The harmonica is a great instrument for children to start with even from a young age. Harmonicas are affordable and fairly simple to use at the basic level. Learning the harmonica will teach basic music theory and the idea of reading music. It can also give a child a great sense of accomplishment after playing the first song. After learning the harmonica, it will be easier to transition into playing other instruments, such as the piano and guitar.
Instructions
Playing the Harmonica
1. Buy a basic 10 hole harmonica in the key of "C." If your child is under 5, you may want to get a starter harmonica, which has fewer holes, making it easier for them to play one note at a time. A starter harmonica may have as few as four holes.
2. Hold the harmonica with two hands, one on each side of the harmonica. Four fingers on each hand will be on the top of the harmonica and only the thumbs below.
3. Pucker your mouth, making a small hole with your lips, and blow into a single hole on the harmonica to play a single note. Practice playing single notes. Start from one end of the harmonica, and blow into one hole at a time, going up in the scale. Experiment with going up and down the harmonica, and with playing random notes.
4. Try playing a song made up of single notes. You can find music on the Internet, or buy a music book specifically for harmonicas at a music store. The music may be labeled with numbers, referring to a corresponding hole on the harmonica, or it might have a letter that corresponds to a hole. Memorize which hole plays which note. Once you learn the song, try playing it from memory.
