At the Rolling Stones concert, while Mick Jagger was playing the harmonica, I turned to Steven and said “I think I could play the harmonica!”

He quickly responded with, “I think anyone can play the harmonica.” Ha, ha ha ha. Okay true.

So I told him, “I think I could play the harmonica well.” I understand rhythm and can read music (I played violin for nine years) so I have this (very likely misguided) belief that I can learn musical instruments if I make an effort and practice. I’d really love to learn piano, but those are expensive and take up a lot of space. A harmonica is neither of those! AND IT’S SO PORTABLE!

Hence, he got us harmonicas for my birthday (so we can learn together)!

Here’s a thing you may know about harmonicas but we didn’t – that both exhaling and inhaling on the holes produces different notes. We had no clue (edited, that it played different notes). So that shows you the super basic level we are starting at! So far we’ve been practicing playing single notes (versus chords, which is what you naturally play if you don’t pucker your lips and block the other note holes) and are learning “Happy Birthday” so we can play it for Rachel and Kim this weekend.

After this weekend, who knows what we’ll do next!!! (I’d like to read more about the harmonica, and find an online video series to learn, or an actual instructor.)

I thought the cats would hate the harmonica, but they are okay with it. Starbuck was even purring and being all cuddly last night in bed while we practiced!

They really hate the kazoo though.

Ha, I wrote on Instagram that this was Apollo’s reaction when I play the harmonica but LIES – it’s his kazoo reaction.