Media Room

Welcome to the Percussion Play media room providing our latest news stories, and links to our media coverage.

Please check back often for updates and news, and don't hesitate to reach out to marketing@percussionplay.com with questions or requests.

Education news highlights the benefits of outdoor music making to mark Children’s Mental Health Week

Playground Professionals is an online magazine that specifically focuses on news and trends related to playgrounds, parks and recreation industries.

2023 has been a transformative, record-breaking year for Percussion Play - read more here: Reflections and Projections from Percussion Play

School Construction News introduces its readers, who are devoted specifically to educational facility construction and operations, to the Temple Block Tree

The National Association of Landscapes Professionals (NALP) is a community of professionals passionate about advancing the art, science, and business of landscape management, design, and building.

This month, their online publication 'The Edge' features an article on the new sensory garden and playspace at the Florida Botanical Gardens featuring outdoor musical instruments from Percussion Play.

Read the Article: "Florida Botanical Gardens Adds Interactive Space to Educate Children"

Christian School Products (CSP) magazine provides the latest information and resources about products, furnishings, building supplies, technology, media, and more for today’s Christian schools. The bi-monthly publication introduces school leaders to new products that are helping schools.

Every year, CSP compiles a list of the top products and services offered by manufacturers and dealers in the education market. The 2023 Top Products of the Year features a variety of innovative resources that can enhance students' learning experience. Percussion Play's outdoor musical instruments have been recognized and highlighted in this inspiring list for their educational and recreational benefits.

The latest edition of SEN Magazine, the UK's leading journal for Special Educational Needs, features a compelling article by Jody Ashfield, Founder and Managing Director of Percussion Play. In it, Jody delves into the topic of music in special education, exploring the role it plays in accessibility and the power it has to promote inclusivity.

Read the Article: "Beating the Drum For Inclusion"

The American Camp Association is a community of camp professionals who have joined together for over 100 years to share their knowledge and experience and ensure camp programs' quality.

Read our sponsored Blog article Music-Making in Camps - How can camps use music to enhance camper experiences, and why is it so important?

On August 9, 2023, a Percussion Play Workshop was held at the Royal Society for Blind Children's Life Without Limits Centre in central London. RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey had the opportunity to chat with some of the young blind and partially sighted participants, as well as the workshop's organizers. This marks the second RSBC Percussion Play workshop, which was designed to incorporate feedback from previous young blind and partially sighted participants.

Listen to the Podcast here:

WHSV-TV in Harrisonburg, Virginia, shows further coverage of the new Sensory Music Garden opened in Strasburg Town Park

Senior Living News recently interviewed Emily Sitzes, Director of Community Wellness at Laclede Groves, a Lutheran Senior Services community in the St. Louis suburb of Webster Groves, Missouri, where they have recently turned a collection of Percussion Play instruments into a centralized Harmony Garden for residents and their families.

Senior Living News is an online trade publication featuring curated news and exclusive feature stories on industry changes, trends, thought leaders, and innovations.Read the Article

Strasburg Rotary Club Instrumental in Creation of Sensory Garden

The Strasburg Town Park in Strasburg, VA is set to reveal a brand-new sensory garden that promotes musical harmony for individuals of all ages. The garden boasts a variety of vibrant musical instruments such as the petal drum, Cavatina, and a Music Book.

The Strasburg Rotary Club was able to create the Music Sensory Garden thanks to a generous donation from Wind River, an international wind chime company owned by Jamie and Patty Baisden, who also happens to be the club's president.

Every issue of FundEd Magazine is packed with expert advice, school success stories, information, and inspiration! This Summer Edition profiles a great selection of products for playgrounds and naturally includes Percussion Play!

Chartwell's Happy Day Camp is an exclusive Day Camp for children ages 3-15 for parents who demand quality for their children with acres and acres of supervised fun! Percussion Play features on their Blog: Importance of Music for Childhood Development

The Daily Telegram covers the grand-opening celebration that took place at the Stair District Library, Morenci, as they opened the new Papadopetros Percussion Place. Newly installed outdoor musical instruments for library patrons and everyone in the community to play and enjoy.

