Subject: [Harp-L] Child-safe but playable harmonica for 4yr old?

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

I have a different take on this. I honestly don't understand 'dumbing-down' 
 musical instruments for small children unless the real ones are terribly  
expensive. Why not simply teach them to respect some Real instruments 
instead,  especially when a harmonica is small enough to be played by a child?
 
I'm not talking off the top of my head - I began playing a real harmonica  
at age 4 (by ear). I had no instructions or instructor but somehow knew  
enough not to treat it as a toy and I never once cut myself (or anyone else) on 
 a sharp edge. At home it was put away each time when not being played. I  
took it to school (began elementary school in Scotland at age 4) and  played 
most days on the playground and with my friends afterwards. I  also studied 
the violin for a brief time and remember carrying my  small chromatic in 
the violin case. At the same time I was taking piano lessons.  I don't recall 
my hands being unable to play piano or hold a harmonica at  age 4 despite 
being a fairly clumsy child otherwise since I was able to  play an entire 
'real' song the first time I picked up a harmonica  (Scotland the Brave) and 
likewise when I sat down at the piano. 
 
My sister and I have surmised my first was probably a small tremolo  
progressing to a double-sided Echo and a 260 Chromatic as I grew up. 
 
Treat it as a toy and it will be. Treat it as a bona fide instrument and it 
 will be thought of as such. :) Four year olds have very fertile, active 
(and  growing) brains which are musically far past nursery rhymes.
 
 
Elizabeth
PS: I would give the child the adapted accordion - making sure she  knows 
it's a real instrument AND buy her a real harmonica as well. Encouraging  
'entranced' could reap major dividends.<G> My .02 cents.
 
"Message: 5
Date: Sun, 11 Sep 2011 18:01:22 -0700
From: Matthew Boris  <matthew_penn@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Child-safe but playable  harmonica for 4yr old?
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>

A friend of mine  plays dulcimer and does Middle Eastern dance, so is very 
interested in  encouraging her kids to make music. She mentioned that her 
4yr old daughter was  really entranced with an older playmate's toy accordion, 
one of those little $20  7-button diatonics made by Hero, Schylling, etc.

I've owned several toy  accordions, and had several fitted out with proper 
reeds (the Irish Dancemaster  workshop does this mod), but suggested that 
for a 4yr old, and with even younger  kids in the house, the keys and bellows 
might get damaged pretty quick. I  suggested instead a harmonica, and I had 
a mental picture of a harmonica I had  as a kid, which I vaguely think was 
Fisher Price, maybe eight holes, and a  rather fat plastic dealie with all 
rounded edges, no easily removable small  parts, etc.

Can anyone recommend such a harmonica that'd be safe for a  house with 
small children? Something where a nut isn't going to come off the  cover, no 
sharp edges, etc. I know there are some cheapie translucent plastic  harmonicas 
that are solid plastic, so those are an option, but if there's  something 
specifically made to be kid-safe (not just cheapie offshore plastic),  plays 
at least okay, and maybe something big/clunky for clumsy little hands,  
that'd be great.

I found one thing that, though not quite what I had as a  kid, seems pretty 
suitable:

Image:  http://i54.tinypic.com/1q30nd.jpg

Hohner Play & Learn, looks to be  smooth, big and fat, etc. Not sure if the 
only one-octave range would be  limiting, or a non-issue at age 4. It's a 
little hard to tell what it's size is,  but it rather looks like it's made to 
be easily played one hole at a  time?

Has anyone given these to any kids, tried one out themselves, any  
opinions?                      

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