COPD patients learn to play the harmonica as part of their respiratory therapy at Allegheny Health Network. Providers say making music is an engaging way to teach breathing techniques.

Then, in 2023, Lee joined the center's harmonica class, in which she and her classmates repeatedly practiced "The Star-Spangled Banner." "We have a weekly practice that's one or two hours," Lee said.

One of the most versatile harmonica players in pop history is Stevie Wonder, shown here in Paris in 1963 at age 13. Charley Ley / Mirrorpix Many harmonica histories begin around 1100 B.C. with the ...

Pete DuPré, a U.S. Army veteran, is known as "Harmonica Pete." It is hard to upstage the superstars of the U.S. Women’s National Team but a 96-year-old World War II veteran armed only with a ...

Harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy found that by blowing a little too hard into his instrument, he could conjure notes it was never made to play. "And it freaked me out, I have to tell you," he says.

Filmmaker Marc Lempert's documentary traces the history of the harmonica and its greatest players, living and dead. Along with Magic Dick of The J. Geils Band, he explores the instrument, its ...

Mad Dog demonstrated some basic harmonica techniques to the patients. Loretta Garcia, 55, laughed and cried out to him, “Mine doesn’t sound like yours.” Mad Dog laughed in return.