Harmonica playing benefits

Have just ordered a harmonica - makes good sense and something to do with hands not smoking

see

youtube.com/watch?v=91F9Dri...(Not working as expected?)

and

youtube.com/watch?v=THv0FZZ...(Not working as expected?)

[Davybaby]

Great idea Julie, long time since I played a gob organ LOL............I've got a spacer that makes a similar sound.

BW

Dave

[pedantic]

thanks julie for sharing this with us all x

[tyran57]

hi, dont know if i fancy playing the harmonica its not an instrument ive ever been particularly fond of but i sing!! a lot and loud and unfortunately for the neighbours i cant sing in tune but i read that singing is good for respiritory problems and there was a choir started somewhere (cant remember where it was ) so i dont care what the neighbours think if it helps me !!! perhaps i should move to a remote cottage somewhere lol !! sandra

[Hidden in reply to tyran57]

Not as bad as I was Tyran when I purchased a book for guitar with Spanish-language songs, of which I knew not a word but merrily did sing it all:

Yo Soy Un Ombre Sincero Mi In-spi-ra-shun

and so forth

reading it like it was English, at least a few listeners has a laugh (secretly: I took myself seriously though).

[Hidden]

Well done for posting this Julie, I have a harmonica already, there are lots of free lessons on line, but I find just practising the breathing very beneficial, good breathing exercises for improving the inward and outward breath. Its a good de stresser too, lying on the bed practising with the harmonica, 3 exhale notes and three inhale notes, you can alternate as you wish (2 in 4 out breaths etc moving position on the harmonic scales) I find a tune comes automatically when you start experimenting with inward and outward breathing rhythms.

Have Fun

[Hidden]

Maybe we should set up a band of harmonicas and singers

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I think there is one already set up but can't remember now if it is a UK or US copd harmonica group. If find it will post link x

I guess if we all followed the same harmonic exercise programme and worked on same tunes we might get ourselves on the royal variety performance ..jus jesting.

[Hidden]

Good idea Julie, I'll be visiting the land of my ancestors soon, or do ancestors have to be thousands of years old before you can refer to them as ancestors.

My forebearst then, Wales that is from wherefrom they didst hail.

I do play ye olde mouth harmonicary, our Monica wasn't too bad at it either but me, I played it in a thing for around your neck, and with guitar, could get quite carried away when you suddenly found something that seemed to be in tune, afraid to veer off from it as it might go all bossom uply-ville.

This is the one song that got me going, by Mr Neil Young who is rather ol thse days but young at heart!

Out on the Weekend

Think I'll pack it in and buy a pickup, take it down to LA

Find a place to call my own and try to fix up

Start a brand new day

The woman I'm thinking of

she loves me all up

But I'm so down today

She's so fine she's in my mind

I hear her calling somewhere in the haste/haze

(in comes Our Monica)

She's got pictures on the wall they make me look up

from her big brass bed

But now I'm running down the road

Trying to stay up

Somewhere in her head

(Our Monica comes in again)

See the lonely boy

Out on the weekend

Trying to make it pay

Can't relate to joy

He tries to speak and

Can't begin to say

(Lovely lass, our Monica, comes in for the last time)

[Hidden]

Here is the video:

vimeo.com/18100165

A science daily article with video:

sciencedaily.com/videos/200...

Successful COPD Breathing Therapy: Playing the Harmonica!

elcaminohospital.org/About_...

So what will we call our Band ?

'Breathing Harmonics' maybe...

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

thanks Zoe

we should get that guy who links people singing all over the world - we could have international Breathing Harmonics

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

International Breathing Harmonics the skies the limit Julie

My first composition......

Puffing away on my puffing machine

awakening to the harmonica's dream......

[cofdrop-UK]

I've got a harmonica - brilliant part of my 'getting the gunk up' regime. ~Still do physy but the harmonica is fun. Loads of easy to follow books as well as online. Have to say I struggle if there are a few draw breaths straight after one another!

[Hidden]

am really happy with my harmonica.... just got my first book - for absolute beginners ... perfect