Health & Wellness - Percussion Play

Therapeutic Outdoor Musical Instruments | Music for Health, Healing & Wellness

Percussion Play’s outdoor musical instruments offer a powerful way to support physical, emotional, and social wellbeing in therapeutic and wellness-focused environments. Ideal for hospitals, rehabilitation centers, mental health facilities, and community wellness spaces, these instruments promote gentle movement, sensory stimulation, and moments of calm. Designed to be inclusive, durable, and easy to play, they help create uplifting outdoor spaces that encourage healing, mindfulness, and connection through music.

Babel Drum

The Babel Drum is a beautifully crafted, hand-played steel tongue drum that’s perfectly suited to healthcare and therapeutic environments. Its soft, resonant tones are calming and meditative, helping to create a peaceful atmosphere ideal for mindfulness, emotional regulation, and stress relief. The intuitive design makes it accessible to people of all ages and abilities, encouraging spontaneous musical expression without the need for prior experience. This can be especially beneficial for individuals dealing with anxiety, trauma, or cognitive challenges, offering a gentle, non-verbal outlet for emotional release. Made from stainless steel, the Babel Drum is also easy to clean and sanitize, making it a practical and hygienic choice for hospitals, hospices, and rehabilitation centres.

Harmony Bells

The Harmony Bells are a perfect fit for healthcare environments, offering both visual and auditory stimulation that uplifts and engages. Their vibrant colors and playful design instantly brighten up drab spaces such as courtyards or quiet garden areas, adding personality, visual interest, and a sense of fun. Sonically, they produce joyful, resonant tones that encourage movement, sensory exploration, and social interaction. Designed to be played either standing or seated, they are fully inclusive and accessible for wheelchair users and individuals with limited mobility, making them a versatile and therapeutic addition to any wellness-focused outdoor space.

Duo Outdoor Xylophone

The Duo is a thoughtfully designed instrument that’s perfect for healthcare settings, particularly where connection, communication, and cooperation are key. With its two sets of notes, it allows individuals to play side by side or slightly offset from one another - an arrangement that can help facilitate difficult conversations by reducing the pressure of direct eye contact. This setup encourages natural interaction, shared experiences, and gentle movement, making it ideal for therapeutic environments such as hospices, rehabilitation centres, and children’s care settings. The Duo promotes cooperation, emotional expression, and social bonding, all while being accessible and inclusive for players of all abilities.

Pentatonic Freechimes

The Freechimes Pentatonic are ideal for therapeutic and healthcare settings, offering gentle, harmonious tones that encourage improvisation and mindful play. Their pentatonic tuning ensures every note combination sounds pleasant, making them perfect for spontaneous musical expression - especially beneficial for individuals living with PTSD or trauma. Improvisation provides a safe, non-verbal outlet for emotional release and helps foster confidence and presence. Playing the chimes also supports cross-midline movements and engages both gross and fine motor skills, making them a valuable addition to sensory gardens, hospices, and rehabilitation spaces.

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Case Study: Children's Healing Center Expands Interactive Music Garden

The Children’s Healing Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has transformed its outdoor space into a joyful, interactive music garden. Designed to support children with weakened immune systems, the garden features a range of Percussion Play instruments that promote healing through creative play, movement, and sound. This inclusive space offers a safe, sensory-rich environment for children and families to connect, relax, and thrive.

Read the full story here

Catalog Download

Discover how outdoor musical instruments can enhance healing environments in hospitals, hospices, and care facilities. This catalog showcases inclusive, durable instruments designed to promote relaxation, rehabilitation, and emotional well-being for patients, residents, and visitors of all ages.

Outdoor Music Spaces For Music for Therapy and Healing in Healthcare Settings

White Paper: Music As Medicine - The Role of Music in Treating PTSD

Explore the powerful role of music in supporting individuals with PTSD. This white paper highlights how outdoor musical instruments can be integrated into therapeutic environments to reduce anxiety, improve emotional regulation, and foster healing in trauma-informed care settings.

