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!
Rain, rain, go away but first let's play a little music
We had several visitors come to Percussion Play towers yesterday. They’d come along to see and play our outdoor musical instruments and so in preparation we bought a selection of instruments out onto our sunny courtyard, ready to be admired and enjoyed. Then it started to rain, really rain and it did not stop - a right British downpour. Not a problem for the outdoor musical instruments, they’re built to withstand the elements and will produce a great sound whatever the weather, especially the rain. Let’s be honest, here in the UK we’re not exactly blessed with the sunniest of climates, in fact we are known for attracting a fair amount of rainfall pretty much all year round. So you either stay inside to avoid the showers or you face the weather full on, which is exactly what we did. We decided to defy the weather, donned some raincoats, grabbed umbrellas and went and had some creative musical fun in the rain.
In fact, with rain showers comes inspiration. The weather can undoubtedly...
Exploring the Benefits: 5 Key Reasons Why Music Education Is Crucial for Personal and Academic Growth
Music education is a crucial part of general education that is often overlooked in today's curriculum. However, many studies have shown the unique benefits of including music in every child's education. Let's explore why music education is not just another subject but an essential tool for overall development.
- The Academic Edge Engaging children in music education has a significant impact on their academic achievements. Scientific research supports the idea that children exposed to music, either through listening or playing an instrument, consistently outperform their peers who lack such exposure. The discipline, focus, and cognitive skills developed through musical education lead to better performance across all subjects, not just the arts.
- A Conduit for Comprehensive Learning Music's relevance extends beyond its domain, serving as a bridge to understanding complex concepts in mathematics, science, reading, writing, and the performing arts....
Sound Playgrounds: Music Solutions for Outdoor Areas
The good news is that it doesn't have to be complicated or expensive to add music to your outdoor space. This article presents seven easy ways to add music to your outdoor area.
For Darker Areas or Where Space is Limited Our Mirror Chimes will reflect light, the surrounding environment as well as the players for an added fun element, visual stimulation and promote self-awareness. What a 'bright' idea! Great for a courtyard garden or sensory area. Arranged in the pentatonic c-major scale (C3-C5) their universal mounting brackets allow them to be fixed to virtually any surface.
For an Easy Installation with a BIG Sound Integrate drumming and music-making to the great outdoors with our Trio of Conga Drums. Conga Drums are a pair of single-headed drums mounted onto a single stainless steel post to be installed directly into the ground. There are six drums to play but only three holes to dig!
Drumming has many benefits, including being a great stress...
Outdoor Music Therapy and Interactive Music Making
Music Therapy Week is a week of campaigning to help raise awareness of how music therapy can improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our communities across the UK.
Donald Wetherick, Chair of the British Association for Music Therapy and Nordoff Robbins Music Therapist says,
“All over the UK professional music therapists are helping vulnerable people to overcome difficulties in communication, interaction, participation and development, through the skilled use of music. Music Therapy Week is an opportunity to celebrate this work, find out more about music therapy in your area, and raise awareness of the potential of music therapy to make a difference to people's lives. Please support MTW in whatever way you can”.
Outdoor musical instruments should not be overlooked when considering music therapy. Firstly, simply being outdoors immerses us in a very specific ‘musical' environment, whether or not we are aware of the music. Birdsong, bees buzzing along with...
Bringing Brazil to Your Classroom: A Musical Journey Through the Heart of Carnival
Love them or hate them, the World Cup in South Africa was echoed by the sound of the vuvuzelas. So what's the sound in Rio? Well, apparently, it's the 'Caxirola' - a rattle-type instrument based on the Caxixi, one of the many traditional instruments used in Brazilian music.
Over the last several hundred years, instruments from various countries have influenced Brazil's music styles and sounds. Like the vibrancy of the culture, Brazil's music is equally diverse and full of energy and life. Music is heard everywhere in Brazil: bars, cafes, restaurants, sporting events, beaches, homes, and businesses. It's part and parcel of Brazilian culture and lifestyle. Carnivals and festivals are huge events in Brazil, and music is always a big part of those celebrations.
Many different instruments are used to make Brazil's beautiful music, each creating unusual and eclectic sounds and rhythms. However, the most popular or well-known Brazilian musical instruments are used in Capoeira or Brazilian...
Rediscover the Joy of Play: Embracing the Music Within at Boscombe Pier
We've had some wonderful comments and photos of the outdoor instruments installed on the Boscombe Pier musical trail. Interestingly it seems the adults are enjoying them just as much as the children, always taking a casual glance around them first to see if anyone is watching before they start playing. I wonder why? Whoever said adults couldn't have fun in public? Children jump at the opportunity to make lots and lots of noise, learning how to create their own unique music, however what makes us adults hesitate first?
I've been told that improvisation can be more difficult as an adult. It can be hard for someone to open up and allow the 'improv' to come through. Similarly, adults usually find it more difficult than children to learn a new musical instrument, not because they don't have the ability but because they are more self-conscious about sounding like a beginner and making mistakes. On the other hand, children don't have these negative thoughts in their minds, as they are constantly...