Saturday, April 20, 2013
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Friday, August 10, 2012
The Moment & The Movement
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Smile_Owen Ho Harmonica
link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1e0AuxE0j4
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Wiedergeburt - Passion Marketing + Hohner
I am glad that I can join for this great and excellent journey, will update more soon. Stay tune.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
生活点滴....
人生里面，有多少样事情是真的能够让你称心如意？事事顺利？得心应手？心想事成呢？当然，在一年里面，一定有几次是真的可以让你得心应手，心想事成。但是，这不表示是你很本领，你很有领导能力，你很聪明，你很本事。有很多看得到，和看不到的东西，都一一牵连在里面。因为我相信，谋事在人，成事在天。每一样发生的事情，都有原因，不会白白的，或是无端端的发生。在你无法掌握的时候，你会有什么反应？当然，在我看过的事件里，都是有一个共同点，那就是找人来骂，找个人来出气，找个人来赖，找个人来顶罪，找个人来指责。你会不会觉得这些都成为了你生活中的一部分？而你却没有发现，还每天沾沾自喜 ，越演越起劲，越骂越兴奋。你虽然现在有权利，有钱，又有地位，但是，当你这些都不属于你的时候，你觉得真正会听你说，听你骂的人有多少位？真正能够从内心里服从你的又有几位？
其实，你的每一个决定都是从自己的角度与看法来做准则，来做出发点。简单的说明就是为了自己的利益。其实为什么不换个角度来看事情？换个角度来解决事情，换个想法来达到彼此的共识？可能你已经习惯了这样的生活，这样的方式，这样的行为，让你无法看清楚你自己。我个人觉得，用自己的权威，势力，权力，还有地位来压迫人，这种人是没领导能力的人，因为你完全不懂得什么是德行，与德性。当你除去那些权威，势力，权力，还有地位，你真还能够凭什么来领导？你真的有领导能力吗？真相与假象，你分得清楚吗？最可笑的就是，你永远不会认为你有错，因为你只能够活在对待的世界里，不能够活在平等的世界里。
口琴叫音乐，其实是很简单的东西，那就是结合两者的表现让身边的人都能够听到美妙的音乐。但是，一旦加入了复杂的人类，那事情就变得很乱，变得很烦。这些本来不应该有的，都加入进来，那其实还能够纯吗？还会存在美妙吗？换来的只是一堆即假又不美的现象。这就是你要的东西。
Friday, May 07, 2010
母亲节快乐 Happy Mothers Day...
Monday, May 03, 2010
你静静的成为我们的一份子了...
因为你，我学会了承担，
因为你，我学会了坚强，
因为你，我学会了勇敢，
因为你，我学会了牺牲，
因为你，我学会了坚持，
还有很多很多说不完的喜悦与幸福，这一切的美妙都是上天的恩赐。感谢上天所带来的这一切，一切尽在不言中。。。
Sunday, May 02, 2010
Judy's Harmonica Ensemble new EP Judy's Baroque
A whole new playing style and new experience for harmonica ensemble, Judy's Harmonica Ensemble has breakthrough again and has create a new direction for harmonica ensemble.
In their EP, there are 2 songs, there are selected from Johann Sebastian Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G and also George Frideric Handel - The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba.
They have put up some demo and after I have listen to it, I am so exciting. Because I never heard any others harmonica ensemble and play classical music like that. This EP really worth for the money and worth for collection. Here's the demo link that you can listen to their demo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCT8DGD98sk
Monday, March 29, 2010
NC 64 Concert Harmonica
As I have post this news in my previous post, now I got more information about this harmonica on it specification.
Technical Specifications NC 64
This instrument was developed over a period of four years in collaboration with Franz Chmel, the well-known harmonica soloist. The goal of the project was to construct a chromatic harmonica that would relieve the professional player of substantial amounts of maintenance work.* Chromatic mouth harmonica
* tuned in C major
* Range: four octaves
* c-d4
Compared to the familiar classic harmonica, many elements of the NC 64 are of a completely new design, here described in detail:
Comb
* Made of hard plastic, entirely nontoxic.* Color: black
Each air chamber has been individually lathed with a CNC machine.
On the upper side of the comb are raised strips that extend the length of each air chamber. These strips are custom-fit to join with the spark-eroded reed-plates. Between the reed-plates and the comb the instrument is completely airtight. The air chambers are larger than those found in conventional harmonicas.
Reeds
* Made of special rustproof high-grade steel Fastened to the reed plate with hexagon sockets.
The reeds are conical and cut longitudinally in order to minimize the risk of breakage. The reeds' conical manufacture allows for precise custom measurement.
