Sound Playgrounds: Music Solutions for Outdoor Areas

The good news is that it doesn't have to be complicated or too expensive to add music to your outdoor space. This article gives seven ways to easily add music or provide musical solutions for 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 – that’s six drums to play but only three holes to dig!

Drumming has many benefits as well as being a great stress reliever. It’s a fun, interactive and engaging activity which improves hand-eye coordination, can bolster self-esteem as well as providing healthy exercise.

Made of heavy-duty PVC our Rainbow Sambas are strong and durable drums which sound as good as they look. They’ll combine outstanding play-ability with high energy, a wonderful sound and exciting visual appeal.

To Liven Up Existing Play Equipment, Fixtures or Fencing Freechimes are hand-tuned aluminium chimes which produce a rich vibrant, harmonic resonance. Available individually as solo chimes, in pre-set octaves or a full symphony, the possibilities are endless. Options for ground fixing, wall mounting or individual installation onto just about any surface, in any arrangement. Add to an existing fence or a dull wall, one or two chimes would liven up existing play equipment or add a special element to an outdoor classroom, dot them around the playground or through woodlands to make a wonderful and enjoyable music trail.

Freechimes - Practical, durable and stylish with a wonderful melody that will liven up any outdoor area.

For Outdoor Classrooms and/or Teaching Music Outdoors The Duo is a bright, stimulating teaching and music resource and would be a great addition to an outdoor classroom or as school playground equipment. Tuned to the pentatonic scale, the left and right hand side are mirrored and the scale is C-major spanning 2 octaves from C4 to C5.

Accessible from both sides, this instrument can be enjoyed by up to four players at any time. The curvaceous design makes it easier for individuals with limited range of movement, or players in wheelchairs, to reach all of the notes. Each player is slightly offset from each other, making it useful for players with special needs who may find direct eye contact difficult.

The Duo is easy to play and a perfect introduction to musical exploration and improvisation, so friends, students, classmates, colleagues or even complete strangers can come together, explore with rhythm and make some great music!

When size matters: Providing an interactive focal point With the largest standing over 2.5m in height, our Emperor Chimes really are the daddy of all chimes - large in sound and size! As a full set of six they offer a complete c-major pentatonic octave C3-C4. A set of three offers a primary c-major chord octave in C-Major C, E and G.

Striking the chime with your hands just about anywhere along the tube produces a deep, resonant, powerful tone that you not only hear, but can feel as well. The harder you strike, the more it will vibrate, creating a louder sound with such resonance you can actually feel the vibration through your entire body.

The Emperor Chimes will also serve as intriguing focal points within the outdoor space.

For places of peace and tranquillity Babel Drums are circular stainless steel tongue drums securely mounted onto their frames designed for permanent outdoor installation. These playground drums require no previous drumming experience and children (and adults, too!) will enjoy improvising with the mesmerizing sounds they produce.

The Babel Drum should be played with the hands, preferably by striking with the fingertips. Their mellow tones are never brassy or too loud - perfect for musical exploration in the fresh air leaving you feeling rejuvenated, happy and relaxed.

The Akadinda is inspired by a traditional xylophone originating in Africa and is perfect for outdoor musical play. This enormous instrument can accommodate up to four players and is ideal for bringing people together for impromptu performances.

Great fun to play with huge resilient notes made from IPE notes which give a natural mellow, low tone tuned to the pentatonic scale in C major A2-D5.

Because it is so large, friends, classmates can improvise and experiment with music together encouraging communication, cooperation and listening skills and bags of creativity.