Yonac Software has released MelodiFone (App Store link), a new virtual wind instrument.

It’s one of a growing number of simple iPhone instruments.

On first glance, these instruments are toys. But consider all the music toys (Optigan, Melodica, Speak ‘n’ Spell, etc) that people are using in interesting ways in electronic music.

Description:

Modeled with ease of use in mind, MelodiFone has extra-large buttons, laid out in a fool-proof “oh, I remember this from my grade-school days” fashion.

You can also shift registers, playing in any one of the three octaves below, at or above the middle C. Additionally, you can vary the distance of the microphone (or the force of your breath) to add dynamics to your playing: MelodiFone will recognize this, and adjust the volume accordingly.