Dear Xeno,

Maybe the following papers will help you:

Chivington KJ. The Effects of Music Therapy and Harmonica with Pediatriac Patients Admitted for Respiratory Issues. FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC [Thesis]. 2016. http://fsu.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fsu:360333/datastream/PDF/download/citation.pdf

Alexander JL, Wagner CL. Is harmonica playing an effective adjunct therapy to pulmonary rehabilitation? Rehabil Nurs 2012;37(4):207-12. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228088857_Is_Harmonica_Playing_an_Effective_Adjunct_Therapy_to_Pulmonary_Rehabilitation

Dehtiar H, Morvak J, et al. Effects of Harmonica Playing on Pulmonary Rehabilitation Status. Department of Music and Theatre Arts, University of Wisconsin. 2009. https://minds.wisconsin.edu/bitstream/handle/1793/31915/DehtiarSpr08.pdf?sequence=1

Best wishes from Germany,

Martin

Thank you Martin -- confirmed there is not much, but I will have to look at the Chivington 2016 thesis, I had previously thought it would not be of much use. I have been teaching harmonica in an Aphasia Treatment Program for 2+ years; and we are beginning to write up some preliminary research. Here is a news media items on it:

https://www.ebtoday.com/stories/striking-a-new-note

Nice to get help from the harmonica motherland!

Dear Xeno,

Garrett A. Breathing in Harmony: An Assessment of Unique Inspiratory Muscle Training Techniques Utilized by Patients with COPD. Ball State University Muncie, Indiana [Thesis]. May 2016. https://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/bitstream/handle/123456789/200467/A376_2016GarrettAllyson-opt.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Miller S. A Comparison of COPD Patients’ Quality of Life Using the Harmonica as a Means of Pulmonary Rehabilitation. 2012. http://www.nursinglibrary.org/vhl/handle/10755/201965

Prosek J. Try a New Approach: Using German Practice in Harmonica Education. Music Educators Journal 2016;103(2):53-57. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0027432116670460

Millot L, Cuesta Ch, Valette C. Experimental Results when Playing Chromatically on a Diatonic Harmonica. Acta Acustica united with Acustica 2001;87(2):262-270. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233608692_Experimental_Results_when_Playing_Chromatically_on_a_Diatonic_Harmonica

All the best for Christmas,

Martin

I don't know of any to be of much help, but I do think it's an interesting area for reserach as an Occupational Therapy student and Blues Harmonica player myself. There is some evidence on music and occupation of course as a broader topic, but it's great that you are doing something specific. I wish you all the best with your research. Kind regards, Simon

Thank you Simon! I am developing some materials designed to provide easy access and the "communication ramp" required for Aphasia - we are going on 4 years teaching a sub-set of The Aphasia Tones (TM) choir. It has dawned on me this might a very good access point for anyone looking to learn or just enjoy making music 'late in life', with minimal music expertise and/or as part of a rehab plan. [If I can make headway here, I will move on to drum circle style rhythm facilitation; and/or possibly ukelele seeking the easiest and most adaptable entry into music for elders or anyone with disability, etc.] At risk of rambling - but some background: Personally, I learned harmonica because I broke my knee at age 27, PhD fresh in hand (ending my hopes for a run at gentleman's/Masters bike racing). Harmonica was the rehab to heal my broken spirit. If you have any interest in the project, keep in touch, one of my partners in creating the materials is Tomlin Leckie, based in Edinburgh; After lots of screening; I am taking his well-structured basic harp e-learning program just to learn his approach and see what materials would be most useful for our application, he has a psych background and is interested in the rehab application. Another inspirational and educational model for me is David Harp who does "Harmonica and Mindfulness Breathing" workshops, a bit more spiritual and meditative, he has taught millions of people meditation, mindfulness and/or harmonica - but does hold formal training in psych, though he operates more in the human potential movement outside of academia.