HARMONICA THERAPY - Notes Behind the Reed w/ George Hunt

For the last 5 years I have had the pleasure of being an instructor at Cox South for Harmonica Therapy. This is to help COPD and lung issues. This is a 60-minute class. This takes place in the Pulmonary Rehab 3rd floor of the Wheeler building. Some who come to the class are patients of the Rehab. Some people have come to learn some harmonica. Carolyn Beard is in charge of the Rehab. She went to a seminar that talked about the health benefits of blowing and drawing a harmonica. She started the Harmonica Therapy. This has been a rewarding in a lot of ways. The class was surveyed for six months and all participants oxygen level would rise within the hour. I have met some really great people. Every Christmas we go to the lobbies of the Wheeler and Hulston Cancer Center. We sit and play Christmas songs as people are coming and going. They often stop to listen and even applaud. Most of the class has never played in front of people. What a great experience. Last year a lady who just had a doctor's appointment was sitting in the lobby where we were playing. She started singing with our songs. She had a voice of an angel. It sounded so good in the echoey room. When people enjoy or join in with your music it is a blessing. When Covid started we had to cancel class, of course. I have given harmonicas to several family and friends with Covid or other medial issues. They told me blowing on the harmonica really helped them feel better and they could feel a difference in their lungs. If anyone has breathing problems breathing during this time. Contact me or buy a harmonica and I will get some songs for you to play. The harmonica tab as it is called. It has numbers of which hole to play. An arrow tells you if you blow or draw. It is fun and you might become good, you never know.

George Hunt... georgehuntbluesman@hotmail.com