Melodica

Like the pump organ and harmonica, the melodica is a free-reed instrument. Performers blow air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole on the side of the instrument. A musical keyboard lies on top. Pressing a key opens a hole, allowing air to flow through the reed. The keyboard typically has two or three octaves. Melodicas are compact, light, and portable instruments. 

The melodica has evolved into a distinct voice in various musical genres, including Jazz, Reggae, and Minimalist Classical Music. It is also widely used in some regions of international music education, particularly in Japan. At its core, this is a wind instrument. The idea lies in combining wind and piano-style instruments into a design that's comfortable to hold. 

Design and Manufacturers of the Melodica

In 1958, Hohner, a German manufacturer of harmonicas, launched the first melodica. Instead of piano keys, the design included buttons. Borel, an Italian company, also released its initial version in 1958. Their version had the piano keyboard we now recognize as a conventional melodica keyboard. The melodica's popularity in the West declined during the 1980s and 1990s despite the existence of genres and musicians with a long affinity towards the instrument. These include Reggae and artists such as Augustus Pablo. The melodica is gaining prominence today in Jazz, Folk, and several other genres.

Types of melodica differ between themselves mainly by the instrument's range. Diverse ranges also result in varying forms. Some are intended to be played with both hands at the same time. One hand holds a handle on the bottom while the other plays the keyboard. Designs where the left-hand plays the black keys and the right-hand the white ones also exist. Additionally, when the melodica lies on a flat surface, performers may play with two hands with the help of a tube that fits into the mouthpiece,

Designs of the Accordina, sometimes known as a 'Chromatic Button Melodica,' use metal and employ the exact mechanism and reeds as a standard melodica. A button layout, similar to that of a chromatic button accordion, replaces the keyboard.