The Whatica? Oh.. The Melodica!

What’s that thing that Mr. Henry is playing? A harmonica? A piano?! Nope. It’s a Melodica!!! Reeds and keys and tubes, oh my! Learn all about this cool, unique instrument in today’s Spotlight. 

 

Check out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdGhqK_DWpRIKS45ICqN3eQ

 

***Classroom and Homeschool Teachers*** 

Find our digital resource to help enhance your classroom HERE!

 

Like us on Facebook! 

 

Mr. Fite

Check out original fun and educational music from Mr. Fite at 

https://brucefite.com/music and subscribe to the Mr. Fite’s YouTube Channel

 

Mr. Henry

Are you looking for affordable piano lessons for your 6-10-year-old? Start the music journey with Mr. Henry by taking a sneak peek into the Premier Membership with the free mini-piano course! https://www.mrhenrysmusicworld.com/piano

 

 

THE MELODICA!

 

Joke of the Day: 

How do you make a bandstand? 

Take away the chairs. 

 

Bill: (playing melodica)

 

Bruce: (from a distance) Mr. Henry...Mr. Henry? (to himself) What’s that sound? Sounds like a harmonica….. Oh hey, Mr. Henry...well that’s not a harmonica… what is that thing? 

 

Bill: Hey Mr. Fite...it’s called a melodica! 

 

Bruce: Melodica? It looks like a mini piano… 

 

Bill: Yeah it’s true...it does use the keyboard or the black and white keys found on a piano...but in order to make the sound you also have to blow into this tube and press a key to make this sound (plays) 

 

Bruce: Wow, that’s pretty cool. How does it get that harmonica sound? 

 

Bill: Well, inside of the melodica are these small reeds. Reeds are often found on clarinets and other woodwind instruments...but we also use reeds in harmonicas and then of course…. the melodica. 

 

Bruce: Hmmm the reeds...so they are very small wooden reeds inside? 

 

Bill: Well yes, they are small but they are actually made out of metal. When you blow into the melodica and press down a key, the air flows over the reed which vibrates quickly to make a sound.   

 

Bruce: Oh wow! These are pretty cool. It’s like the piano and harmonica teamed up to combined their powers to make “THE MELODICAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH” 

 

Bill: Ok...Mr. Fite...yeah we get it…. But your right, Melodicas are small enough to where you can bring it anywhere. You can even walk around as you play it! 

 

Bruce: I need to get one of these, but I bet they are expensive… 

 

Bill: Actually, they are not that expensive. Now you could get one that is...but you can buy melodicas for less than 20 bucks. 

 

Bruce: That’s not bad at all. About to order one right now… Who invented the melodica? 

 

Bill: Well, a company from Germany named Hohner made the instrument. Hohner makes all types of instruments like harmonicas, accordions and in the 1950’s they came up with the melodica!  

 

Bruce: Oh wow...so it's a fairly new instrument compared to the flute that has been around for over 40,000 years! 

 

Bill: Yeah, definitely a newer instrument and super cool.  

 

Bruce: So this tube goes into the melodica and you blow into it while playing.  

 

Bill: Exactly, having the tube allows the keyboard to stay flat as you play it. You can play the keyboard of the melodica just like the piano.  

 

Bruce: Cool...but what is this part still in the melodica case? 

 

Bill: Well, that’s actually another type of mouthpiece. This mouthpiece looks more like the mouthpiece of a clarinet or saxophone. You can take the tube out of the melodica and put the “horn” mouthpiece in instead. 

 

Bruce: Gotcha...so when you play the melodica with the horn mouthpiece, would you hold the instrument differently? 

 

Bill: Yes, you would hold it kinda like a trumpet. So the melodica would be on its side and you place your left hand on the back of the melodica while your right-hand pushes down the keys on the keyboard. Bring the hon mouthpiece up to your mouth and blow it into it while pressing the keys down.  

 

Bruce: Cool, it kinda turns into a marching keyboard!  

 

Bill: Exactly and super fun to play. Well, I better get going. I have a concert to play for tonight. And of course, using this here melodica for it.  

 

Bruce: Nice, can I come along to check it out. 

 

Bill: Well sure, actually I have another melodica here. You could jam along! 

 

Bruce: Sweet! And that’s the...

 

TOGETHER: MELODICA!

 

App of the Month 

Hey there Music Podcast for Kids listeners. The app of the month is a fun virtual instrument called percussive. Percussive is a super cool app that gives kids and adults the ability to play 5 different types of instruments including the marimba, xylophone, kalimba, vibraphone, and glockenspiel. Choose an instrument and even play with different mallets. The mallet is the stick that has a hard or soft end and is used to hit the bar on the instruments like the marimba, vibraphone, glockenspiel, and vibraphone. The different mallets give each instrument a unique sound which you can experiment with in this super sweet app. The kalimba is an instrument from Africa, which can also be called the mbira, that you pluck with the fingers. We actually discuss the kalimba in the Music of Africa episode! So, for one, take a listen to that episode to learn more about the kalimba, and while you're at it, check out the app called percussive for some fun instrument jam along time! We have no affiliation with Percussive, we just think it’s a pretty cool app that makes music fun. And that’s the app of the month: Percussive!