Just getting started on learning the harmonica. The lessons have been excellent. Also, I see that there is much to learn in the forum. Glad to be here.
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Welcome @drtreeter
I am no great harp player but love to play it. At the beginning my primary focus was and still is playing clean single notes, correct breathing and placing the harp in your mouth correctly. One problem I had and still do but to a lesser extent was playing to fast. It is abating now and what I did was play songs like Moon River or Ain’t No Sunshine over a tract. It forces me to slow down and the harp is easier and sounds much better when you get your rhythm down. bending, splits and the other things will fall in place with practice. I pick a tougher tune every tune and at the beginning feel it will always be over my head. After practice a portion of the song sinks in and more follows with practice and much listening I look at playing the harp like I did chemistry in school. Both were intermediating but it became apparent that learning the harp is a bunch of links in a necklace. Every time you learn something new your chain gets larger. I even passed chemistry when I figured this out.
I have no interest in playing in a band or anything like it. I just enjoy what such a small instrument that is pocket size can do. I have a long way to go to be good and want to. Persistence and good practice are in my opinion the under pinning of of successful improvement over the long haul. There are times when you feel your learning curve is flat but but it will jump when you least expect it. On a final note I have yet to find something I liked that required no other equipment to be maintained or a power source. Just put in the shirt pocket and play it when the urge hits and enjoy it. I never give up and am so glad boxing was of no interest as I would have to get in at least one good shot no matter the pain. In other words I am hard headed.
There are plenty of people that will answer your questions and share what it took them years to learn and they expect nothing for it. Hope that some day I can get there but not for a long while of daily practice and turning mistakes into learning experience. Its great medicine for a bad day and a very low cost passion for me. This is what I really enjoy about playing. Just never quit and listen to the tunes that you want to play many times.
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Great to have you here @drtreeter - Rock on! 