Read about a recent project developed by ChangingSheff and delivered by Sheffield City Council New pocket park to bring music to city centre

To mark Learning Disability Week from June 19, the article Percussion Play: Learning Disability Week highlights the benefits of music, particularly outdoor music, for people with learning disabilities.

"This is very good for the community and for students." Read about the new community Music Garden at the North High School campus in Bakersfield, California. North High School dedicates Music Garden, invites students, parents and public to play

Percussion Play features in a profile of products for playgrounds recommended by PTA+ Magazine

Read about a recent project at Upland Country Day School, Kennett Square, Chester County in MyChesCo's Education section: Chester County School Gets Creative with Musical Garden

The American Camp Association is a community of camp professionals who have joined together for over 100 years to share their knowledge and experience and ensure camp programs' quality.

Our sponsored Blog article Rhythm and the Power of the Drum: The Positive Benefits of Group Drumming for Camps explores the positive impact of group drumming while in the great outdoors.

The article details a memorable project between Modesto ROTARY Club (MoRo) and the Modesto Gallo Center for the Arts (GCA) in California that helped beautify and revitalize an unloved area and also improved the quality of life of its citizens.

Perfect Harmony - Removing barriers so all can have access to musical instruments

Creative Pinellas is Pinellas County’s non-profit local arts agency. They provide funding and support to artists of all kinds throughout the county while connecting businesses, tourism, and the public with the arts community.

Jennifer Ring speaks to Palm Harbor Library director Gene Coppola in the following article and video A Free Musical Garden in Palm Harbor

RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) Connect Radio caught up with Jody Ashfield, Percussion Play’s Chief Executive, and Sue Sharp, Chief Executive of the Royal Society for Blind Children, to find out more about how the collaboration between them along with The Amber Trust and to learn more about the recent percussion workshop in London.

The interview starts and ends with George, a young visually impaired boy playing one of the Percussion Play’s instruments at the RSBC workshop.

The recent Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) percussion workshop at their Life Without Limits center in London launched a new collaboration between RSBC, Percussion Play, and The Amber Trust to make outdoor musical instruments even more accessible to young blind and partially sighted people.

The percussion workshop was led by Amber Music Trust Practitioner Gennie Joy, who guided children and their families in playing Percussion Play’s Babel Drums, Cyclone, Cavatina, Tubular Bells, and much more.

Online health and lifestyle magazine 'WellBeing' featured the article Charities Chime for Blind Children which informed readers of the recent collaboration between Percussion Play, The Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) and The Amber Trust and their aim to make outdoor musical instruments even more accessible, particularly to young people who are blind or partially sighted.

Living with Disability magazine shares and informs those living with a disability (and their families and friends) on a range of news and features, how to access available products to assist with day-to-day living, as well as finding out how to be part of new opportunities and inspiring projects taking place across the UK. Their article Improving Accessibility to Outdoor Musical Instruments covered the Percussion Workshop held at The Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) Life Without Limits Centre in London.

Homeschooling Parent Magazine published an article on the benefits of outdoor music to mark World Autism Awareness Week.

How Creating Music Outdoors Can Support People With Autism features on Tomorrow's Care - a digital care magazine providing the latest care news, exclusive content, advice, products, and industry comment.

The Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC), Percussion Play, and The Amber Trust are delighted to announce their collaboration with the aim to make outdoor musical instruments even more accessible, particularly to young people who are blind or partially sighted.

Read more here

ArtsProfessional is a news magazine that enables readers to keep up to date with important issues in the cultural sector and find vital information that helps them get the most out of their professional practice. More than just a website, it provides a forum where people working in the sector can share ideas, debate important issues and learn from each other’s experiences.

Workshop to make musical instruments more accessible

Landscape Architecture Magazine (LAM) is the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) monthly magazine.

Percussion Play Launches Limited Edition Conga Drums

The American Camp Association is a community of camp professionals who have joined together for over 100 years to share their knowledge and experience and ensure camp programs' quality.

