Some of our year 9 journalists have an interest in unusual instruments from around the world. We will update you on different instruments over the course of year. Here is the first entry. Do you know anyone who has one? We would love to hear it.

Entry one: Kalimba 

The kalimba originated in Africa over 3000 years ago made out of all plant materials. However 1300 years ago when iron was available they made ones using iron for the keys. Later on in 1954 Hugh Tracey discovered the kalimba and decided to ship it around the world letting everyone be able to have one. The Kalimba is also commonly known as the thumb piano. To play it you grow your thumb nails out and use them to pluck the aluminium keys to make the sweet chimes. Kalimba’s tend to have 17-8 keys that can be tuned using a small metal hammer. They can only have one scale on them at a time and have to be tuned to a different one each time you need a different scale. Kalimba’s come in three different styles: acrylic, hollow and boards. Some notable songs for the kalimba are Lost Woods from the Legend of Zelda and Haggard from Minecraft.