If you want to find a "how to play the harmonica" workshop, Aidan Sheehan does some very impressive and incisive sessions, which are held in The Old School, just off Swan Street, Llantrisant, Wales.

Aidan, who holds a BA (Hons), is a harmonica tutor, a National Harmonica League Accredited Tutor, a music facilitator and a Gwent Music Support Services tutor. He is in the Musicians Union, and he plays with Martin Blake (a serial muso whom we know and love) as Whiskey River.

I signed up for his six-week course, which costs £50. His Irish father used to play harmonica in a band, and Aidan takes you through the whole history of the harmonica before showing you players' techniques. His requirements are that all learners must have a 10-hole harmonica in C, but he is also an instrument retailer and his stock includes cheap 'C' harmonicas for only a few pounds.

His address is 72 Trostrey, Cwmbran, Torfaen, NP44 7JE and his phone number is (07812) 143226, email is Batrouge@aol.com and website is www.whiskeyriver.motagator.co.uk - if you contact him, Scrump, I'm sure that Aidan can give you the best advice.

Incidentally, one story that Aidan didn't know about comes from the Roberts family, the Welsh travellers who held the impressive title "Harpers to Queen Victoria." They would play the Welsh triple-harp at concerts for the gentry, and on those days when they hadn't got a gig, they relaxed - by getting out the harmonicas!