Text in this orange colour indicates that similar instruments can be found on every continent
Nursery Rhythm Kit - Where it comes from Shaman drum
One bar chime
Based on the Inuit flat drum and native American Indian tribal drums, used by shaman and “medicine men”. Similar drums are also found in the Indian and middle eastern cultures.
It’s possible that chime bars developed in Nepal or China as aids to meditation.
Horio shaker Like the frog scraper (another “guiro”), similar to instruments found in African, Aztec, Cuban, Brazilian and European cultures. Also called reco-reco and sapo cubana.
Animal clacker This is a small version of much longer, traditional Japanese and Korean instruments. Smaller clackers have also been used since the middle ages in Europe. Sometimes also called kokiriko..
Bamboo basket
From Bali, Indonesia, where the baskets are used for making offerings at the temple.
Frog scraper
Agogo natural
This is a type of guiro, a mainstay of south American percussion. Originally made from hollow gourds, they come in all shapes and sizes and are played all over the world.
This is an instrument, recently invented in Bali, that has a two-tone sound like the cow bell and the tiktok.
Cow bell Tiktok
Djembe
A classic “wood block” instrument with a two tone sound typical of south American and west African traditions. Similar instruments are now played all over the world.
A style of drum with a distinctive “hour glass” shape, that is made and played all over west Africa and particularly in and around Mali. Bigger djembes are played with the hands but these small ones can be played with the fingers or with a rounded stick.
soundchildren.co.uk
Cow bells of different types are found all over the world, wherever animal husbandry has developed. These metal ones are typically African.
Helping children and teachers develop into musicians, naturally
Nursery Rhythm Kit - What’s in the basket
Bamboo basket Made from: outside skin of bamboo The outside skin is much stronger and smoother than the inside bamboo fibres.
2 Animal clackers
Shaman drum
Made from: Pine wood and string Played by: flicking - hold both ends and flick from one hand to the other. Age from: 2-ish
Made from: goatskin and wood Played by: hitting Age from: 2-ish
Take care: The skin is fragile so don’t hit with anything sharp and don’t get it wet (but if you do, it can always be dried out with a hair dryer).
2 Horio shakers
Djembe
Made from: Mahogany wood* and plastic beads Played by: scraping or shaking Age from: 2-ish
Made from: Mahogany wood*, goatskin, cotton and steel rings Played by: hitting, slapping Age from: 1-ish
Take care: The skin is fragile so don’t hit with anything sharp and don’t get it wet (but if you do, it can always be dried out with a hair dryer).
2 Frog scrapers Made from: Balinese Empag wood Played by: scraping or tapping Age from: 3-ish
2 Agogo natural Made from: soft wood and coconut husks Played by: hitting Age from: 2-ish
2 Tiktok Made from: Mahogany wood* Played by: hitting Age from: 2-ish
2 One bar chimes
Made from: Mahogany wood*, aluminium and cotton Played by: hitting Age: from 2-ish
30 Music cards
Cow bell
Ideas and hints for leading stimulating music sessions. There are 5 introductory cards and 25 musical activity cards.
Made from: steel with wooden beater Played by: hitting Age from: 2-ish * all our mahogany wood is sustainably grown
soundchildren.co.uk
Please note that seasonal availability of some materials or other factors affecting supply may cause us to make substitutions from time to time.
Helping children and teachers develop into musicians, naturally