The majority of melodicas are made of plastic, although there are
some made of wood or metal. The melodica's light weight and
portablility is one of it's key attributes, making it the ideal
instrument for both youngsters and stage use. The melodica can
be played standing while blowing through a mouthpiece or sitting
with the melodica horizontal and the use of an air tube.
Melodicas are a great instrument to learn music on, and are often
used for instructions to young students of music. This instrument
has other interesting features that makes it very verstile. Being a
polyphonic instrument (the ability to produce multiple notes
simutaenously), it allows the musician to easily play chords and
accidentals that would be much harder or even impossible on a
traditional woodwind instrument. Also, the use of the blowing
tube can allow the musicaian to play the melodica with both
hands or even combine it with multiple instruments.
37