Our sponsored Blog article Superpowers of Music for Mental Health highlights the ways that making music can benefit our overall well-being and mental health.

In honor of World Music Therapy Day on March 1, this article in The Phoenix highlights the healing power of music and champions music therapists around the world.

Percussion Play was named as one of three East Hampshire businesses in the list of Top 100 exporting companies in South East UK

Landscape Architecture Magazine (LAM) is the monthly magazine of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).

Read the article Plans for Musical Instruments in All Harris County Park about one Commissioner's drive to revitalize their precinct and include accessible and inclusive areas for music and play.

Read the article Bells and Drums: Fun and Learning with Outdoor Percussion Play which features the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children (WPSBC) who recently installed Percussion Play instruments on its campus in Pittsburgh.

'Future Reflections' is a magazine for parents and teachers of blind children published by the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults in partnership with the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children.

This article in SEN (Special Education Needs) Magazine (Jan/Feb 2023 Issue 122), 'Music Without Boundaries - Making Music and Why It Lifts Our Spirits' explores how the combination of music and the great outdoors allows inclusive communities to share experiences, learn together, support each other and most importantly, have fun.

Link to Article 'Music Without Boundaries - Making Music and Why It Lifts Our Spirits'

Our co-founder Robin Ashfield is invited onto the I'm a Rotarian Podcast to share how just about everyone can make music and how playing musical instruments can help bring communities together across generations, social classes, income brackets, and ability.

Producer and Rotarian Gwen Jones quizzes Robin over the benefits of the pentatonic scale and how Rotary Clubs can help bring music to people in the public spaces where they live, work, and commute.

School Construction News - a news magazine devoted specifically to educational facility construction and operations - highlights the Calypso Chimes under their 'Featured Products Section'.

Christian School Products (CSP) magazine provides the latest information and resources about products, furnishings, building supplies, technology, media, and more for today’s Christian schools. The bi-monthly publication introduces school leaders to new products that are helping schools.

Each year CSP lists the 'best of the best' products and services from manufacturers and dealers in the school market. The 2022 Top Products of the Year shows a mix of innovative resources that can help students learn more effectively. Percussion Play's outdoor musical instruments' educational and recreational benefits have been highlighted and recognized in this inspiring list.

The American Camp Association is a community of camp professionals who, for over 100 years, have joined together to share their knowledge and experience and ensure camp programs' quality.

The sponsored Blog article The Power That Music Has on Camp Guests with Disabilities highlights the numerous benefits to incorporating outdoor music into camp itineraries, especially for guests with disabilities

Nexus Education is a gateway for thousands of like-minded schools to find ideas and solutions online.

To celebrate Outdoor Classroom Day this article looks at how an independent school has taken an innovative approach to outdoor teaching by installing a variety of outdoor musical instruments on its grounds.

Read the article: Outdoor Music Day

To celebrate World Mental Health Day on October 10 and Universal Music Day (October 15), the article highlights the benefits of music, particularly outdoor music, for improving people’s well-being and happiness.

Read the article World Mental Health Day & Universal Music Day

During Libraries Week in the UK, FE News highlighted Percussion Play's newest White Paper exploring the benefits of music being used within library settings.

Read the article Libraries Week – Creativity is the New Literacy

Recreation Industry News offers Ideas and solutions for recreation, sports and fitness facilities.

Sesame Place San Diego is SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment’s newest theme park and is the only theme park on the west coast based entirely on the iconic show Sesame Street. During a day at the park, guests can spend time at Rosita’s Harmony Hills, a soft play area for younger guests which includes Percussion Play’s outdoor musical instruments.

Read about the project here

Independent Education Today is a monthly magazine that specializes in private sector education.

The article Education Through Music features forest school Ashbridge Independent School & Nursery, which has an ethos based on learning in the great outdoors, and how they are utilising their outdoor musical instruments for both play and learning.

Landscape Architecture Magazine (LAM) is the monthly magazine of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).

