Sky Melody Set — 4-Piece Wooden Music Set

Sky Melody Set — four instruments, and one of them plays actual notes An eight-note xylophone, a tambourine, a maraca and a castanet, in FSC-certified wood with a hot air balloon and star design. Suitable from 12 months. Most first music sets are a collection of things that make a noise; the eight-note xylophone in this one means your little one can play a tune as well as a rhythm. 🎵 Rhythm first, then melody The maraca, tambourine and castanet are all rhythm instruments — shake, bang, click — and that's where a one-year-old starts, because keeping time comes before anything else. The xylophone is the one they grow into: eight tuned notes, so a scale can be walked up and down and, eventually, something recognisable picked out. Having both in one set is why it lasts past the banging stage. 🥁 Four instruments means four different jobs 8-note xylophone — struck with the beater, for notes, scales and first tunes. Tambourine — shaken or tapped, with metal jingles. The loud, joyful one. Maraca — one-handed shaking, and the easiest for the youngest hands. Castanet — squeezed rather than shaken, which is a different grip and surprisingly tricky at first. 🎈 A set that looks like something The hot air balloon and celestial motifs are a cut above the usual primary-colour blocks, which matters when instruments live out on a shelf rather than in a box. It also makes the set feel like a set, rather than four unrelated bits of wood. 📏 Sized for small hands, and for a shelf The set comes in at roughly 35 x 6 x 32cm and around 725g — a little smaller than a sheet of A3, and light enough for a toddler to help carry. Each instrument is scaled for one pair of small hands rather than being a miniature of an adult one. 👐 What it's quietly building Striking a key with a beater is fine motor work and aim; matching a beat is listening and timing; noticing that one key sounds higher than another is the start of auditory discrimination. And there's the bit nobody puts on the box — a toddler who makes a sound on purpose, in front of people, and sees them react, is learning that expressing themselves is worth doing. 🌳 FSC wood, non-toxic paint Made from FSC-certified wood with non-toxic, water-based paints, and metal for the xylophone keys and the tambourine jingles. UKCA and CE certified. Nothing is battery powered — every sound comes from your little one. Four instruments: 8-note xylophone, tambourine, maraca and castanet Tuned xylophone keys, so tunes are possible as well as rhythm FSC-certified wood with non-toxic water-based paint Metal xylophone keys and tambourine jingles Hot air balloon and star design Set measures approximately 35 x 6 x 32cm, around 725g Suitable from 12 months UKCA and CE certified No batteries — and no electronic backing track Contents: 8-note xylophone with beater, tambourine, maraca, castanet Size: approx. 35 x 6 x 32cm Weight: approx. 725g Materials: FSC-certified wood, metal keys and jingles, non-toxic water-based paint Suitable from: 12 months Care: wipe the wood with a dry or barely damp cloth, and keep the metal keys dry so they hold their tone Safety: UKCA and CE certified Brand: Speedy Monkey ❓ Frequently asked questions Is the xylophone actually in tune? Yes — eight tuned notes rather than eight random ones, which is the difference between a scale and a clatter. It's what makes this worth having over a set of purely percussive toys. How loud is it? Honestly: loud. A tambourine with metal jingles in the hands of a toddler is not a quiet object, and no amount of copywriting will change that. It's wonderful in a kitchen and a poor choice for a hotel room. How big is the set? Around 35 x 6 x 32cm and about 725g — a little smaller than A3. Each instrument is toddler-sized, and the xylophone is the largest piece. What age is it for? From 12 months. At a year it's shaking and banging; the xylophone becomes interesting nearer two, and the castanet's squeeze takes a bit longer still. The set stays in use to around three. Are there small parts? The pieces are toddler-sized instruments rather than small components, and it's rated from 12 months — but the beater is a separate stick, so it's worth keeping an eye on where that ends up, as with any beater. How do I clean it? Wipe the wood with a dry or barely damp cloth. Keep the metal keys dry — water on them dulls the tone over time. Nothing here should be soaked or put near a dishwasher. Does it need batteries? No, and that's rather the point. Every sound is one your little one makes, which is the whole difference between a music toy and a musical instrument. Does it make a good gift? It's a strong first-birthday or Christmas present: four instruments in one box, it looks handsome unwrapped, and the tuned xylophone gives it a longer life than a rhythm-only set. 🎶 More musical toys This is the set to buy if you want everything at once. If you'd rather start with one instrument: jumini Xylophone — a larger standalone xylophone in solid FSC wood, if the tuned notes are the bit you care about. jumini Wooden Tambourine — just the tambourine, and a good first instrument on its own. jumini Wooden Maraca — the gentlest of the lot, and the easiest for a younger baby to hold. Rain Maker — for a quieter kind of noise, when you've had enough jingling. See them all in our sensory toys collection and the rest of the Speedy Monkey range. ❤️ From our family to yours Carefully chosen products for babies, toddlers and parents. Browse more wooden toys and the rest of the Speedy Monkey range — free UK delivery on orders over £25.