Instrument of the Week!

No, this is not a keyboard... ;-)

It's a Melodica!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melodica

I enjoyed surprising the students with it this week

as I greeted them outside of the Music Room

(as I do each week with a different instrument!)

to begin our week's Music Class together!

Here are some places where the melodica has surfaced:

The band The Hooters are named for the nickname of the instrument!

(Yes, a Melodica is called a Hooter!)

Here is one of their many songs that features a Melodica:

Jack Johnson's song, "If I Could," features the melodica!

"Money Changes Everything" was a hit for Cyndi Lauper in the 80s,

and it also features the Melodica in the solo section (at 3:07)!

Even American Idol contestants have enjoyed playing them!
Here's Casey Abrams at his Austin Audition last year:

And lastly...

Here are many Melodicas as performed by one player

(a la Mike Tompkins!) for Bach's Orchestral Suite #1:

The performer's name is James Howard Young.

Here he is performing another selection by Bach:

Hope you enjoyed the Melodica this week in music!

Please share where you might have heard it before!