Top 5 Outdoor Musical Instruments from Percussion Play for Senior Living Environments

Enhancing Wellbeing and Connection, One Note at a Time

Music has the power to bring people together, improve cognitive function, and enhance emotional well-being—making it a perfect addition to senior living environments. Percussion Play offers a range of outdoor musical instruments that are easy to play, therapeutic, and fun. Each instrument stands beautifully on its own or can be enjoyed alongside others, creating a complete musical experience that encourages creativity, relaxation, and social interaction. All instruments in the Percussion Play range are built for the outdoors, where music-making is even more rewarding. Outdoor play provides numerous benefits for seniors, including exposure to natural light and fresh air, reduced stress, and improved mood and mental clarity. Playing music in a garden or courtyard setting also encourages socialization and spontaneous interaction, helping to reduce feelings of isolation.

Here are our Top 5 Outdoor Musical Instruments ideal for senior living communities:

1. Cavatina and Music Book

The Cavatina is a melodic instrument designed for easy playability. With its colorful design and smooth tones, it invites players to create beautiful music with minimal effort. The Cavatina is especially unique because it pairs perfectly with the Music Book, allowing players to follow color-coded notes to play familiar tunes. This means that even seniors with no previous musical experience can follow along and enjoy making music. It's an excellent way to stimulate the senses and encourage both mental and physical activity, while also enhancing hand-eye coordination, which activates and engages both sides of the brain. Additionally, it supports the development of fine motor skills, as players tap on specific notes to form melodies. The Cavatina’s gentle tones help create a calming atmosphere, making it ideal for residents who need a peaceful, low-pressure musical experience. Its design is fun and approachable, sparking creativity, curiosity, and experimentation.

Together, the Cavatina and Music Book make the joy of music accessible and rewarding without any complexity.

Discover the Rainbow Cavatina and Music Book.

2. Harmony Bells

Their bright, cheerful appearance is not only visually appealing but also inviting, helping to spark curiosity and encourage spontaneous interaction. This makes them a wonderful addition for both residents and young visitors to senior living spaces. These instruments are designed to be played while holding a mallet, which is beneficial for seniors as it encourages hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and strengthens grip—all important for maintaining daily function. The accessible design allows them to be enjoyed while standing or from the comfort of a wheelchair, promoting movement, social interaction, and a sense of independence and confidence in engaging with music at any ability level.

Check out the Harmony Bells.

3. Babel Drum

The Babel Drum is an excellent addition to any senior living environment, producing very soft, appealing sounds that are soothing and gentle. While it requires a bit of dexterity to play, it can also be enjoyed with small mallets, making it more accessible to seniors with varying fine motor skills. The Babel Drum’s calming tones are ideal for creating a peaceful atmosphere in outdoor spaces, encouraging relaxation and mindfulness.

One of the unique features of the Babel Drum is that it can be played both seated or standing, making it perfect for a wide range of seniors, whether they are more mobile or require the support of a wheelchair. It also offers an excellent opportunity for occupational therapy, as it engages hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Plus, the Babel Drum can be played by two people together—whether it’s a family member, carer, or music therapist—allowing for an enjoyable, interactive experience that fosters social connection and communication.

Its tactile nature provides both cognitive and motor stimulation, making it a great choice for seniors seeking a meditative and enjoyable musical experience.

Discover the Babel Drum

4. Duo Outdoor Xylophone

The Duo Outdoor Xylophone is a fantastic addition to any senior living outdoor music space. Specially designed for inclusive play, the Duo allows two players, such as a senior and a family member, carer, or music therapist, to play together, making it a highly social and engaging instrument. With players positioned opposite each other and slightly offset, the design encourages independent play and collaborative music-making, whether playing simultaneously or taking turns in a musical call-and-response.

Extremely accessible, the Duo can be played standing or seated, allowing seniors with different levels of mobility to join in comfortably. Mallets encourage gross motor skills, offering gentle physical activity that supports coordination, movement, and strength.

The Duo also features two different note materials, producing contrasting sounds that enrich the sensory experience and allow players to explore a wider tonal range. This variety is excellent for cognitive stimulation, as players discover how different materials create different effects.

The Duo Outdoor Xylophone brings people together, promotes physical and mental wellbeing, and turns a shared moment into a joyful musical memory.

Explore the Duo Xylophone

5. Harmony

The Harmony is a beautifully tuned vertical metallophone that brings both musical joy and physical benefits to senior living communities. Its upright design invites players to stand, offering valuable opportunities to strengthen core muscles, improve posture, and engage back and shoulder muscles—benefits that seated play may not fully offer. That said, the Harmony is also fully accessible to those who prefer or need to remain seated, including wheelchair users, making it a truly inclusive instrument.

Playing the Harmony involves holding a mallet in each hand, which supports bilateral coordination, helping seniors develop or maintain the ability to use both sides of the body in harmony. The vertical setup also encourages hand and arm stabilisation, wrist extension, and a practical understanding of directions like up/down and left/right—beneficial for both physical and cognitive stimulation. These subtle physical challenges support both occupational therapy goals and overall well-being.

Whether played alone or with others, seated or standing, or used for gentle stretching, guided therapy, or free play, the Harmony offers a joyful, accessible, and multisensory musical experience that nurtures the body, stimulates the mind, and uplifts the spirit.

Explore the Harmony.

Creating Meaningful Outdoor Music Spaces

Incorporating outdoor musical instruments into senior living environments isn’t just a design choice—it’s a wellness strategy. These instruments support cognitive health, physical mobility, and social connection while encouraging residents to spend more time outdoors. They offer a natural way to integrate music therapy, promote active aging, and create a more vibrant, inclusive community environment.

Whether you’re designing a new memory garden, enhancing a therapy patio, or simply looking for ways to boost resident engagement, Percussion Play’s outdoor instruments provide the tools to bring music, movement, and joy to daily life.