WHY A "MEDICAL HARMONICA"?
- Traditional harmonica teaching methods did not achieve the pulmonary (lung) effects that were hoped for.
- Traditional harmonica teaching methods resulted in“technique frustrations” in the patient population.
- A totally new “medical harmonica" was designed that:
• Is much easier to play for beginners (a regular harmonica requires single notes to be
• Provides a better pulmonary challenge. • Maintains a high level of musicality. |
The medical harmonica was designed to create physiological lung challenge while still providing pleasing musicality. It was designed for non-musicians, non-harmonica players and essentially those that consider themselves musically hopeless. At the same time however, it is a valuable musical instrument in it's own right. Some of the greatest harmonica players in the world use it to make music! The standard 10-hole harmonica was designed to play single note melodies, which presents the player with 20 options (10 holes inhaling and exhaling).
Furthermore, playing single notes is difficult for beginners, as channeling air from a relatively large mouth into the tiny holes on a harmonica is challenging and many players abandon the instrument before they master it. The medical harmonica, on the other hand, is designed to play chords (three or more notes simultaneously) presenting the player with essentially 4 options (left and right side, inhaling and exhaling), without the challenge of achieving single notes. In that way, playing multiple notes simultaneously enhances the pulmonary (lung) challenge, and is easier to play compared to the traditional harmonica using traditional methods.
Furthermore, playing single notes is difficult for beginners, as channeling air from a relatively large mouth into the tiny holes on a harmonica is challenging and many players abandon the instrument before they master it. The medical harmonica, on the other hand, is designed to play chords (three or more notes simultaneously) presenting the player with essentially 4 options (left and right side, inhaling and exhaling), without the challenge of achieving single notes. In that way, playing multiple notes simultaneously enhances the pulmonary (lung) challenge, and is easier to play compared to the traditional harmonica using traditional methods.