[Alan Brinton]

Billy,

I have a couple of questions:

1. I notice that you use the extended tube while playing two-handedly. How much does your technique depend on using the tube? Are you able to play without it?
2. Can you tell us a bit about the kind of strap you use and how you use it? In one video it looks as though you just have the strap connected to the mouthpiece end and the melodica is hanging down and resting against your chest. How necessary is the strap to your technique? Can you play without a strap?
3. Have you tried playing without a strap or tube, sitting down, with the bottom end of the melodica resting on your knee and the mouthpiece on your mouth stabilizing the top end? (For me this would work best with a 32 key melodica.)

I’m curious. I have not made a serious effort to play with two hands, but I’d like to try it without a strap or tube.

I especially like your performance of Yusuke’s Funeral, a piece that was not familiar to me. I think it would be nice if the chords played with the left hand were at a lower volume than the melody with the right hand. But this doesn’t seem possible on a melodica.

Alan