Tone Bars Set With Two Mallets
Made by Nienhuis Montessori · shipped by Heutink International (Netherlands) About the maker
Tuned bars laid out like a keyboard, each with its own resonator, and two mallets. Because the bars are separate pieces rather than a fixed instrument, a child can take one out, carry it, compare it against another, and put the scale together as an act of ordering rather than of performance. That is the difference between a music toy and a sensorial material: the work is discriminating pitch, and the tune is a by-product. Suits the older child who is ready to notice half steps. Metal bars with wood, plastic and rubber, for ages 6 to 12.
“The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.”
The Tone Bars Set fulfills the elementary child's need to explore abstract concepts through concrete manipulation.
- Refines auditory discrimination through comparing chromatic pitches
- Develops understanding of musical intervals and scale relationships
- Strengthens hand-eye coordination through precise mallet strikes
- Builds foundation for music theory and composition
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Each precision-tuned metal bar represents a specific pitch in the chromatic scale, making the mathematical relationships between frequencies tangible. The resonating chambers beneath the bars amplify each tone, allowing children to perceive subtle differences in pitch that develop their auditory discrimination. This material bridges sensorial experiences from primary years to the abstract study of music theory in elementary. The arrangement mimicking piano keys connects the child's exploration to the wider musical world. Through striking the metal bars with mallets, children discover harmonies, dissonance, and the physical properties of sound production. The Tone Bars Set answers the elementary child's question 'how does music work?' by providing a scientific instrument for musical investigation.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place the Tone Bars on a stable table at child's working height. Arrange bars in chromatic order from lowest to highest pitch. Position mallets beside the instrument.
- 1
Begin with the C major scale bars only, playing each in sequence
Strike the center of each bar gently for clearest tone - 2
Introduce matching pairs activity - play a bar and find its octave
Close eyes to focus purely on auditory matching - 3
Create simple three-note patterns for the child to repeat
Start with adjacent notes before introducing intervals - 4
Explore playing familiar melodies by ear
Begin with songs using only five consecutive notes
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
In classrooms
Around the world
European brands
Nienhuis, GAM, Educo
AMI approved
To the association standard
Tone Bars Set With Two Mallets
