Lincolnshire library patrons learn how to play harmonica

The meeting room at Vernon Area Public Library was turned into a harmonica school as musician Joe Filisko gave a seminar Tuesday in Lincolnshire.

About 30 adults learned the basics of the harmonica in the key of "C"

Joe Filisko has been teaching harmonica at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago for the last 25 years. "I've pursued a career as a player and as a teacher. I'm fortunate that the harmonica has taken me all around the world, he said.

Filisko's motto is: "If you can breathe, you can play the harmonica."

Filisko began his instruction by teaching the class how to breathe, what notes to play and couple of tricks to enhance the music.

The class began by learning how to mimic a train whistle and then took those skills to play the basics of the Blues.

"We like to be able to offer programs for our adult patrons where they can participate instead of sitting back and listening," said Roz Topolski, adult programming coordinator at Vernon Area Public Library.

To learn more about programs at Vernon Area Public Library, visit www.vapld.info.