Valves
* Made of two-ply plastic laminateMouthpiece
* Made of gold-plated brass Milled on a CNC machine.
Slider
* Made of chrome-plated brass with a break-proof slider knob.Cover Plate
*Made of rustproof high-grade stainless steel, thickness 0.5 mm Gold-plated on request.
All screws on this Chrom are of rustproof stainless steel
Cleaning: After removing the mouthpiece, let the harmonica soak for about two hours in a container filled with a soap-based detergent (suggested manufacturers provided on request), then rinse with clean water.
Firsthand test report on playing the NC 64 harmonica
In 2003 Mr Chmel business partner and friend Lutz Nölle, his son Bernd decided to develop a chrom that would handle well, would be capable of a wide dynamic range and -- our main goal -- would noticeably improve the durability of the reeds.On the instruments that Mr Chmel have played until now, He have had to change up to six reeds and about ten valves every week.
In 2007, after many attempts with a wide variety of materials, They finally found a suitable material for the reeds.
We then developed a new process for the production of the reeds (they are cut lengthwise) and fitted them to the new reed plates, which we had already produced.
First sounds:
Fortunately everything seemed successful...except for the gapping, which was too small and difficult to adjust compared to what he was used to. Also, a few pitches required a different sound profile, because they were either too hard or too mellow. Since they were making and fine-tuning our own reeds, this problem was quickly solved.
The first tests:
He immediately noticed that despite its longer and stiffer reeds the NC 64 didn't require more breath, yet it still produced a larger sound.
His first rehearsal with pianist confirmed this impression. Without knowing that he was playing a new instrument, the pianist said to him right away, after they played the first piece, "you have a much bigger sound today. And above all your tone quality is so different....so much fuller and rounder!"
After 30 hours of practice time:
The second pleasant surprise: I didn't have to adjust the tuning of a single pitch...and not a single reed had broken!
After 60 hours of practice time:
Exactly as above!
After 100 hours of practice time:
As above :)
After 500 hours of practice time:
Unbelievable---but...no problems at all!!
Just the opposite in fact. The chrom was getting better and better (of course he was adapting to it, too).
Five hundred hours without any trouble -- Mr. Chmel'd never have dreamed it possible...but they 've continued testing...and so now he at about 1200 hours of playing and practice time! -- WITHOUT once having to adjust the tuning and NOT ONE reed has broken.
There remained only a small problem with the valves:
About a year ago they were provided with a material for the valves, which turned out to be ideal. After about 50 hours of playing these valves sometimes began to stick...but...they can be cleaned with a detergent solution even when the harmonica is STILL ASSEMBLED!
Take off the cover (not really necessary), put the entire chrom in lukewarm water dissolved with a bit of detergent, leave it overnight, take it out the next morning, rinse well with clean lukewarm water, let it dry a bit, and that's it...the valves are as good as new! They don't curl up.
So that was how we solved the valve problem. I've been playing with the new valves for nearly a year. I haven't once changed a SINGLE valve!!--just "rinsed" them a few times. :)
An evaluation using the criteria of all my previous harmonica tests:
Workmanship and quality of the individual parts:
All parts are individually made.
They are manufactured on high-quality CNC machines and electric discharge machines to our specifications.
For the CNC machines Bernd Nölle specially developed the necessary software programming. The construction of the the reed plates and air chambers allows for a hermetic seal and prevents assembly errors. The plates (2 mm and 0,9 mm) are made of high-quality hard brass and are gold-plated. The sizes and the bores for the reed mountings are spark-eroded for exactness. The reeds are made of extremely vibration-resistant stainless steel.
They are cut longitudinally and are individually screwed on (M 1.6 high-grade hexagonal socket scews). The air chambers are made of nontoxic plastic. The cover plate is made of stainless steel, either polished or gold-plated. The mouthpiece is milled from a single block of brass and is gold-plated. The slider is made of brass, spark-eroded and chrome-plated.
Quality of assembly:
Because of the precision of manufacture errors in assembly are practically impossible.
Ease of repair:
Basically, all parts are screwed on and easily replaced. However, this would only really be necessary after extremely heavy use, after at least 1200 hours of playing (which is where Mr Chmel now... and he still testing). Installing the reeds is a job only for really experienced experts, because the reeds are fitted to an accuracy of 0.02 mm. Caring for the slider is as with other instrument manufacturers.
Handling of the instrument through all octaves:
Even the lower registers can be played without the nose (with a bit of experience, naturally). The upper register plays easily, with EVERY pitch playing equally well.
