Learn to Play Harmonica from an Expert

Playing the harmonica is a very useful skill that will build your musicianship, improve your mental health and cognitive function, and allow you to build strong connections with other musicians. Here are some of the primary reasons why our team at TakeLessons recommends that you learn to play harmonica.

Why Should I Learn to Play Harmonica?

There are many incredible benefits to learning any instrument, but learning to play the harmonica has a few distinct pros. The first obvious benefit is that harmonicas are extremely affordable when compared to larger instruments like guitars, violins, and pianos, even if you opt for an electric keyboard instead of the real thing.

This means that learning the harmonica is accessible to virtually everyone. Though certain high-end harmonicas can go for several hundred or even over a thousand dollars, you won’t need to worry about paying such a hefty price when you’re just starting out. In fact, starter harmonicas can be found for as low as $12 online or in person at most music stores.

Another benefit to learning the harmonica is its convenient size. Carrying around a hefty case or amplification equipment can be a huge hassle, especially if you enjoy playing music with others or performing live for crowds. The harmonica is small enough to fit in your pocket, yet powerful enough to add its own distinctive touch to any friendly jam or musical performance. Plus, you can make music anywhere with your harmonica, whether you’re at home or on the go.

Taking harmonica lessons is also a great way to boost your mental health and improve all areas of your life. Learning and making music is proven to increase cognitive function and stabilize your mood, leading to more feelings of satisfaction and positivity throughout the day the more time you spend playing your instrument. Plus, when you develop a routine of showing up for yourself by dedicating a certain amount of time per day to playing, you’ll see the effects of this positive practice leak into other areas of your life.

Learn More About the Harmonica with Online Harmonica Lessons

The harmonica as we recognize it today is descended directly from a Chinese instrument called the Sheng. The Sheng was constructed using bamboo reeds and was extremely prominent in the traditional music of ancient Asian cultures.

When the Sheng came over to Europe in the late 1700s, local instrument manufacturers started to experiment with metal replacements for the instrument’s reeds instead of the wood that was used traditionally. This is what brought about the distinct bright, tinny sound that we recognize from the harmonica today.

Harmonicas weren’t mass produced until the early 19th century, when manufacturers in Vienna started to spread the popularity of the instrument throughout Germany and other European countries. Soon after, the harmonica was brought to the United States, where it became a staple in blues and folk music. The harmonica was often used as a tool to solo over blues, folk, and bluegrass bands and became a distinct way for artists to express their emotions and musical ideas.

The modern harmonica boasts a rich history in American music as well as distinct styles throughout the world. One of the most interesting parts of taking harmonica lessons is having the chance to learn more about the history of an instrument, how far it’s come, and why it still matters today. This illuminating information can help to make your musical practice even more special and could even inspire you to create your own distinct styles of playing and performing.

How to Learn to Play Harmonica Using Online Lessons

If you’ve never considered taking online lessons to learn to play harmonica, you could be missing out on an amazing experience that will help you grow as a musician and as a person. Unfortunately, many potential music students who don’t feel that they have the time for in-person lessons will simply put their instrument down altogether and find another hobby.

Additionally, not everyone has the same access to in-person lessons. If you live in a rural area or don’t have personal transportation of your own, it may not be reasonable for you to seek in-person lessons with a harmonica teacher. Luckily, online harmonica lessons offer a solution to all of these problems as well as several distinct benefits for new students.

Taking online lessons allows you to log on the moment your lesson begins and log off as soon as it ends, removing any time that might have been lost while commuting to and from your teacher’s studio. This could mean you have more time to practice your harmonica before your lesson to get ready for your teacher’s critiques, or even more time directly after your lesson to explore the different techniques and concepts you just learned.

Harmonica lessons online with TakeLessons also allow students of varying levels to feel more comfortable with the teaching process. Entering a new teacher’s studio can feel very intimidating, especially for first-time students who don’t have any musical experience. When you learn to play harmonica online, you’ll be able to learn new skills and techniques from the comfort of your home without having to deal with a completely new environment at the same time.

Finding the Right Teacher to Learn to Play Harmonica

Whether you’re learning how to build furniture, learning a new language, or starting harmonica lessons, one common factor is very important: finding the right teacher for you. Even if an online music teacher has a long list of awards, extensive training, and years of experience, you may not learn effectively from the teacher if your personalities clash or you don’t respond well to their teaching method.

At TakeLessons, we know how important it is to your musical journey to get started with a teacher that fits your needs. Beyond personality and teaching methods, it’s important to choose an online instructor that is well-versed in the specific type of music you want to play or is experienced in all styles if you’re not sure what you want to focus on.

If you don’t know anything about harmonica music but know you want to get started on the harmonica, that’s completely okay! Our list of highly qualified harmonica teachers contains several options that are open to exploring your ideas alongside you as they evolve with your skill level. On the flip side, if you have specific goals that you want to achieve with the instrument, we want to provide you with the perfect teacher to reach those goals in the timeframe you desire.

Narrow Down Your Search with the Customizable Search Function

Thoroughly looking through each teacher’s profile on our site can take excessive amounts of time that many busy adults simply don’t have. To make it easier, we offer a customizable search feature on our site that you can use to enter some basic specifications, narrowing down your available pool of teachers instantly.

Some the filters on our search feature include price per lesson, your availability for weekly meetings, your preferred lesson location, and your age or the age of your child if you’re signing them up for lessons. Once you’ve entered in this basic information, you’ll be able to filter out the teachers on TakeLessons that aren’t available on the same days that you are or charge more per lesson than you are able to pay.

If you have a preference for your teacher’s gender, whether or not they’ve received a background check from our site, and whether or not they’re considered a student favorite on TakeLessons, you can check those specifications as well. With all of this information applied, you’ll have a much smaller pool of teachers to choose from that you already know have the same availability as you, charge a manageable rate for your budget, and teach the level or age range you’re looking for.

Get a Feel for Your Teacher’s Style Before You Learn to Play Harmonica

Before you sign up for harmonica lessons and learn to play harmonica with a trained professional, we recommend getting to know your potential teacher. The best way to do this is to read the reviews on their personalized profile left by current and past students. In these reviews, students express the experience they had with the teacher, how effective they think the teacher is, and what their teaching style for harmonica lessons is like.

If you still have questions, you can always reach out to teachers directly. Plus, we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee for all of our new students, so you can rest assured that you’ll love your lesson or receive a full refund.