Feature interview: Phil Douglass 

• Woodstock Music Festival
• Phil Douglass

"Carry a song in your pocket, and you'll always have hope in your heart," said longtime harmonica player Phil Douglass. "That's not just a cheesy little saying; that's something that I feel very, very strongly about."

Douglass has carried around the inexpensive, yet profoundly impactful little instrument in his pocket for most of his life. From childhood to his decades exploring Utah's wilderness, the harmonica has been there—and he hopes to spread the joy of the harmonica with as many others as possible.

"I remember [my dad] giving me a harmonica when I was eight and saying that it would always be a friend to me, and truly, that was the case," Douglass said. He spent 32 years working for the Utah Division of Wildlife, listening to the songs of nature, but also making his own with this tiny instrument. "I would be alone sometimes at campfires, and I found that I could be alone and never lonely with this harmonica," he said.

While he has retired from his day job, he's far from inactive; he now spends his days inspiring others to use music as a creative outlet, and helping people find themselves along with some inner peace. "I love introducing people to the soothing and happy sounds of the harmonica," he said. "In today's world, there is so much stimulation from the outside world, that I am afraid people are forgetting the creative powers they have within themselves. The harmonica is such a great way to awaken and enjoy the music from your heart."

It's easy to get swept up in technology and social media—addicting even. It can be hard to pull away, and music is a perfect escape from these stresses. Many might think that picking up a musical instrument is outside of their ability, but Douglass is adamant that anyone can play the harmonica. "You don't have to have any musical background. In fact, I do a lot of programs where I teach just that," he said.

Back in the '90s, Douglass came up with a program called Campfire Companion that features a trusty harmonica, booklet and DVD to help you learn how to play the instrument. "I thought, 'What would I name this harmonica?' And I didn't have to think about it very long. I thought, 'Well, there's only one natural name. It's been a friend of mine. It's going to be called the Campfire Companion,'" he said.

Pandemic notwithstanding, Douglass spends time traveling to teach courses with this lesson plan, tying it in with nature. For example, Douglass thinks back to his time studying small forest animals in Colorado in his wildlife exploration days, and how they would utilize call-and-response to communicate. Call-and-response is also a musical term, so he uses this idea with students, making the class fun and informative.

"I often do these programs with people [who] have high anxiety, emotional issues, autism and depression," he said. "Sometimes music can be very grating to them, so I had to be very, very careful on how we do this. That's why I introduced this concept in a wildlife sense, and then say, 'Okay, we can do this musically,' and by that time, I've taught them how to get some soft vibratos and do soft runs up and down the harmonica, and not doing anything really brash, but just quiet, peaceful types of sounds."

Douglass believes that with just a little bit of instruction, anyone can learn to play the harmonica—and with that, gain a sense of community and connection, especially with nature. "Music and nature are companions for life," he said. "Really and truly, I'm speaking from personal experience, that is my heart and soul, outdoors and wildlife and my family. It's just a huge part of my existence. So they truly have been and will be companions for life for me."

It can be intimidating to approach a musical instrument you've never played before, or even pick one up if you've never touched one. But if you're searching for a way to express yourself and learn something new, the harmonica is the perfect place to start. "Just give it a try," Douglass said. "Don't worry about playing a song. Make up music from your heart."

You can pick up Douglass's Campfire Companion kit on his website campfirecompanion.com, and he really hopes you will. "The message here is to go someplace that's quiet, that you feel comfortable with, where you can sit down and without any distraction, and just play what's in your heart," he said.

Douglass's harmonica has gotten him through some hard times, and he truly believes it can help get you through yours as well: "I just found these things to be totally medicinal to me. To spend time doing this thing, to share with others musically and then combine it with nature, truly was medicine for me. And I was grateful to share that."