This kalimba is one of C. B. Gitty"s line of Plink "Em Instruments - designed with kids in mind! These kalimbas are fun and easy to play, and best of all (from a parent"s or teacher"s point of view) is that they are inherently limited in volume - they make plenty of sound to be enjoyable for kids (or adults!) to play, but are not so loud as to be distracting. When we first gave them to a group of kids at the daycare our son attends, there were 10 or so kids sitting in a semicircle plinking away on their kalimbas at the same time - and it sounded NICE! Made in the USA by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, these handcrafted instruments are perfect for in the home as well as daycares, pre-schools, elementary schools, doctor"s offices, hospitals and more!Specifications of this Kalimba: Size/Style: Mini; Recommended Ages: 3 and up; Wood: Eastern White Pine (U.S. grown); Number of Tines/Keys: 8; Tuning: G Major; Scale Type: Diatonic (classic Do Re Mi scale); Dimensions: 4 1/4" wide x 6 3/8" deep by 1 3/8" high; Decorative Carving: FootballThe kalimba, also known as a thumb piano, is an instrument of African origin whose history goes back thousands of years. While there have been many styles and types of kalimba over the centuries, this "westernized" style was developed by ethnomusicologist Hugh Tracey in the first half of the 20th century during his travels through Africa recording indigenous music. Our full-size kalimbas have 12 keys and are tuned to the key of C, and our mini model has 8 keys and is tuned to the key of G. Only the "whole" notes of the scale are included, leaving out all sharps and flats, so there are no "off" notes to create discord. There is no such thing as a wrong note on one of our kalimbas - only soft, harmonious melodies! We build our kalimbas from various softwoods and hardwoods and finish them with safe, non-toxic natural oils.