Good to know – Soundbellows®

Soundbellows® - an easy to play wind instrument

Soundbellows - modernizing musical education

Soundbellows® fill the gap in instrumentation used for making music in the classroom. Ideally, these handy instruments complement Orff Instruments and Boomwhackers®, two of the most dynamic names in modern music teaching.
An important feature of making music with the Soundbellows® is the ability to play with different sound lengths and levels.

Group play of the Soundbellows® produces a natural sound similar to the mouth organ and the accordion. Thus it adds color to an arrangement of several instrument groups. Soundbellows® alone , as a homogeneous sound body, can also build up a very pleasant musical outcome.

Get in touch with us (info@soundbellows.com). We’d love to show you how to use our wonderful Soundbellows!

Soundbellows-Quicktipps (Activate English Subtitles)

Comparison of color coded single tone instruments

Color-coded (single-note) instruments have long been an important component in music education and music therapy. The following overview provides a comparative presentation of the most common representatives of this instrument group (deskbells, sound blocks, boomwhackers, soundbellows).

All these instruments have the following common characteristics:

a worldwide standardized color coding (chromanotes).
a division into single tones and thus a special orientation towards playing together and “listening to each other”.
Compared to other school instruments (e.g. melodica, ukulele, mallet instruments, etc.), a larger number of musicians is possible per instrument or set of instruments.
Each musician has the same instrument. This means that different playing techniques do not have to be taught at the same time.
Due to the widespread grid notation, no knowledge of sheet music is necessary. Thus, a sense of musical achievement can be generated quickly.
The combination with other (color-coded) school instruments is possible without any problems.
The instruments are always tuned.
The material is durable (with good care and correct playing technique).

	Deskbells	Sound Blocks (metal or wood)	Boomwhackers	Soundbellows

Playing technique	Hitting by hand	Hitting by mallet	Hitting by hand	Pressing by hand
timbre, tone length	Short and long, bell-like, metallic, bright	Metal: Short and long, radiant Wood: Short, percussive, warm	Short, percussive, dull	Short and long, harmonica-like
Pros	Simple and intuitive game technique Playable for young and old, even over a longer period of time For experts: possible to play different tone lengths Easy to transport	Playable for young and old, even over a longer period of time For experts: possible to play different tone lengths	the character of a “child’s toy”, in order to avoid fear of contact (same effect as when making music with everyday objects) simple and intuitive playing technique Cost factor	the character of a “child’s toy”, in order to avoid fear of contact (same effect as when making music with everyday objects) simple and intuitive playing technique Possibility to play different tone lengths Relative solmization possible through additional rings Differentiated dynamic playing possible Playing possibility for small and large, also over a longer period of time Easy to transport
Cons	No large sound design possibilities	The correct springy playing technique can be challenging (therefore important: playing technique introduction)	In combination with other instruments and vocals quickly too quiet No great sound shaping possibilities In the long run: painful to play A bit bulky for transport (be sure to buy with bag)	Higher volume (therefore important: playing technique introduction)
Materials	1 metal bell 1 plastic base 1 percussion mechanism	1 plastic or wooden body 1 wooden or metal sound plate	1 piece thin plastic	1 hand bellows 1 tone head 1 reed
Player with a diatonic set	Up to 8 players	Up to 8 players	Up to 8 players	Up to 8 players
Up to 8 players	ca. 75 €	ca. 69 € – 500 €	ca. 25 €	ca. 89 €