Playing harmonica

“When I picked up the harmonica, it became clear that in order to play, I needed breath. The thought came to me that quitting smoking would increase my capabilities on the harmonica. The thought also came to me that picking up the harmonica instead of a cigarette would provide the perfect distraction for something to do with the idle hands and mouth of someone trying to break the smoking habit. So far, I have been successful on all counts. As of this writing, I have not had a cigarette for just over 8 weeks and have made great strides in my efforts to play the harmonica. I just wanted to let you know this in the event it may help other students and potential students in a similar situation. I might, literally, owe my life to the harmonica.”

“The first time I played harmonica in front of an audience I was hosting an open mic (subbing for the regular hosts who were out of town). I was a nervous blurr of energy. The riff I played was a literal joke... basically I told the crowd I was going to be playing a piece I was writing while the next performer came up and I played one really bluesy note and told them I would come back and play more when I wrote the rest. The next time I played live I played happy birthday for a friend and was so nervous (despite being a decent public speaker) that I forgot to tell the crowd my friend's name and played so fast they couldn't have sung along even if they'd tried, unless maybe they were auctioneers.”

“I had a few false starts. My grandmother brought back a Blessing Tremolo from a vacation in China. I learned to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (I remembered the notes from playing it on baritone tuba in band). That's about as far as I got. Then a few years later my friend had a band. [...] I bought a Blues Harp and was practicing a little, but not making much progress and wasn't enjoying myself. The band broke up. Years later I still wanted to be able to write out music so that I could write down my songs. I'd tried guitar and piano but I've had a long history of tendonitis issues in my wrists. I saw harmonica was supposed to be good for asthma too, so I gave it a try. I bought some cheap Piedmonts (all I could afford). I had a history of getting frustrated and had always hated the formal lessons in band in school so I decided I'd just make noise for a few months and try to make up songs.”