Music Scene
In harmony with their harmonicas

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Staff Writer

Robert Mau of Kaimuki keeps an eye on the conductor while practicing on his harmonica. Members of the Honbushin Harmonica Band, Ichigu Harmonica Band and the Small World Harmonica Band were practicing last Sunday at the Honbushin International Center for their upcoming recital at Tenney Theatre. The harmonica clubs perform frequently at nursing homes and centers for the elderly. All of the bands' members are 50 years old or older. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

"It's very unusual to find a youngster below age 50 playing the harmonica," laughs Omura, himself a full day shy of 69. "The harmonica is not popular with young kids today. It went out when all this electronic stuff came out ... radios, tape recorders."

Omura is conductor of Moanalua Community Park Recreation Center's Small World Harmonica Band. The group will be joining friends from Mililani's Honbushin International Center Harmonica Band and Tendai Mission of Hawaii's Ichigu Harmonica Band at St. Andrew's Tenney Theatre for a varied song program that would likely make even resident Blues Traveler master harpist John Popper stand up and take notice.

"Most of us learned to play when we were kids," says Omura, who grew up in the Big Island sugar town of Hawi. "Everyone had these 50-cent Marine Band Hohner harmonicas with 10 holes, which could only play about 20 notes. We carried them around as toys right before World War II."

The senior musicians' top harp choice may have changed since then — participants now sport tremelo double harp reed harmonicas with up to 28 holes, capable of 52 notes — but their mission remains making new friends and having some good ol' small-kid-time fun.

"New folks all come in as strangers, but once they get to know everyone well, it becomes a great social gathering," Omura says of beginning students.

Besides gathering for the annual recital, members of all three bands — most of whom mastered the craft by ear rather than by learning to read music — keep themselves sonically sharp by attending weekly practices and performing at O'ahu nursing homes and senior clubs up to six times a month. The performances also serve to attract new members to the fold.

"The intent of mixing all three groups together is for everyone to get to know each other better," Omura says of this weekend's recital. "We have refreshments and parties afterward, and people get a chance to loosen up."

Omura boasts that his Small Worlders are now versed in a growing repertoire of more than 300 songs ranging from plantation camp favorites to Americana to Elton John — some of which they'll show off Saturday.

"My problem nowadays is I never have enough time to practice," says Omura, who divides his time between another beloved activity: swimming. "My wife is always asking me, 'When are you gonna practice?' "

Watanuki Music Club Harmonica Festival

2-4 p.m. Saturday

Tenney Theatre, St. Andrew's Cathedral

Free; donations welcome

833-4336