Music As Medicine. Combating PTSD with Music and Music Therapy

Podcast

In this episode, we explore how music therapy can support neurodiverse individuals and the unique benefits of making music in outdoor environments. Renowned music therapist Dr. Alan Turry shares expert insights into the therapeutic power of rhythm and melody, while we also hear from a community that has embraced outdoor musical instruments as a meaningful tool for connection, expression, and healing.

🎧 Listen Now: The Power of Outdoor Music Therapy for the Neurodiverse

Music for Recovery: Instruments That Support Wellness

Discover how outdoor musical instruments support trauma recovery in hospitals, hospices, and therapy centres. Inclusive, accessible, and joyful tools for healing.

Unlocking Musical Potential Outdoors: Dr. Alan Turry on Neurodiversity and Therapy

Explore the transformative power of music therapy with Dr. Alan Turry at the Nordoff-Robbins Center, promoting self-expression and connection through music-making.

Listening To and Making Music Helps Understand Feelings and Emotions

Using Music-Making to Teach Children Emotional Understanding and Expression: A Highly Effective Strategy for Encouraging Self-Expression and Relieving Stress

The Power of Intergenerational Outdoor Musical Play

Discover how outdoor musical instruments create joyful, inclusive spaces for all ages. Learn the benefits of intergenerational music-making and how your community can get involved.

FAQs

How do musical instruments support trauma recovery and emotional wellbeing?

Music offers a safe, non-verbal outlet for emotional expression, which is especially valuable for individuals recovering from trauma, illness, or stress. Playing outdoor instruments can reduce anxiety, promote mindfulness, and encourage social connection—supporting both mental and physical wellbeing in a gentle, engaging way.

Do we need a music therapist to use these instruments effectively?

Not at all. While music therapists can enhance the experience, our instruments are intuitive and easy to use by anyone—patients, caregivers, family members, or staff. They’re designed to encourage spontaneous interaction and can be integrated into both structured therapy programs and informal care settings.

Are the instruments hygienic and suitable for clinical environments?

Yes. Our instruments are made from durable, weather-resistant materials like stainless steel and aluminium, making them easy to clean and maintain. They’re ideal for outdoor use in hospitals, hospices, and care centres where hygiene and safety are essential. While most instruments come with mallets securely attached, we can also supply them loose upon request—allowing them to be removed, sterilised, and stored safely between uses to meet clinical hygiene protocols.

Are outdoor musical instruments suitable for all ages, not just children?

Yes! Percussion Play instruments are designed to be fully inclusive and accessible. While they are child-friendly and safe for young users, they are not toys—they are high-quality, tuned musical instruments suitable for people of all ages, including adults and older individuals. They’re widely used in healthcare, therapy, and rehabilitation settings to support emotional wellbeing, physical coordination, and social interaction. Many instruments are wheelchair accessible and require no prior musical experience to enjoy.

Can outdoor musical instruments be installed in any healthcare setting, and what about sound levels?

Yes. Percussion Play instruments are designed for flexible installation in a wide range of outdoor environments, including courtyards, gardens, walkways, and therapy spaces. They can be securely mounted into grass, concrete, or other surfaces, and we offer guidance to ensure safe, accessible placement. While the instruments are designed to produce pleasant, resonant tones, they are not overly loud or disruptive—making them suitable for quiet, reflective spaces as well as more active areas. If sound sensitivity is a concern, we can help you select instruments with softer tonal ranges or position them to minimise acoustic impact. Our team is happy to advise on the best layout for your specific setting and therapeutic goals.

GET IN TOUCH WITH KATE

Kate is our Inclusive Communities Specialist, focusing on creating therapeutic musical spaces in healthcare and wellness environments. She is passionate about ensuring that people of all ages and abilities - whether patients, residents, families, or caregivers - can experience the emotional and physical benefits of outdoor music. From sensory gardens in hospices to rehabilitation courtyards and hospital play areas, Kate brings empathy, expertise, and a deep understanding of how music can support healing and connection in even the most sensitive settings.

Email Kate

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