Summary of my journey

I chose to learn the harmonica because music has always been a part of my life. I wanted something small and portable that I could take to casual settings, especially when sitting around a campfire with friends. Early on, I found it more challenging than I expected. Controlling my breath and producing clear notes required more focus than I thought. I started with beginner videos to build a solid foundation.

Over time, my biggest challenge was not the instrument itself but finding time to practice. School, work, and other responsibilities made it hard to stay consistent. This was frustrating, especially since I knew progress depended on practice. Still, I had moments that reminded me why I started, like finding an old video of myself as a kid playing the harmonica. It helped me stay connected to my goal.

When I practiced, I noticed small improvements. I worked on a simplified version of The House of the Rising Sun and began to understand note placement and rhythm. Transitions were still tough, but I could follow along and keep up with parts of the song. By the end, I had a better grasp of the instrument and what it takes to improve, even though I was still in the early stages.

Now that the semester has ended, I didn’t reach my goal of playing with confidence and learning to play an entire song. However, I do feel better knowing I understand how to play at a basic level. I plan to keep working on it. I want to keep learning and enjoy playing during simple moments, especially sitting by a campfire and just having fun. This was a great opportunity and I really enjoyed it, but if I were to send a message back to myself, id say to reduce expectations and many course load a bit better.