Welcome to the Percussion Play Blog
We hope you'll be a regular visitor as we share stories about the instruments we make and the people who play them.
This is where we share our passion for music in the great outdoors! We'll share with you details of exciting new outdoor music projects and designs from around the globe. We'll share with you information about the instruments we sell and a little about the inspiration behind them
Most importantly, this blog is about what we love to do the most - help you create new and exciting ways to bring music to the great outdoors.
Thank you for reading, visiting, commenting and contributing - we’re excited to have you here!
Celebrating National Park Week 2023 with Music
In honor of National Park Week, starting on April 22, we highlight how outdoor musical instruments can make perfect additions to parks, bringing music to outdoor spaces worldwide. People of all ages and abilities can play and enjoy them, promoting intergenerational play and inclusivity.
It is well-known that playing musical instruments lifts people’s moods and creates a powerful sense of well-being, and it has long been shown to significantly improve communication for those with a wide range of disabilities and health conditions. Being outside also enhances our mood - the positive effects of being outdoors can be significant.
The benefits of playing music outside can be seen at Verdugo Park, a beloved park in the City of Burbank, California, close to the glamour of major Hollywood film studios. It has recently been given a public artwork facelift with a mural and interactive sound sculptures,...
Music Makers Session With The Royal Society for Blind Children and The Amber Trust
RSBC, Percussion Play, and The Amber Trust are inviting blind and partially sighted children and young people (aged 0-25) and their families to join them at the RSBC’s Life Without Limits Centre in London to explore how Percussion Play can make their outdoor musical instruments even more accessible to the visually impaired.
The event will take place on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, between 11 am – 2 pm.
Amber Music Practitioner, Gennie Joy, will join RSBC’s creative team to facilitate the session, guiding children and their families in playing Percussion Play’s Babel Drums, Cyclone, Cavatina, Tubular Bells, and much more. Percussion Play is looking forward to learning which shapes, heights, colors, and finishes are beneficial to children and young people who are blind and partially sighted. There is also the possibility Percussion Play will create a new instrument during this collaboration.
*Limited Edition* Coronation Congas Launched in Time for Historic Celebrations
The coronation of King Charles III will take place on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Westminster Abbey in London and will be a time for celebration across the country and the Commonwealth. To mark this historic occasion, Percussion Play is launching a new limited-edition version of their popular outdoor conga drums, appropriately called ‘Coronation Congas.’
Coronation Congas are a trio of single-headed drums mounted onto two stainless steel posts to be installed either directly into the ground or surface fixed. Played with the hands, the drums have heavy-duty ABS plastic caps, each wrapped in a vinyl union jack graphic and coated with a clear lacquer.
Suitable for outdoor locations such as parks, trails, school playgrounds, and outdoor community spaces.
With a new Coronation Anthem by Andrew Lloyd...
March is Music in Our Schools Month
Music in Our Schools Month is an annual celebration of music education. It takes place in March and is organized by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). This celebration aims to raise awareness of the importance of music education in our schools and remind us of the benefits that music brings to our lives. It is an excellent opportunity to recognize the hard work of music teachers and the dedication of their students. Music in Our Schools Month is a reminder of the power that music has to bring us all together and enrich our lives.
A study published in our White Paper Music Matters: The Importance of Music and Music Education reveals that in 2007, Christopher Johnson, professor of music education and music therapy at the University of Kansas, found that children in elementary schools (age 5 -10) who received good music education scored significantly higher grades in English and math tests (22 percent higher in English and 20 percent higher in math)...
Celebrating World Music Therapy Day
World Music Therapy Day is celebrated on March 1 every year and is a day for people worldwide to celebrate the healing power of music. Music Therapy uses music to reduce stress and improve mood and self-expression through listening, singing, playing instruments, or composing music.
Music therapists are professionals trained to use music to improve the health and well-being of individuals. They use various techniques, such as songwriting, listening to music, singing, and playing instruments, to help individuals develop skills, improve communication, increase relaxation, and manage stress. Music therapists work with people of all ages and backgrounds in various healthcare settings. They work with those with physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs, providing evidence-based interventions tailored to the individual. Music therapy is a growing field and offers a unique way for individuals to express their emotions and gain insight into their lives.
Music therapy outdoors has many...
Royal 'Shaping Us' Campaign Strikes a Chord
Shaping Us is a new long-term campaign from The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood that was launched last week by HRH The Princess of Wales, which aims to transform public awareness of early childhood.
The movement is supported by a range of experts in early childhood and high-profile figures from media, music, science, and sports, and a campaign most definitely supported by us at Percussion Play. Our own research details just how important music is in early learning, such as understanding how to socialize, learning to be independent, and being creative.
Our white paper 'Music Matters; Music and Music Education' highlights how being exposed to music from a young age, particularly within a school or nursery setting, has been proven to encourage teamwork, self-confidence, empathy, improved communication skills, and intellectual curiosity. Individuals who have had the opportunity to develop these skills and behaviors in early life often turn out to be happier,...