Got my grandkids a couple inexpensive harmonicas and signed into the website. He refers to JP as "That cool guy"  ....

006

  I was searching You Tube for kids playing harmonica to show my Grandson and ran across this- thought I'd share.. kid has a good ear!...

5 year old harmonica player with a perfect ear

 And here is another that is a good player...

9 YEAR OLD STIRS UP MADNESS AT SCHOOL.

 I bought a couple cheep harmonicas on Amazon for my grand kids (5 and 9). I will teach them the basics that I have learned when I go up to visit next weekend (Thanksgiving). If my Daughter-in-law makes a video I will share it with you all. I tried them both out. They are a little difficult . The plastic one has texture which makes it difficult to slide your lips across because it isn't smooth. The one I got my grandson you can hear air escaping, so now I know what they mean by being "air tight". If he  seems to enjoy it I will get him a better one later on.

 I ordered a colored plastic one for my Grand daughter a few days ago. The postage was more than the harmonica, about a buck 25. I got a $6 one for my Grandson who is 9.
Here is a link to the plastic ones-
http://www.amazon.com/Hohner-Kids-Colorful-Translucent-Harmonica/dp/B000XDSWRC/ref=sr_1_6?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1289658457&sr=1-6

http://www.amazon.com/Toysmith-Translucent-Harmonica-8071-Colors/dp/B003TWP3US/ref=sr_1_5?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1289658292&sr=1-5


http://www.amazon.com/SmallToys-12-Harmonica/dp/B002BTT36K/ref=sr_1_7?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1289658292&sr=1-7


  You might contact the dealer and tell him what you plan to do, maybe they would give you a discount if you buy in bulk. Can't hurt to ask.

[3 months]

    Here it is, the most recent video of Andy / 3 months ago...
  The traffic in the background overpowers his talking a bit.

      

Andy Mackie: Leaving town

11 months ago

Good News - Meet Andy Mackie

Andy Mackie's 6 string...

Andy Mackie 6 string

http://andymackiemusic.org/services.html  ....


By Katey Dwyer
A man named Andy Mackie found his way into my heart. Ten years ago, his life was blighted by a life threatening diagnosis. But one day he stopped picking up his medications and decided that a child and music are more beautiful than avoiding death. Andy used all the money to fund music programs. He began building instruments and providing free lessons to any child that had a passion to learn, even those who didn’t.
 
I began teaching for Andy Mackie about six months ago for my senior project. Every Friday at 3:30, I walk through the library doors to find ten little girls waiting with eager eyes. Their little hands grab mine and drag me across the room, “I found her! Here she is!!” They run over with their fiddles ready for me to tune and hang on me telling me everything about their days.
 
I’ve taught them songs that I remember learning at their age, such as: Boil Them Cabbages Down, Happy Birthday, Hot Cross Buns, Old Joe Clark, Cripple Creek… even Road to Lystenvarna (their favorite). Every week they beg me until I play the song and they sit quiet as still water, barely breathing, eyes wide open. To say the least, the girls have grown on me. It began with graduation requirements but after they wanted me to be their friend: I realized I’m a special role model. I’m giving them the opportunity to play music, which is something amazing at any age. At times they slip and call me “mom” but generally stick with “Kaaaatey” or “our sister.”
 
CBS heard of Andy Mackie’s endeavors and flew out from New York to hear his story. The crew came in and filmed my class. I was so nervous that the girls would become hyperactive and hard to control. Fortunately, it was a very large camera and the girls all became unnervingly quiet. The youngest and smallest of the girls, Kathryn (age five), clung to my leg and wouldn't let go. All together, it went well. The look in Andy’s eyes made all the nervousness and sweat worth it.
 
Last night there was a show at the Upstage that was filmed as well. Andy played host and I’ve never seen the restaurant so packed. He’s hanging on to life and to see him that happy was a turning point for me. He is completely selfless. His one wish is for children to have the gift of music in their laps. As I walked in the door and worked my way through the people, his face lit up as we met eyes. He pulled me off to the side, “You know what this is all about right?” I paused uncertainly. “I’m giving you a scholarship to go to college, Katey.” From a man that has nothing but an old soul filled with country music and love, it knocked me over. I threw my arms around him and thanked him. He laughed, his eyes dancing. A guitarist nearby, who calls me “The Queen” called out, “Girl, you’re getttin’ a feather and it knocks you down!”
 