Imagine Playground in Dublin, CA created by Gates + Associates Landscape Architects, and the City of Dublin is an accessible, all-inclusive play space within the City of Dublin and the greater Bay Area. Including Percussion Play instruments the playground showcased on the LASN website

Read about the project here here.

The Beat Goes On - Music Gardens Anchor Communities through Pandemic.

As libraries shifted programming and services online, they also sought ways to safely engage patrons outdoors and spark joy during the pandemic's darkest days. Many began to see the numerous benefits a Music Garden could bring to their communities, making fun additions to libraries' green spaces.

Read the Article here

Read the Magazine here

Childhood Education Innovations is a magazine-format publication that shares innovative ideas and practices for improving the education of children globally.

The article 'Democratizing Music: Outdoor Musical Instruments for All' highlights how having musical instruments set in accessible open spaces engages not only children whose families might not be able to afford the luxury of music lessons but also children who are disabled or have learning disabilities.

Nexus Education is a gateway for thousands of like-minded schools to find ideas and solutions online.

We celebrate Make Music Day by highlighting the positive effects of music-making and its ability to promote inclusive play and bring benefits to everyone.

To celebrate Make Music Day on 21st June, Percussion Play is highlighting the positive effects of music-making and its ability to promote inclusive play and bring benefits to everyone.

Read the article here

100% digital, green news provider FE News is the largest online news site dedicated solely to the further education, apprenticeship/work-based learning, and employability sector.

Sight Magazine is an editorially independent, Australian-based website covering local and global news and issues from a Christian perspective.

Read the article: Religious Groups are ‘Making a Joyful Noise’ with Outdoor Musical Instruments

Founded by investigative journalist Julie Roys, The Roys Report began as a personal blog that has grown into a Christian media outlet, reporting on what’s happening in the Christian community.

Read the article here

Church Design, published by Cary, N.C.-based Production Media Inc., speaks directly to architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and other specifiers that design and renovate sacred spaces.

The article 'Unlikely Amenities for the Design of Outdoor Church Spaces' looks at how outdoor worship has grown, and congregations are using outdoor musical instruments for both recreation and worship.

Read the article here

For more than 80 years, RNS has been an non-profit authoritative source of news about religion, spirituality and ideas, reported by a staff of professional journalists.

This heart-warming article tells why outdoor musical instruments were dedicated to a beloved choirmaster in the new memorial garden of Cross Tracks Church, Texas, and how we are seeing an increase in music being made in the open air by religious groups and organizations, including churches, camps, and preschools.

Read the article: Religious Groups are ‘Making a Joyful Noise’ with Outdoor Musical Instruments

Choice Magazine is the UK’s leading independent monthly for men and women over 50

The article published in the May 2022 edition looks at an inspirational retirement home that is using the power of nature and music to improve the quality of life for people with dementia.

Read the article: How Music Can Help Dementia Sufferers

100% digital, green news provider FE News is the largest online news site dedicated solely to the further education, apprenticeship/work-based learning, and employability sector.

Engaging and uniting students, music is highly beneficial in bringing about social integration and creating a sense of group identity.

Read the article: Music For All!

M&D Magazine is distributed to schools and nurseries across the UK for children to bring home. It covers numerous subjects, including education and lifestyle issues concerning families, and advice from health experts, childcare professionals, doctors, lawyers, teachers, and leisure specialists.

This article highlights the many reasons why, as the world reflects on the Covid-19 pandemic and its effect on communities, children should be encouraged back into the great outdoors and how creating music using outdoor musical instruments can help bring learning outside the classroom.

Read the article: Bringing The Classroom Outside…

School House Magazine is a complete guide to the best independent education Britain has to offer today and a complete resource for excellence in independent education and beyond, to university.

To celebrate Global Intergenerational Week starting on 25th April, the School House article highlights the positive effects of intergenerational music-making and its ability to promote inclusive play and bring benefits to both young and elderly people.

Read the article: Music Bridges the Intergenerational Divide

SME Web is the website for SME business coverage produced by Publications UK.

