Anne Samuels played piano for years, but she was interested in trying a different instrument where she could collaborate with other musicians.

“Piano is a very solitary instrument and I always thought I’d like to be playing with a group of other people,” said Samuels, who is a member of Temple Israel. “I got a brochure from Meramec College about the harmonica and thought it might be fun to learn to play.”

That led Samuels, 81, to the Gateway Harmonica Club, a group that’s been around for more than 35 years.

“I’ve been in the club since 2014,” she said. “Everybody was so friendly and welcoming. It’s a group of very nice people who just enjoy playing harmonica. I enjoyed going out to all the gigs.”

On Wed., Oct. 4 at 3 p.m., the Gateway Harmonica Club will be performing at the Mirowitz Center. The club’s motto is “Have Harmonica, Will Travel.” They’ve traveled near and far, from Busch Stadium for Cardinals games to Powell Hall to perform with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

Samuels took to her new instrument—which is quite a bit lighter than a piano—in part because she suffered from arthritis in her hands.

“The harmonica was the perfect instrument,” she said. “The other advantage for many people is you don’t have to read music. You just learning the spacing between notes on the harmonica. It takes a little time but it’s not terrifically hard.”

The instrument is also versatile and can adapt to everything from show tunes to classical music, rock n’ roll and the blues. One of the greatest harmonica players in history was Larry Adler, a Jewish musician who was a protegee of Rudy Vallee. Adler collaborated with Sting, Elton John and Kate Bush. Other noteworthy Jewish harmonica players include Bob Dylan and Billy Joel (“Piano Man” is considered one of the easier songs to master on harmonica). Joel and Dylan also hold the distinction of having Hohner brand harmonica models named for them.

You can register for the free Gateway Harmonica Concert at Mirowitz Center here.