10 Musical Instruments You Have Never Heard Of. Get Ready To Be Amazed And Surprised

Does your child love music? Well, if you are planning to help your child learn music, let him experience different kinds of music, and not just the classic ones like the piano, violin or the cello. Here are ten unique musical instruments that are sure to pique your child's curiosity, along with videos featuring their sounds. While some of them are from India, others are native to other countries. The usage of most of these instruments are restricted to specific regions in the world, and hence, are not often featured in the mainstream music world. Go ahead and read about these ten musical instruments you probably have not heard about and soak in the soothing tones and metallic beats along with your child.

Ten musical instruments you might not have heard about

Native to India

Pepa

Pepa is a hornpipe native to Assam. It is a musical instrument traditionally played during the Bihu festival. Also known as pempa, pepati, singra and xuri, this is a unique wind instrument, originally made from the horn of a buffalo. According to a popular legend, a buffalo herder once found a dead buffalo on the banks of a river, and noticed that when a gentle breeze blew, a soft sound started emanating from the buffalo's horn. This inspired him to create the Pepa. These days, the Pepa is made from bamboo, wood or cane.

Thavil

The Thavil is a drum shaped percussion instrument, native to Tamil Nadu. Along with the Nadaswaram, it plays an important role in traditional festivals and ceremonies. It is believed to have originated from Thanjavur, so it is also called Thanjavur Thavil. This musical instrument is usually played sitting down, but can also be slung around the shoulder with a cloth band. The player strikes the faces of the Thavil with their wrist and fingers, or a stick. Occasionally, the players also wear thumb caps to play this instrument.

Sursringar

The name of this instrument is derived from the Sanskrit word, "Sringara", meaning pleasure. Appearing in Hindustani music in the early years of the nineteenth century, the Sursringar looks similar to the sarod, but produces a deeper sound. Sursringar is believed to be a modified version of another instrument, the Seniya rabab. It is made of wood or leather and the melodious notes are still enjoyed by sarod and sitar players.

Chenda

If you have been to Kerala, you might have heard the booming beats of the Chenda. Famous for its loud and rigid sound, the Chenda is an important part of Kerala's rich cultural heritage. "Chenda melam", a percussion performance using the Chenda is performed across the state for various events. It is also played as accompaniment for art forms like Kathakali, Koodiyattam and Theyyam. Listen to the rhythm of the Chenda melam here and find yourself tapping your foot to the beats.

Ravanahatha

The Ravanahatha or Ravana hasta veena is a stringed instrument, believed to be the ancestor of the modern-day violin. The instrument is still an important part of Rajasthan's folk music and can be seen played in rural areas by street musicians. According to tradition, the Ravanahatha originated among the Hela people of Lanka during the time of the demon king Ravana, after whom the instrument is named. According to legend, Ravana used the Ravanahatha to pray to the Hindu God, Shiva. The musical instrument is made of a bowl-shaped resonator, made from coconut shell and covered with goat hide.

Native to other countries

Alphorn

The Alphorn is an ancient wind instrument, documented as early as the 16th century in Switzerland. Originally, it was used by shepherds to call the cows from their grazing lands to the farm. Sometimes, it was also used as a call for evening prayer in central Switzerland. The distinctive sound of the instrument combines the richness of brass and wood wind instruments. The Alphorn didn't sound through the valleys for a few years, but it gradually regained its popularity, and is now an important tourist attraction and symbol of Switzerland.

Kalimba

This unique finger instrument from Africa dates back to 1000 B.C. Other common names it is known by are sanza, likembe and thumb piano. It is a quaint musical instrument made of a wooden box and a number of flat metal keys as in a keyboard. According to Bantu mythology, God created plants and animals by playing the thumb piano and all the beings lived together in harmony. This musical instrument is used by night watchmen and story tellers in rural Africa.

Glockenspiel

This musical instrument is from Germany. In German, 'Glocken' stands for bells and 'Spiel' means set. This is a percussion instrument with a set of tuned keys arranged like a piano. In France, the glockenspiel is called the Carillon, and in Italy, it goes by the name, Campanelli. Military bands often use a portable form of the glockenspiel called the bell lyre. It looks like a xylophone, but the keys are made up of metal plates or tubes instead of wood and is usually smaller in size and higher in pitch.

Steel drums

The steel drum or steel pan is a traditional musical instrument originating in Trinidad and Tobago. The pan or drum is struck with a pair of straight sticks tipped with rubber. It has distinct resonating surfaces that produce different sounds when struck. Steel drum musicians are called pannists. The World Steelband Music Festival is held intermittently in Trinidad, and steel bands from around the world participate in this. Listen to the unique tones of the steel drum here, and let it transport you to the Caribbean islands.

Khaen

The Khaen is a reed mouth organ of the Lao people, who live in Laos and North Eastern Thailand. The instrument is made of rows of bamboo pipes that are mounted on a wooden windchest, into which air is blown. The Khaen, which is considered as a symbol of Lao culture, has also been adopted by people of other ethnicities. This musical instrument is played at temples and festivals, local markets and concerts.

That was quite an unusual array of musical instruments! You are now one of the few people who know about them, so why not spread the word? Talk about each musical instrument with your child and ask her to share what she learnt with her friends as well. Let us all step up to preserve and enjoy these musical instruments and pass it on to future generations!