Collection: Boomwhackers

Boomwhackers, the colour-coded plastic tubes that produce a pitch when struck against a hand, a floor or each other. Each length gives a different note and each note has its own colour, which means a class can play a melody together before anybody has learned to read music.

Sets here cover several starting points. The diatonic C major set of 8 tubes is the standard first purchase. The pentatonic set of 6 removes the notes that can clash, so any combination played together sounds musical, which makes it the easiest set for free improvisation with a large group. Chromatic sets of 5 add the sharps and flats. Treble extension and bass sets extend the range up and down, and single add-on tubes cover a lost note.

Larger activity packs of 16 and 27 tubes are built for whole-class use, and the Move and Play set pairs tubes with an activity book.

Octavator caps fit over the end of a tube and drop its pitch by an octave, doubling the range of a set you already own. Holders, the Xylotote tube rack and carrying totes are also stocked, since keeping a class set organised is most of the battle.