COPD360music: Harmonicas for Health

American country music singer and songwriter Chris Janson is a big supporter of Harmonicas for Health and an avid harmonica player. See what Chris has to say about COPD.

Watch for new photos and videos coming soon!

The COPD Foundation is proud to offer the first nationwide harmonica program created especially for individuals with COPD and other chronic lung diseases. This program was developed and launched due with the generous support of ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music.

If you are an individual with COPD or another chronic lung disease, the COPD Foundation COPD360music Harmonicas for Health program can help you:

• Learn how to have better control of your breathing
• Exercise the muscles that help pull air in and push air out of the lungs
• Strengthen abdominal muscles for a more effective cough
• Boost self-confidence, relieve stress
• Socialize with others and have fun
• Experience these reported benefits: decreased shortness of breath, increased sputum mobilization and increased quality of life.

You do not have to be an expert player or have any musical experience to benefit from playing the harmonica. You can take a harmonica anywhere. It’s lightweight and easy to carry. Making music with a harmonica can help you feel better overall, and it is a lot of fun! Click on the images below to view the photo gallery.

Harmonicas for Health Background

Harmonica playing for individuals with COPD and other chronic lung diseases has been in existence for some time. Harmonica materials and methods, however, have most often been inconsistent and piecemeal. There are few, if any simple training materials for starting and managing a harmonica program, no central locations for lung health professionals to consult with one another about harmonica therapy, and no pre-packaged starter kits. Programs are often dependent on a single leader such as a respiratory therapist or other health care professional. If the leader goes on to another job or quits as leader, the program is usually discontinued.

The COPD360music - Harmonicas for Health program changes this by providing training materials and a start-up kit that will allow you, a pulmonary rehabilitation staff member and/or breathing support group leader to offer an effective, engaging and sustainable harmonica program. In addition, we will help establish a solid network of harmonica group leaders to facilitate an exchange of information and peer support.

Kits

Harmonicas for Health kits may be purchased from our online catalogue.

We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of many health care professionals in the development of the COPD360music Harmonicas for Health Program. Their expertise and experience were invaluable in this project. For a full list of credits please visit our Partners and Sponsors page.

We are also grateful to more than 40 individuals impacted by COPD, their family members and caregivers for their enthusiastic participation in the Harmonicas for Health pilots. Their feedback helped make this a great and complete program.