Mandolin

The mandolin is a small plucked instrument of the lute family. It has a curved body and 4 equally tuned double strings that are played with a plectrum. A special playing technique of the mandolin is the tremolo, which produces a dense carpet of sound.
Composers such as Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven and Paganini used the mandolin in opera orchestras, chamber music and as a solo instrument. Today, the mandolin is represented in all musical styles and is offered as a course of study at some music academies. Its enchanting sound and beautiful round shape have a great appeal for children and adults alike.