NATURE PLAY WITH PERCUSSION
08 Nov 2023
Music and sound play an important role in sensory play. Drawing from cultures around the world, Play Workshop have created new types of percussion play instruments made from sustainably sourced local natural Red Ironbark logs as the perfect accessory to natural playgrounds.
The Rasp Drum has been inspired by one of the earliest instruments discovered in Belgium dating back to around 70,000 BC. Children can use the striker provided to draw a sound from the drum, or experiment with other sticks and materials to create different sounds.
The Krin Drum is another ancient West African percussion instrument. When the log is struck, the drum produces different tones depending on the thickness of the wood and the size of the slits.
Play Workshop’s in-house artist hand crafts these drums from natural Red Ironbark logs, each one is unique in sound due to the properties of each piece of timber. These drums can be further customised with carvings that can create a link to the local area and community.
New product development is a large part of Play Workshop’s philosophy, and other exciting music and sound-based pieces for natural settings are currently in design, including hand pan drums, marimbas and more. Play Workshop wants children to explore with their senses, recognising how exploring the world this way helps them to learn and understand many different things. Sensory play helps children to better understand and self-regulate their own capacity, learning their preferences and explore different sounds and experiences on their own terms.
Play Workshop continues to work with designers and landscape architects to create custom pieces and playspaces. It is a creative space, not a factory and they specialise in working collaboratively with designers to bring their visions to life. All equipment is made to order locally in Sydney and can be shipped Australia-wide.
This is only the beginning of what Play Workshop can do, keep up to date for new pieces and projects to be launched soon. For more information and project examples visit the new Play Workshop website today via the links below.