community. I’ve also had positive feedback from yoga instructors.
Currently we are conducting a pilot test in cooperation with Hohner and the Ukrainian army, you can find out more on my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@HarmonicaTherapyBogeforsThe first goal is to reduce stress by slow coherent breathing that I call “wave breathing”. The 2nd part is aimed at gaining energy and reducing frustration through learning a train imitation with whistle. The 3rd part is simply having fun playing chords and chordal effects to a backup track.
Harmonica therapy is no “snake-oil” or panacea. I have a background as an MSc in Chem. Eng. and what I teach is hard core, but conscious, harmonica playing. And it’s FUN!!
Mattias Bogefors
For Free
Amplified Harmonica Playing Workshop George Reijnders & A.J. Folkerts
Fr. 30.10. 15-16 p.m.
Mastering Amplified Harmonica Techniques
When learning to play amplified, you first need to master the necessary
cupping and holding techniques in order to be able to create that elusive electric
sound. Good equipment alone will not do this for you.
Long time HMW participant George Reijnders has built up a lot of experience and his tips will definitely help improve your amplified playing.
Check out his website: https://harmonicaworkshops.weebly.com/
Marble Harmonica Amps
A high quality tube amp designed for amplified harmonica is a great help when trying to achieve a good electric sound. Choosing a suitable microphone and learning to adjust your amp correctly are also important factors when striving for a good amplified tone.
Check out the Website: https://www.marble-amps.com/
Tips and techniques to improve your amplified playing
- Enclose the harmonica well between your lips.
- Breathe through the harmonica from your diaphragm in a relaxed manner.
- Play a clear single note using Puckering or Tongue Block technique.
- Add (throat) vibrato whilst playing Single Notes.
- Lower your Jaw and make your mouth cavity larger.
- Invest in a high quality Marble Harp Amp, they are specially designed for amplified harmonica
- Get a good mini bullet microphone, they are much easier to hold.
- The Hohner Harp Blaster HB-52 is one of the best mini bullet harmonica microphones out there.
- Aim for a fairly clean sound by setting the gain low and adjust the master volume to the required level.
- Practice using correct cupping techniques to create an air tight enclosure.
- When playing with a tongue block, lay the front of the harmonica against your right cheek for increased airtightness.
Enjoy amplified Harmonica Playing!
For Free
Many thanks to Arie-Jan Folkerts and Marble Amps for the loan of their great tube amplifiers!
