General
Just like the vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, and glockenspiel, the lesser-known metallophone belongs to the 'idiophonic' family of musical instruments. This is because it's able to produce sound via the vibration of its own parts, without the need for any sound box or other acoustic amplification. Other instruments able to do this include the steel drum, handpan, and the humble tuning fork. The metallophone can be seen as a metal version of a xylophone, and they're so similar, that small metallophones that are made for children are often mistaken for xylophones - in fact, a glockenspiel is probably the better term.
The Suzuki SMCA-16 Alto Diatonic Metallophone
The SMCA-16 metallophone has an alto diatonic tuning and a C1 to A2 range. An extra lower Bb and both F# tone bars helpfully come included so that the key can be changed as needed, and two beaters have also been included. This instrument is 79 x 31 x 28cm big and weighs 8kg, and is ideal for the music rooms of primary and secondary schools as well as for the treatment room of a music therapy practice.
