Featured SlideMeister Member - July 2014
               SlideMeister Members, P.M. aj fedor to submit your choice for featured member 


Winslow Yerxa

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This month, we're featuring Mr. Winslow Yerxa. SlideMeister started over 14 years ago, and one of the first names I came to know  as I began to explore the wonderful world of harmonicas was Winslow Yerxa. That name was never mentioned lightly; but rather always used to add credibility to the subject being discussed, as in: "Winslow Yerxa said this or Winslow said that . . ."  Kinda made me go: Hmmm! and ask myself: :Who is this guy, E.F.Hutton??"   Since then, I've learned that when Winslow says something; you could pretty much take it to the bank.

A.J.Fedor  
- the ole' SlideMeister


Winslow Yerxa is a harmonica player, performer, author, inventor, and teacher centered in San Francisco, California. His lifelong quest to understand the harmonica (and help others do the same) began early on, when he couldn't find a teacher and had to figure everything out the hard way. 

Winslow has authored the books Harmonica For Dummies and Blues Harmonica For Dummies and writes for David Barrett's teaching site bluesharmonica.com. Other notable writing activities include publishing the magazine HIP - The Harmonica Information Publication, transcribing John Popper's harmonica solos for publication, contributing to Howard Levy's Out of the Box instructional DVD and the Howard Levy Harmonica School, and writing a regular column for Mel Bay's online zine HarmonicaSessions.com.

As a performer, Winslow plays nearly every type of harmonica, in addition to composing, arranging and conducting. Currently he performs with in a duo with violinist Tuula Tossavainen, and small acoustic ensembles.
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Winslow currently teaches at the Jazzschool Community Music School in Berkeley, California, (http://cjc.edu) and produces the annual knowledge sharing gatherings of the Harmonica Collective (http://harmonicacollective.com). He has also taught at David Barrett's Harmonica Masterclass and Jon Gindick's Harmonica Jam Camp. 


Winslow is currently president of SPAH, the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica (http://spah.org), which stages an annual summer harmonica festival. He also continues to contribute to the understanding and appreciation of the harmonica through such online forums as Harp-l and Slidemeister.