The following article is extracted from "The Recreation Landscape - Summer 2010 - Issue Nine", the newsletter of General Recreation, Inc.

Freenotes’ Harmony Park : making music together

Unlike your orchestra or band class, there’s no such thing as a wrong note with Harmony Park™ Outdoor Musical Playgrounds by Freenotes. Children—young and old—can step up to an instrument they’ve never played before and be able to make beautiful, rhythmic, melodic music right away.

Making music simple and readily available to young children can help develop their interest in pursuing music in more traditional ways.

Harmony Park offers a full, sensory play experience. While engaging the senses, the instruments provide a chance for all children to express their individuality and interact with others through spontaneous creative expression.

The instruments also are beneficial for children with special needs. Making music can provide them with a sense of autonomy that bolsters self-esteem, as well as stimulates development and enhances responsiveness to their environment. All Harmony Park instruments are wheelchair accessible.

Full resonant sounds range from soprano to contra bass which are produced by a combination of fiberglass and aluminum bars, and metal chimes. The instruments can withstand the rigorous play of children and the extreme elements of nature and vandals.

Freenotes’ instruments are related to the beautiful gamelan instruments of Java and Bali, where nearly all people play music. Inspired by how the gamelan are built and tuned to be played together, musician Richard Cooke, designed Harmony Park instruments to enable the beginner and expert musician to experience music-making in a new way.

By simplifying the design to require no difficult muscular coordination and by using harmony-based scales, Freenotes has opened a way for anyone to experience the joy of playing music. The instruments go together effortlessly so everyone can play without musical training or direction.

A core ensemble of at least three instruments is highly encouraged for group play. The instruments can be installed in any combination and additional instruments can be added any time. Each project is customized and built to order. Special colors and powder coatings are available.

Want to learn more about introducing a unique musical experience on the playground? Contact Andy Cush, General Recreation’s Sales Manager, at 800-726-4793 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .