Between the Ears: School for Harmonicas

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BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

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Between the Ears

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Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Innovative and thought-provoking features on a wide variety of subjects

Innovative and thought-provoking features that make adventurous use of sound and explore a wide variety of subjects. Made by leading radio producers.

School for Harmonicas

BBC Radio 3 - Between the Ears, School for Harmonicas

The best harmonica impression of a train you will ever hear - no question.

Kim Addonizio meets the world's top blues harmonica aficionados in the capital city of 'harps' - where the streets echo with the sound of the small organ with a big noise. 

Imagine a town of harmonica players; sounds a bit surreal?

Now 'Between the Ears' gives listeners a chance to hear the harmonica as a truly virtuoso instrument, always an instrument of the people - portable, affordable and playable. Acclaimed poet Kim Addonizio turns harmonica student, heading to blues school with pen, mouth, and a stack of harps at the ready, in search of the sweetest sounds.
 
Trossingen in Germany may be the world capital of harmonicas. Every street echoes to the sound of the harp, and even the downtown hotel is part of the old Hohner Factory. This is where you will find the true aficionados, the hard-core addicts, who come to have lessons with the top players.

Kim learns riffs from the world’s top ‘harp’ teachers, Dave Barrett, Steve Baker and Joe Filisko - who customizes harps for  such as Neil Young, blues great Kim Wilson, and jazz phenomenon Howard Levy, and who she wants to persuade to accompany her on his magical harp.

She also dreams of being the first woman to jam on stage at the Blues conference... so will her dreams become reality?

Producer: Sara Jane Hall


Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

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