RE: playing harp as a kid (was: Howard Levy in the school system)

[Douglas Tate <douglas.tate@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The 'speedy' harmonica (also called Rainbow) is an ideal instrument for 
starting children playing harmonica in schools.
Contrary to popular belief most kids are very happy learning to play simple 
tunes, they don't need or want the sophistication of bending and playing 
complex stuff.   In most cases it is a great introduction to music!

I would agree that you shouldn't go past 2-3 months with it, but by that 
time they know whether they want to go on with playing harmonica, they 
don't want anything to do with music, or they want to explore some other 
avenue in music.

At that point something like the Chrometta 8 is wonderful.  If the kids 
have done a concert by that time in school it is a great persuader for 
parental involvement with the school helping out in needy cases.

Going onto the chromatic instrument allows them to be a part of the general 
musical life of the school.  At a later date the harmonica group (bass 
chords etc) or diatonic blues ( to give it a generalised name) can also be 
appropriate. However, the integration of the harmonica playing kids as an 
integral part of school music rather than tagged on the periphery is a much 
more satisfying aim in my opinion

Douglas t