Jody Ashfield, co-founder, and CEO of Percussion Play, tells SME the story of the company - a family business that has won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise

Read the article: Spreading the joy of making music around the world

100% Digital, FE News is the largest online news site dedicated solely to the further education, apprenticeship/work-based learning, and employability sector.

To kick off Autism Acceptance Month and help raise awareness, this article highlights the benefits of outdoor music for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Read the article: Outdoor Music Helping to Heal our Children

Nexus Education is a gateway for thousands of like-minded schools to find ideas and solutions online.

To celebrate World Autism Awareness Day on 2nd April, we highlight the benefits of outdoor music for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Read the article: Music With No Boundaries

The American Camp Association is a community of camp professionals who, for over 100 years, have joined together to share their knowledge and experience and to ensure the quality of camp programs.

The sponsored Blog article Musical Moments at Camp: The Benefits of Outdoor Musical Instruments for Camps highlights the many gains music in the great outdoors can bring a post-pandemic summer camp.

Right Start Online is the go-to destination for parents of children aged 6 months to 7 years. It delivers an essential mix of informed editorial on all those issues close to parents’ hearts, including Learning, Health, Psychology, and Lifestyle features.

This article featuring Percussion Play explores why music has such a positive impact on children and is so beneficial to children's development.

Read the article: They shall have music...

Percussion Play is in the latest issue of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architecture publication Landscapes|Paysages focusing on the Quinterra Legacy Garden - A Memorial Music Garden located in Calgary, Canada.

Read the article: The Quinterra Legacy Garden

Media Room - Landscape Magazine Cover Winter 2022

Nexus Education is a gateway for thousands of like-minded schools to find ideas and solutions online.

During Children’s Mental Health Week we explain the benefit outdoor music can have on children’s mental health and emotional growth.

Read the article: How Outdoor Music can Benefit Children’s Mental Health

Media Room - Nexus Education

GEM is for everyone interested in learning through museums, heritage, and cultural settings.

Percussion Play featured in an article that explored how, as the second anniversary of the start of the Covid-19 pandemic approaches, museums and heritage sites are reflecting on lessons learned from having to adapt and change the way they interact and open to the public.

Read the article: Audiences Reap the Rewards of Outdoor Music

Media Room - GEM

Percussion Play features in PTA+ Magazine's article showcasing the ‘PTA Top Buys’ for learning experiences outside of the classroom.

Read the article: PTA+ Magazine’s article

Blog - PTA Magazine Jan 22

Canada’s City Parent magazine is distributed across Toronto, York, Peel, Halton, Hamilton, Durham, and Ottawa with over 40,000 readers.

Percussion Play is featured on page 14 which includes the case study of Sambro Elementary School in Nova Scotia.

Read the article: City Parent - Bang the Drum

Blog - City Parent Magazine

The Healing Garden at Hansen Desert Hills Memorial Park in Scottsdale Arizona which features a Percussion Play Bell Lyre was featured in the Funeral Home and Cemetery News

Read the article: The Healing Garden at Hansen Desert Hills Memorial Park Takes Families On A Journey Using All Five Senses

Blog - Funeral News Front Page

Lakeland Reformed Church has embraced outdoor play at Lakeland Creative Beginnings Child Care with a number of outdoor musical instruments inspired by their faith.

Read the article: Making Joyful Noise

Case Study - Lakeland Reformed Church

Nasen Connect magazine article on why Cherry Garden Special School chose to install Percussion Play outdoor musical instruments in their school playground.

Nasen is the National Association for Special Educational Needs that supports and champions those working with, and for, children and young people with SEND and learning differences.

Read the article: Nasen Connect - Cherry Garden School 'Music at Art'

Blog - Cherry Garden School

To celebrate International Day of People with Disabilities on December 3rd, Percussion Play highlighted the benefits of music, particularly outdoor music, for people with both physical and mental disabilities.

Read the article: The Benefits of Outdoor Music for People With Disabilities

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