World Instruments

The Balafon is a West African xylophone with calabash (gourds) tied underneath, which are used as resonators. The balafon is used for a variety of occasions and in a variety of musical expressions.

The Berimbau is an African-Brazilian instrument used as an instrument alone or in the martial arts performance of capoeira.

World Instruments

The Bodhran is an Irish frame drum played with a mallet. It is made from a round wooden frame, with an animal skin stretched over it.

The Hungarian Citera is a European folk zither related to the German concert zither, autoharp, and Appalachian dulcimer. The citera has four or five main strings that are fretted plus a number of drone and strings.

The Clap Sticks are a percussive instrument from Australia, used to accompany song and dance. Some variations dictate that one stick be longer and flatter than the other.

The Didgeridoo is an instrument that originated in Australian. It is traditionally made from eucalyptus branches. It is a wind instrument. The didgeridoo was developed by Aboriginal peoples of northern Australia, likely within the last 1,000 years, and is now used around the world.

World Instruments

The Hammered Dulcimer is a stringed instrument, with the strings mounted on a trapezoid box. It is played by striking the strings with hammers. It has been a part of many different European and Middle Eastern cultures, and it is a part of the Appalachian heritage in the United States.

The Kalimba is a series of thin metal plates or “tongues” which are fixed to a box or a wooden block serving as the resonating body or sound box. It is played with the thumbs. It’s nickname is the “thumb harp.”

The Native American Flute is held in front of the player, has open finger holes, and has two chambers: one for collecting the breath of the player and a second chamber which creates sound.

The Panpipes or pan flute is a type of flute used in many places around the world including South America. Panpipes are a collection of end-blown flutes of different pitches without a mouthpiece joined in a bundle or raft. The player blows horizontally across the top of the pipes.

World Instruments

The Bowed Psaltery is played with a bow along each edge.. Each string is a different note, played separately, with all the natural notes on the right side and the sharps and flats along the left.

The Sitar is perhaps the most well known of the Indian instruments. It has a long neck. It has a varying number of strings but 17 is usual. It has three to four playing strings and three to four drone strings.

The Spike Fiddle (Rebab) is from Turkey and has 4 strings. It is approximately 24 inches long. Spike fiddles are part of the lute family. Such fiddles date back, at least, to the 8th century in Arabia and Persia. Spiked Fiddles typically have no frets. They are played, held up-right, with the spike resting on the player's leg or ground. These instruments complement the melodic line by creating a dialogue with the singers