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How to practice the 10 hole diatonic “blues” harp according to Carlos del Junco.

ADAM GUSSOW from Modern Blues Harmonica says: "It's a good thing I'm not competitive, because he'd make me want to break all my harps and take up basket weaving. Tasty, technical, brilliant."

A SATISIFIED WEBINAR STUDENT: "I have to compliment you on just how well thought out and content rich these webinar materials are… Absolutely fantastic. It is rare to have a world-class player and a world class teacher come in the same package!! "The Secrets of Successful Intentional, Focused, and Engaged Practice" was two pages of such practical and profound information regarding practicing and the best way to learn something new…" TIM PIELAK

WEBINAR 7 Saturday Feb. 22, noon EST Tongue Blocking vs Pucker with Joe Filisko

Joe Filisko is to my knowledge the undisputed master on all things blocking technique so it’s a real honour to have him as a guest. We’ll be sharing each our own expertise on how we learned to play the 10 hole diatonic harmonica. While it’s a given that any serious student of the blues should learn and know well the many techniques and advantages of good blocking technique, does pucker technique have any place in traditional blues playing? I’ll be sharing why I think it does. Sign up here for an informative and fun discussion.


About Carlos del Junco - over 30 years teaching experience

2017, 2018, 2019 SPAH (U.S.A. Society for the Preservation & Advancement of the Harmonica) Bernie Bray Harmonica Player of The Year Award nomination

2016 Maple Leaf Blues Nomination - Best Acoustic Duo (with Jimmy Bowskill for Blues Etc...)

Harmonica Player of the Year - winner EIGHT times
Canadian Maple Blues Awards (& an additional eight times nominated)

2010 JUNO NOMINATION for STEADY MOVIN' cd
(JUNO is Canada’s equivalent of a Grammy)

2005 "Best Blues" Award - NOW Magazine, Toronto, ON

1998 JUNO NOMINATION for BIG BOY cd

1996 Blues Musician of the Year Award - Jazz Report Magazine

1993 Hohner World Harmonica Championship, Trossingen, Germany -
Two Gold Medals in both diatonic blues and diatonic jazz



I first picked up a harmonica in 1972 and got a taste of playing in front of a live audience at a student talent night jamming on a couple Leadbelly tunes with my high school math teacher. While my first interests were definitely rooted in the blues, studying players like Paul Butterfield, Little Walter, James Cotton, I was also attracted to more progressive players like Lee Oskar and perhaps one of the most unsung heroes in my mind, David Burgin (see the link “CARLOS’ INFLUENCES” about some of my favourite harmonica recordings) and eventually after 15 years of playing, studied with Howard Levy 4 years in a row when he used to teach at Augusta Heritage Centre in West Virginia for the Blues and Swing week back in the late 1980's. I also recieved a study grant to study with him privately for 2 months in 1995.

My first love has always been blues. If I were to sum up my playing “style” as a “harmonica voice”, I like to think that I am marrying a sound somewhere between early David Burgin and Howard Levy: a blues attitude with a jazzy sensibility. So, definitely a more progressive voice. My 7 full band recordings to date delve into all types of “roots music” which encompasses many styles of blues, jazz, New Orleans second line grooves, Latin, Ska, folk, “world music”. Click here to get a taste of the sounds and styles I like to make on these recordings and here for a complete bio.

Teaching experience:

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