Andy played the harp on an old country song with lyrics that sang, "...when I die bury me low…" all I could do was sit there, tears running down my face. It was dead quiet in the room. All petty worries quickly vanished. After he finished, the whole place exploded with applause. Everyone hollered and whistled and his cloudy eyes slanted as he gave a big smile. I went on stage with him and played along with kids ranging from 2nd grade to 8th. He had given me the music of the two songs but I can’t read music. “You’ll do fine,” he said with a wink. And, I did

[Andy@AndyMackieMusic.org]

  E-mail the foundation -
Andy@AndyMackieMusic.org

   Maybe they would sell you one so they can buy more harmonicas with the $. I had thought of getting a couple myself for my Grand Kids but haven't followed through. Let me know if they sell you one and how much they ask.

[http://andymackiemusic.org/index.html]

 
   Maybe you could team with them....

   The Andy Mackie Foundation provides Free Instruments, Free Lessons and Scholarships to any child who wants to learn. He has helped more than 1000 children learn to play stringed instruments which he builds in his shop, taught more than 12,000 children to play harmonica and given over 75 scholarships to graduating seniors.

At Fiddle Tunes, Andy had a workshop booth that allowed kids to build their own instruments and learn how to play them. Next fall, Chimacum High School may launch a nationwide instrument/instructional model program funded by a private donor that will be a giant step toward achieving Andy's dream of providing children opportunities to learn to play music.
                                      http://andymackiemusic.org/index.html

Fiddle Tunes: Andy Mackie Talks About New Fall Music Program At Chimacum High School #fiddletunes09

  There are a lot of them of him on you tube. The most recent one I had found was made about 2-3 months ago, I couldn't find it again last night tho. It was another news report. His health was getting worse and he had to pack up and move back east somewhere to live with his daughter. Also he had 2 more heart operations! He can still be contacted through e-mail though. And he found someone to take over running his Foundation.

  When I was first  searching for Harmonica Lessons I ran across this story.
Wondered if any of you have seen it. I thought his story is amazing and what a wonderful gift he brought to so many..

Meet The Harmonica Man

Fiddle Tunes: Andy Mackie Talks About New Fall Music Program At Chimacum High School #fiddletunes09

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=226215182456#!/topic.php?uid=226215182456&topic=11290


  Also found this person on you tube, She plays very well , I like to listen to her play. She has 192 videos on you tube.
  ...http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=christellester#p/u/0/YrekUv4b6tU

http://www.lharmonica.com/lharmonica.com/Main_Page.html

Thanks for the quick reply

http://www.amazon.com/Hohner-Special-Twenty-Harmonica-Key/dp/B002B55TSA/ref=sr_1_8?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1289527355&sr=1-8

 Is this the one I should get? There are different "Special 20's" so I am not sure which is the recommended one.

 Thanks Joe.
 Stay tuned, I will be trying it out on horseback Saturday

 

  Ok, here it is after exactly 1 week of practice.. don't laugh

  Thanks jp.
   I am doing good with the single notes but bending and the 2 hole draw I am finding to be quite challenging. I will have to find someone to show me. I live in a small town that doubles in size in the winter with the winter visitors. We are only 40 minutes from Quartzite. Anyway there are a lot of Jazz players who get together and play once a week. Eventually I might break down and seek their guidance. There has to be at least one who plays harmonica- I hope.

  I will have someone take a video if me playing on the trail Saturday.

JoAnn

Thanks Paul, I'll take a look and refill the ink in my printer Lol.

  I have Shenandoah almost completely memorized now, next I want to add "Home on the Range" to my long term memory so I'll have at least a couple to play on the trail when we ride next Saturday. If someone takes a video I'll put it on you tube and share- if they don't hassle me about copyrights  Lol.

  Thanks, I bookmarked Harmonica Academy.  And thanks for the audio clip, very nicely done, did you do that?

 And Joe, thanks for the video

 Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

  I live in Salome. We are 60 miles West of Wickenburg on Hwy 60. They hold a fiddlers Jam 3 times a year just down the road from us. Their first one is/was this weekend. There are about 30 RV's parked in an empty lot across the street from the Lions Club where they hold it. You could probably bet money that I'd find someone there that knows harmonica but I am too shy to go up to strangers and ask for help.   http://www.azoutback.com/fiddling.htm
  There will be 2 more , in January and April.

