Again, just follow the arrows. Up is blow. Down is draw. Horizontal is a bend.

Learn to play crossharp by following along!

I am an American from the land of hope and sorrow
Remembering September 12th ten years ago tomorrow.

The quiet in the sky was a wound still fresh and open
The shock and awe had left us a silence still unbroken.

Ten years have passed and yet I live and yet am I to die,
Yet I will always remember that quiet in the sky.

Jim McLean
September 11, 2011

When I grew up, my dad had a dream for me—that I would become the next piano prodigy. Problem was, he never played an instrument. In fact, he listened to very little music, himself. 

Naturally, he never got his dream. I never glommed onto the whole piano-playing thing. Instead, I grew up to be a harmonica player. 

Flash ahead a million years... Now, I've got kids of my own, both of whom are fine musicians. But I never said a word to them about playing an instrument. What did I do, instead?

I modeled music-making. The whole time they were growing up I was walking around harpdoodling all the live long day (and night) on my harmonica. Result: My kids just grew up naturally believing that playing some kind of musical instrument was something one just does. 

It was a natural evolution.

So one day, one of my kids said, "I want to play violin." 

"OK, great!" I said. 

And she's playing still. 

The other child followed suit. Naturally. She actually does play the piano, and quite well, I might add.

Moral of the story: It's not important how well you play. The important thing is to play. Your kids will model their behavior after yours. Try it and let me know how it works!

If you're a harmonica player with a professional act—or even if you're not!—you might be interested in the SoulFlash. It's a 4GB flash drive in the shape of a harmonica. Got plenty of space for autographing so would make a great vehicle for your latest release... Check it out and shoot me a note here if you're interested in the SoulFlash in quantity. Lanyard is my own in pic.

Have you seen this video from "To Tell The Truth?" The hero here was important in the evolution of the harmonica into what it is today.