Breath:
At full volume a bit more breath is certainly needed, but full volume on this instrument is quite a bit bigger than on other instruments. So: playing at a volume level comparable to other instruments uses a comparable amount of breath. Highest volume:
Sufficient for all situations :)
Lowest volume:
Depending on gapping, can be extremely soft.
Tone quality (subjective opinion):
Full sound, rich in overtones.
"Bending" capacity (subjective opinion):
Lends itself very well to "my" type of vibrato.
Durability of the reeds:
In his comparisons with other instruments (playing at the same volume, same amount of practice time, same repertoire), the reeds have now lasted forty times as long without breaking!! (And testing isn't even yet finished.)
Durability of the valves:
Can't yet really determine, because cleaning them is so easy, but at the moment certainly much greater than other valves.
Durability of the slider:
Basically the same as with other manufacturers, however cleaning can be done in an assembled state together with the valves!
Instrument feel (subjective opinion):
Not counting the instrument's somewhat greater height (30 mm vs. 26 mm) and the slightly longer slider (8.5 mm vs. 7 mm), playing this harmonica takes a bit getting used to. But once you have become familiar with it, chords, octaves and fast chromatic passages are no problem. This is of course Mr. Chmel subjective opinion, such as it affects his own playing technique.
General evaluation:
He don't think he would ever again play an instrument of any other manufacture :) The durability of the reeds and the valves are reason enough alone.
Suggestions for improvement:
With the NC 64 there may well be room for some improvement. And of course they will continue to research and test.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
The Most Durable Perfect Harmonica in the World
I still remember the first Hohner harmonica that I have brought, that is Super Chromonica 270.I am so happy to received this harmonica, and I keep practicing on it. After 3 month practicing, maybe I play too long or too hard, the reeds get broken. That's make me so frustrated and worry, Because I don't have another Hohner harmonica for me to practice again and some more over in Malaysia, is not so easy to get Hohner harmonica. My heart was broken when my harmonica unfunction. I don't know how to repair it and some more where to get spare parts?? Sigh, brought a new harmonica just 3 month and need to say goodbye to my harmonica. So sad.....
Recently Mr Franz Chmel, he is one of the top classical harmonica player in the world, he and his friend Mr. Lutz Nölle has invented a new harmonica.That is amazing, they have spend more than 5 years to put in all the effort to make this dream harmonica. Mr Chmel use to practice harmonica 6 to 8 hours per day, and he kill 6 to 8 reeds per week. By end of the week, he need to spend 6 to 8 hours to repair the harmonica. Although it can be repair, but is a kind of wasting time. Because you need to spend so much time to repair it. Finally Mr. Chmel and Mr. Lutz Nölle has invented a dream harmonica NC 64 Concert Harmonica. They have use special high-grade steel for the reeds. All the reeds are much longer and all the reeds are fix with screw it able to unscrew it easily. The reedplate are using hard brass and gold plated. The comb is heavy plastic material, the mouth piece are brass put here with CNC with gold-plated. The slide is brass with chromium-plate, the valve are washable and finally the cover is high-grade steel, polishes and gold- plated.Both covers are single to unscrew.
Mr. Chmel has tested this harmonica for more than 20 month and now the harmonica still in good condition without killing a single reeds. That is amazing.... Mr. Chmel has recorded two new album and he is using NC 64 concert harmonica for the recording. I have listen to the demo of the album. It sounds excellent and fantastic, Can't waiting to collect the album.
He is Mr. Franz Chmel, and the harmonica holding on his hand is NC 64 concert harmonica. There will be more information about this harmonica soon and I will keep update... I have post some of the high end harmonica like silver concerto. The price are more than 7k US dollar. Now this NC 64 Concert Harmonica have break the record. The price for this NC 64 Concert Harmonica are Euro 10K.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
W.H.A WorldClass Harmonica Y.E.S Performance
We are so proud that we having 14 live performance at klang valley shopping mall. Once again, we thanks to Tourism Minis-ter Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen to give us this great opportunity. Beside you can enjoy our Malaysia Year End Sale, all the visitors and shoppers also will have a great chance to watch our WorldClass performance.
Our performance schedule are :
- 27th Nov 09 - Sg. Wang - 5.30pm to 6pm.
- 28th Nov 09 - Berjaya Timesquare -3.30pm to 4pm.
- 29th Nov 09 - Berjaya Timesquare -3.30pm to 4pm.
- 5th Dec 09 - Pavilion - 6pm to 6.30pm.
- 6th Dec 09 - Pavilion - 6pm to 6.30pm.
- 11th Dec 09 - Sg. Wang - 5.30pm to 6pm.
- 18th Dec 09 - 1 Utama - 6.30pm to 7pm.
