First Outdoor Floor Piano 

Park Hill Elementary, part of Derby Public Schools, is the first school in the world to install a Percussion Play floor piano in their new inclusive playground.

Thanks to the passing of a bond that will eventually ensure inclusive play is achievable in all nine elementary schools within the Derby district. Park Hill is unique in that is the only music themed playground in the community.

ADA Accessible & Inclusive Play For All

Park Hill serves kindergarten through 5th Grade as well as multiple Special Education programs and therefore accessibility was obviously a key consideration in the design process. The goal was for any child – regardless of his or her abilities or mobility device used – to be able to move freely and access all the outdoor musical instruments.

The musical playground layout and surfacing allows children in wheelchairs or other mobility devices to be engaged, active and able to play the alongside other students. All of the equipment is ADA accessible inclusing the floor piano  on which students can compose their own music as they jump, run or dance, walk or wheel across the keys.

“It’s awesome to hear the music playing and it’s a beautiful, engaging space for students.” Sandy Rusher, Principal, Park Hill Elementary

Why Choose Outdoor Musical Instruments?

The musical garden at Park Hill is full of many different instruments, both pentatonic and diatonic, to create endless musical opportunities for both recess and outdoor music lessons but also for therapy.

Outdoor musical instruments can be great motivators during physio or occupational therapy for pupils with more complex physical needs, giving these children a powerful tool to help build their communication, motor, and social skills.

For social interaction within a small or large group, music is an invaluable tool. Children learn how to take turns, how to listen and respond to another person.

Music changes lives because it has the power to remove physical and verbal barriers, strengthen the self-awareness and confidence of special needs students and give them effective resources for communicating with others and interacting with the world around them.