   I went to Amazon to look up my buying history and it says I paid $25. for the Harmonica but on my debt card they only charged me $9.99 so maybe I had some discount I didn't know about. I'll have to see if I can find the invoice. Sorry bout that you guys- to get your hopes up 

  Now I put the Hohner Special 20 Major Diatonic Harmonica on my "wish list". ($31.99) What key do I want that in? C? It will be awhile till I can get it. First I want to save for the pair of "Getting ready for the Campfire CD's" ??  I can't find the page to get the correct name. They are like $29.00 or $39. I don't remember where I seen them and cant find them now.

  Yes I have signed up for the e-mail lessons and there are other free lessons on another site as well. And I have found other harmonica hobbyists that make their own you tube how to clips. I dig for all the free internet information I can find. I also saved many song tabs and printed them to study. I also got a beginners book on Amazon which after studying so much on the internet before it came in the mail most of the instruction is just review. There are songs in it as well. I do want to learn notes though and not have to only rely on the #'s and arrows but I do like them the best to practice and memorize songs. I practice at least an hour a day and don't even have to push myself to do it. I am driven to learn some songs by heart to be able to play during our trail rides.

   I enjoy making videos out of our rides.( I combine my Equine and photography passions that way)  I also keep a ride Journal on Blogger.com.  http://az-equine-trailridingjournal.blogspot.com/

  Here is another video I made from a ride we did a year ago. The song is one provided from You Tube but I haven't been able to find the name of the song or the artist. I really enjoy listening to it...
 

11 1 09 Verde River Ride

 Oh and I made this one for "Longrider" Bernice Ende-

Bernice Ende - 3000 Mile Long Ride

   She came through Salome 2 years ago and she stayed one night at our home. The next 2 days as she headed towards Phoenix I drove water and food out to her and made several video clips of her going down the road. I originally put "Free and Easy" with the video I peaced together but you know You tube-- Had to change the audio track. Sadly, earlier this year the horse she was riding broke her leg in a freak accident and had to be put down. Bernice almost threw in the towel on her 7000 ride but someone donated her a replacement horse so she continued with her ride. I still keep updated with her ride and keep in touch with her. I have met 4 equestrian Long Riders within 5 years as their routes came through Salome and I stay in touch with all of them. We get hundreds of bicyclists through here too. I only host the equestrian travelers though. I hope to do my own long ride someday but I think I have already gotten too far off topic so I won't get into that right now

  I will be going on a trail ride Saturday, next weekend with a couple friends and hope to have at least 2 songs memorized. I can do Shenandoah all the way through without looking at the tabs but I still slip up a lot. I hope to have it down by next weekend. I made a couple videos and showed them to my son's girlfriend and got encouragement. She suggested I teach my Grand kids.

  I do have one question for you people. What is the best way to clean a harmonica? Is it safe to run hot soapy water through it than use a blow-dryer to dry it? Would that work or is there a better way?

  Thanks again for the warm welcome and I will visit here often to learn.

JoAnn

  

Hi, My name is JoAnn. I was raised in Oregon but have lived in Arizona now for 13 years.
 I am Married, 48, and have 3 grown sons and 2 grandchildren.
 My passions are horses and photography.

  

  I own 2 horses and do quite a bit of trail riding throughout our mild winter weather.

  I had thought about learning the harmonica off and on for several years but didn't take the time to look into it until last weekend. After a little research I decided on a Lee Oscar "C" Harmonica.
I got it for about $10. from Amazon. It arrived in the mail less than one week ago.

  My goal is to learn how to play good enough to play songs during our trail rides in the desert.

(Embedding disabled, limit reached)

  I have been trying to learn the basics from all the free instructional videos on the on the internet I can find. Would love to purchase instructional DVD's but the cost of feeding dogs, cats, chickens and horses and a 4x4 pickup doesn't leave me with much. I am hoping to eventually find some good used DVD's .

   Meanwhile I am practicing at least an hour a day. Sometimes 2 or 3! There are a lot of trail rides ahead and I want to have at least a few memorized. I hope to play it at our campfires as well.

   Anyway, that is who I am and my long term goals.

  If anyone knows anyone who is selling gently used DVD's please do pass on information to me. I can't afford much more than one or two at a time.

Thanks