In the 1920s, Carl Orff (of Carmina Burana fame) developed a method of teaching children about music that focuses on treating music just like the spoken word - starting with just a few notes and continually adding complexity as time passes. The Orff method necessitated a collection of simple, non-intimidating musical instruments to teach the foundations of western melody and harmony in a group setting - what is more well-suited for the job than drums and rudimentary keyboard percussion instruments?

Each Orff keyboard has removable bars and is designed to be stored and moved easily. The Primary FSC Tenor-Alto Xylophone features 16 wooden pao rosa bars, each marked with the corresponding pitch. The 1.8 octave range (c1 to a2) is tuned to a C major scale, with the option to change out Fs and Bs for F-sharps and B-flats. The sturdy frame is made from pine, and the extra bars as well as two included mallets fit snugly into the side of the frame, keeping everything neatly together.