- 19th Dec 09 - The Garden - 5pm to 5.30pm
- 20th Dec 09 - The Garden - 5pm to 5.30pm
- 25th Dec 09 - 1 Utama - 6.30pm to 7pm.
- 26th Dec 09 - Sunway Pyramid - 3pm to 3.30pm.
- 26th Dec 09 - Sunway Pyramid - 3pm to 3.30pm.
- 2nd Jan 10 - The Mines - TBC
- 3rd Jan 10 - The Mines - TBC
See you there :-)
Monday, November 09, 2009
W.H.A World Class Harmonica Ensemble interview in Germany Video
Sunday, November 08, 2009
W.H.A Harmonica Ensemble on THE STAR newspaper
Thank you very much for all the people who encourage and support us. Because of you, we have make it :-)Thursday, November 05, 2009
W.H.A Harmonica Ensemble won World Champion
This is our news in Sin Chew Metro Edition. We are so happy and we will keep up our hard and continue our music and harmonica journey.
For more info and details, you can browse the link over here to see our interview details
http://search.sinchew-i.com/node/435466?k=%E5%A4%A7%E9%A6%AC%E5%8F%A3%E7%90%B4%E9%9A%8A
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
W.H.A Harmonica Ensemble on Germany Newspaper
On the first day of the World Harmonica Festival, we are so lucky that the organizer chosen our groups to take a photo and put it on the German newspaper. The picture was taking while we are doing the the registration on reception counter.
As you can see it on the photo above is taking from SZON newspaper and you could get this information from this link
http://www.szon.de/lokales/trossingen/trossingen/200910281418.html
The link actually is provided by one of our good friend as well as harmonica master Mr. Jens Bunge. Because he live in Germany and he found out this info on the website. Thank you Mr. Jens.成功的背后。。。。
这一是我第一次到德国Trossingen，这也是吹口琴以来一直梦寐以求要到的地方。在还没有出发前我们的组合就开始不停的练习，提升，与进步。所以大家都付出了很多的时间，金钱与力量，为求能够做到最好，做到最完美。今年2009十月份在德国的Trossingen有一场世界口琴大赛，这是四年一次的大赛，几乎所有吹口琴的人都会知道也很想到达这个口琴的发源地来看看这间口琴场Hohner的风采。当然我们也不例外，除了自己的准备以外我们在这次的比赛当中还学习了很多很多的事。例如互相包容，无论发生什么事我们都会互相的包容，去体谅对方的感受，而这当中还加入了压力，体力的支持等等。当我们能够在机场准备要到德国时，其实还是有一些不敢相信自己眼前所看到的一切，这也要谢谢所有给予金钱还有精神支持的人。
在这段练习的期间，几乎每天晚上都在练习还练到凌晨，不畏深夜的投诉。夜深越静就越觉得容易投入，所以在这段期间大家的精神都几乎累得连少过5秒就可以马上进入梦乡。这都是我们本身要做的功课，除了这些，还有一些无形的，通常都不容易被注意到的事。那就是背后支持我的人。
她无怨无悔的一直深信的支持着我，无论我练习有多夜就陪我到多夜。无论我遇到任何难题都一直在我身边鼓励我，给我无限量的精神支持。无论我的声量有多大声，她都不会说一声。看到我累了，就为我准备好一切的补品让我能够进补来继续的走下去，看见我幸苦的练习她还是微笑的对着我说：“老公，老婆永远支持你哦，就算全世界没有人在听你的演奏，老婆永远是你的忠实听众，一直陪你到永远。”这些精神上的鼓励，远胜于一切的补品，也是无价的爱。我很幸运，因为我一生人遇见了我最爱的人也做了一个很对的决定，那就是娶了妳。只有你才能够了解我，只有你才知道我的用心，也只有你才懂得如何爱我。这比赛的期间，虽然你不能够在我身边陪着我，但是两颗心还是一直牵着，为对方打气，加油。很快的这次的德国旅程就过了，有很多事情都改变了，但是唯一没变的就是我还爱着你。老婆谢谢你一直无怨无悔的陪着我走过每一个春夏秋冬，喜怒哀乐与阴晴圆缺，老公永远都爱你:-* 这就是我背后最感动的故事。。。。。
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The First Harmonica Class of My....
The senior are conducting the classes when teacher haven't come in, and I feel that is very cool, because they looks very professional and great. After awhile, the harmonica teacher come to the class, and that is my first harmonica teacher. Mr. Chan Kit Yip. I have 2 harmonica teacher from teaching me started and advanced.The others harmonica teacher is Mr. Lee Nam Sou. Both of my teacher are very good teacher, they have very good knowledge on how to guide student on playing skill and technique.
