Hey James - welcome to the forum! So glad to have you here man, and congrats on your decision to pursue the harmonica, and congrats on getting a Golden Melody, one of my favorite harmonicas. Slim’s advice of “I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was younger” (in my best Rod Stewart impersonation) is right on the money:
I played WAY TOO HARD for the first, oh, I don’t know, 22 years or so? I would have saved myself a lot of money from blowing out harps if I had learned that lesson sooner!
Side note: I’m reminded of a bass instruction video I saw of Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and he joked about how when your young and poor and can’t afford instruments you have to pay for them, and then when you famous and rich the companies just give them to you! 
I remember thinking back then “if only I could get a company to help me out with all these harps”. LOL. I could have just gotten better technique just as easily!
And on that subject (boy I’m just rambling all over the place here 
) I just made this post on the subject of brands:
You’ve got a great harp, and a great teacher (and so humble too,) so you’re honestly good to go! If you have disposable income and it’s fun to try out different brands, by all means go for it! But the Golden Melody is one of the best harps, so you are good to go!
I, like @slim, don’t really hear the difference drastically between the Golden Melody’s chords versus the Special 20. Special 20 is maybe a little sweeter sounding on chords, but is sweeter even better? 
Depends on what you want I guess!
Also, Lee Oskars are actually tuned just like the Golden Melodies, better for single notes.
@jeffw good to hear you from you again buddy. I’m so excited that you’re gonna go for Beginner to Boss! See you inside the course!
All right, that’s enough rambling for now. Oh, and speaking of rambling… Nah, just kidding. 