Percussion Play Denmark have installed a new outdoor musical instruments ‘Harmony’ and ‘Akadinda’ in the grounds of the Child and Youth Psychiatry Centre in Odense, for patients, visitors and families to enjoy when attending the hospital. Based on a traditional Vietnamese Bamboo xylophone called a T'rung, the Harmony is made of anodised aluminium tubes arranged horizontally to produce an irresistibly beautiful sound and resonance when struck. The Akadinda is a large outdoor marimba xylophone that produces deep sounds and is perfect for improvising and experimenting with music outdoors. Akadinda – Outdoor Traditional Xylophone Harmony – Outdoor Aluminium Chimes The instruments were donated by the local ‘Soroptimist International’ group in Odense, with funds raised from their raffle at the Hans Christian Andersen Christmas Market. Soroptimist International is a global volunteer movement working at local, national and international levels to educate, empower and enable opportunities for women and girls and has over 80,000 members across the world. Staff at the hospital have told us that the music instruments with their calming tones have proved very successful in relaxing the children. “Sometimes when the children become upset, angry or agitated they can go outside in the fresh air, play a little music and calm down. Because of their mood, you may expect them to cause some damage to the music instruments, but no, they simply pick up the beaters and start playing gently on them. After some time they come in again in a better mood”.