After awhile, we were separate into 2 class, all the new student in one group. I remember that Mr. Chan has told us, actually harmonica is a very good instrument, because it is very easy to play. Beside that, harmonica is the only instrument that have blow and draw note, there is no others instrument have draw note. All the woodwind instrument in orchestra only got blowing note. So when you play harmonica, is just like you taking breath, and is very good for body health. For example, when you playing slow song, there is many long note and keep you holding it, and this process will help you to hold your breath deep down, and if you playing fast song, you will sweat after you have finished playing that fast song. Because the fast note make you blow and draw the note like taking fast breath after jogging. So overall, it helps to your body blood circulation.
I am feel amaze that just a little small instrument like this can have so many good point when you playing on it. So I take up my chromatic harmonica and start to learn. Mr. Chan told us, if you play harmonica, you can't see all the holes when you playing on it. All you need to do is just practice and feel it between each of the note, the distance. For this chromatic harmonica, in hole number 9, is C note. C major "C, E,G" is all blow note, and D minor 6 "D,F,A,B" is all draw note. So if you want to play a C major scale 【Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do'】it will become 【blow, draw,blow,draw,blow,draw,draw,blow】La and Ti also draw note.
When I start play on it, I feel that harmonica is so easy learn, the first class I have learn 3 note, Do, Re, Me and I also have learn some simple song. "Mary Had a little Lamp","Guess coming". I am so excited. Hahahaha..... My first impression on harmonica, I feel that harmonica sounds beautiful, easy to carry with, easy to learn, and good for health. That's how I fall in love with this instrument. After that, when I went back to my home, I keep on practicing all the song that I have learn from school. My parent hear it and they have gave me so comment,"Why not you just stop it?? because you sounds not good at all". I pretend didn't hear it and keep on enjoy myself. Hahahaha......
The second class, I have learn 1 octave note, so the variety of song is much more can be play. Mr. Chan teach us 【Do Re Me】from the sound of music.【Twinkle Twinkle little star】,【Little Bees】,【Jingle Bells】and so on..... After 3 month, from the beginning there are 30 to 40 new student, it become 10 student are remaining in the class. My friend who was encourage me to join harmonica club, he also quick and join some others club. That's funny, he was so interested on it and keep on encourage me to join but he just join for 2 weeks only.
I also have learn something beside harmonica lesson, no matter what instrument you are learning. You need to have "Patient" ,"Passion" and "Persevere" on it. Then only you can keep on growing up. The instrument is not hard to play and learn, the hardest things is you don't have those 3 'P"I mention above.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Brand New Gregoire Maret Signature Models
Wow! the more I see it, the more I love it..... the outlook is so attractive. This is a new signature models from Suzuki harmonica G48W and G48.G48W is with rose wood cover, very beautiful craftsmanship, I wish to have a chance to try on this 2 new models, it should be awesome. The rose wood cover has deep and dark sounds, I have watch the video of Gregoire Maret playing on this harmonica. Tone color really deep and dark, and it suitable for romance, slow, sentimental, slow jazz, slow bossa nova and etc.... You can have a look at the video, is from official Suzuki music website.
Look at it, it sounds so deep.... There are more picture for the rose wood G48W.
The G48 is more on power energy sound, the things that I like about this harmonica is the cover. The cover is in blue colors.
Most of the harmonica in the market, all the cover are in Silver, black, Gold, or Antique Gold colors. There are some others color I have see it before, that is that is CX 12 purple, and white colors. The white colors is awesome beautiful. Unfortunately I didn't own it, and it hard to find picture also. So the G48 blue cover is really marvelous, love it so much. When I look at the poster picture, that is the first picture above, I thought it was color effect, but when I see the picture above I really "Wow" wonderful design.
You can have a look at the video, it sounds cool....
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Beautiful Tremolo Chromatic Harmonica
So Beautiful from the outlook design, I actually this concept is the combination of two tremolo harmonica. C and C#. I know there are many tremolo player still play in C and C# just to enjoy all the song around the world. But is it not easy to achieve that level if you want to shift from C to C# tremolo harmonica, it's needs a lot of practicing on it to make it sounds smoothly and nicely. But now, this new invention come out and solve a lot of technique problem.When you play on any lovely songs, the transition between "#" and "b" is so smooth and even any beginner who know how to play chromatic also can easily handle it and enjoy it when first get it in hand. Excellent work for this SCT128. I have upload some sample for you to listen on it.
SAKARA WALTZ -
I just wish that in the near future, this harmonica tone can sounds like this song "Walk through 1999" by Hong Kong famous artist Jacky Chueng. The sounds on walk trough 1999 is accordion, sounds so touching.
1999.wma -
