Harpist at Clinton Twp. hospital provides a sweet distraction

It's like bees to a honey jar.

Once the soft swirling sounds of Michael Kowalski's harp can be heard through the halls and waiting rooms at Henry Ford Macomb, patients, staff and visitors can't help being drawn to the source.

"It's relaxing," said Kowalski, a volunteer who hauls his harp to the hospital two days a week and performs a small concert for one and all, sometimes as often as five days a week depending on the retiree's schedule.

"He generously shares his talents and lifts everyone's spirits at the same time," said Michelle Fusco, public relations manager for Henry Ford Macomb.

Kowalski's mother played the piano. So, it's no surprise he would too.

But being a child of the 50s and 60s he was drawn to the music of his era and the wave of rock bands sweeping the country like The Doors, Rolling Stones and the Beatles prompted a desire to expand his musical repertoire. Be it an inherent gift or determination, by the age of 9 had taught himself to play the bass guitar as well as the mandolin and violin.

"Rock and roll was growing," said Kowalski, who never saw the Beatles but was lucky enough to see Van Morrison at Cobo Hall. "It was a big thing."

Then he picked up a tuba.

It was more for the sake of the Orchard Lake St. Mary's High School band but his natural abilities made him an avid player and after getting married and receiving a used tuba as a gift (apparently his friends appreciated his talents, too) he restored the instrument to its glory and started playing beer gardens and community events with a local band.

One would think he had reached the musical summit. However, heart problems that made the tuba difficult to play and a newfound passion for harp music led him to sign up for lessons with a harpist who once played for the New York City Orchestra.

"I took a few lessons but she was not happy with me. I didn't hold my thumbs up like she wanted," Kowalski mused, which, once again led him to learn on his own.

He was 50.

Now he's 75 and has been playing the harp ever since.

"I can hear a melody and just play it," said Kowalski, who worked in information technology for Lear Corp. before retiring and volunteering to provide a beautiful distraction for those giving and seeking care.

'I love it," he said. "Doing the crowd work. Getting people engaged. It lights them up."

At this point, he has reached the mountain top as a musician and while he has no plans to learn another instrument he's open to teaching others the harp.

"I've seen him do it," said a visitor at the hospital listening to Kowalski. "People will stop and he'll show them something."

One such student who works in the hospital was inspired to take it up herself.

So, stop by sometime or follow that sound you hear.

"I know about 400 or 500 tunes," Kowalski said, adding that he knows learning new music is also good for his mental health. "I usually start with a warmup and then I'll profile the crowd. If I see someone who looks like a hippie I might play 'Stairway to Heaven' or 'Let It Be' by the Beatles."

"And if they tap their feet I know I'm doing something right," said Henry Ford's house harpist.