Andy Mackie of Brinnon, Wash., leads more than 1,700 participants in setting a new Guinness record for world’s largest harmonica band at the Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle on Sunday, May 29. Mackie works with WSU Jefferson County Extension and 4-H programs teaching not only how to play musical instruments but how to build them. The previous record for largest harmonica band was 851 participants, set by a Polish group. Mackie and his supporters sold harmonicas and provided instruction before the record-setting attempt. The crowd played “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” for 13 minutes 22 seconds, topping the Polish group’s record of 11 minutes of continuous playing. Robert Force, WSU Jefferson County Extension distance degree educator, helped organize the effort and made the arrangements with the Guinness Book of World Records to document the attempt.
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