Music is the literature of the heart; it commences where speech ends.”
― Alphonse de Lamartine
On April 14, 2025, the Public Works Department of the City of Cedar Falls began the installation of the library's Music Garden, and by the end of the week, it was open to the public. Located behind the library along State Street, the Music Garden consists of six outdoor instruments purchased from Percussion Play: Harmony Bells, Liberty Bells, a Sunflower Petal Drum, a Cyclone, Cattail Chimes, and a Cavatina. These colorful instruments now fill the underused space, creating an area that fosters multi-generational entertainment, encourages creativity, and engages the senses. Funding was provided by the Cedar Falls Community Foundation and was installed by the City of Cedar Falls' Public Works Department.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a Music Garden?
A Music Garden is a space that incorporates outdoor musical instruments and may also include other sensory experiences, like the sounds of nature or an area to experience different smells and textures. Our Music Garden focuses on the instruments and how their sounds mingle with the sounds of the city.
Who would enjoy the Music Garden?
Everyone! Music is a gift shared with everyone, no matter their age or ability. According to Percussion Play, "Differences in age, gender, ethnic or linguistic background have no place in music and obstacles present in other activities defined by motor and mental ability are absent where music is concerned. Music is naturally the most universal language at our disposal and everyone has the potential to make music", and, additionally, "The vibrations of outdoor musical instruments can be felt as well as heard, adding new dimensions for deaf people and those hard of hearing."
What are the Music Garden rules?
- Be kind and respectful of the instruments and the space.
- Do not litter.
- Have fun!
What are some benefits of a Music Garden?
- They can foster cognitive development through improving memory, pattern recognition, focus, listening skills, etc.
- They can promote language and communication development.
- "Speech and music have a number of shared processing systems. Musical experiences which enhance processing can therefore impact on the perception of language which in turn impacts on learning to read" (Susan Hallam, 2010)
- "music components, such as rhythm and melody perception as well as synchronization and informal experience of music in a domestic environment, play a main role in language development, mainly in terms of phonological awareness, grammar, prosody, and comprehension, since the early stages of life" (Pino, MC, et al 2023).
- They can help develop gross and fine motor skills.
- "Activities like striking drums, chimes with their hands, or striking notes on large outdoor xylophones help children build coordination and strength. This physical engagement is especially beneficial in outdoor settings where ample space allows for movement and exploration" (Percussion Play)
- They encourage social skills, like teamwork, cooperation, and teamwork.
- They encourage multi-generational engagement.
- They are good for emotional expression, whether that is by expressing oneself through music when your words fail you or by beating your stress out on a drum (Heshamt, Shahram 2022).
What are some activities I can do with the Music Garden?
- Rhythm Games: Tap out a beat and have your friend copy you. Slowly make the sequence longer and longer until one of you messes up!
- Add another level of difficulty by changing the rhythm and the notes!
- Clap your hands to a steady pulse or beat. Have your friend beat out the rhythm while you clap. (Example: You clap 1,2,3,4, (quarter notes) steadily while your friend beats out “1 E & A" (Sixteenth notes).
- Play the same rhythm at the same time on different Harmony Bells.
- Matching Pitch: Play a melody and have your friend sing it back to you. Then, have your friend sing something, and you play it back.
- Find the Color: Ask your child to find different colors. Using the music book by the Cavatina (xylophone), help them play a song. Outdoor instruments like the Cavatina... with their rainbow-colored notes, are perfect for teaching hand-eye coordination, color recognition, and early music literacy. Match colors to notes and introduce musical patterns in a way that's engaging, sensory-rich, and suitable for all learning styles (Percussion Play).
- Listen to the sounds around you. Can you mimic them on an instrument?
- Create a song together! Incorporate drumming, claps, snaps, and words!
- Using the Cyclone, make it sound like it's sprinkling by spinning it slowly. Then, crescendo or make it get louder, so it sounds like a storm! Decrescendo or make it get softer as the "rain" tapers off.
- Tell or read a story and add musical sound effects!
Learn more about the creation of our Music Garden here!
