About Us
Percussion Plus is a leading supplier of high-quality handmade percussion instruments, many of which are made in the UK.
The company was founded in Market Harborough in 1987 and continues to manufacture a variety of products in our Leicestershire workshop. Over the last 35 years, our company has built a reputation for dependability and exceptional value.
We take pride in our high musical standards, insisting on the best tone and most accurate tuning for every instrument we manufacture.
We are especially proud of our reputation in the educational sector and have a strong interest in designing instruments for young musicians. Our distinctive Classic Red Box xylophones and glockenspiels have become essential purchases for schools all over the world, and our Colour and Play series of primary percussion and Wak-a-tubes are now commonplace in primary schools throughout the UK and beyond. And our SLAP Djembes are proving to be so popular that we simply can't make them fast enough!
But that's not all; our extensive inventory includes high-quality percussion instruments of all shapes and sizes, for players of all ages and abilities.
The finest musical instruments from around the world
We believe that our customers deserve nothing but the best, so we source and import from all over the world to ensure the highest quality of our products.
Our samba instruments are from Brazil, our djembes are from Bali, our singing bowls are from Tibet, our steel pans are from the United States, and our rain sticks are from Peru because we believe they are the best.
Made in Great Britain
Some of our most important products are made in our Leicestershire workshops, including a large selection of handmade mallets and beaters for tuned instruments. It's also where we make our well-known Wak-a-tubes and education frames.
Popular products for education
For over thirty years, our Classic Red Box tuned instruments have been favourites of schools and teachers all over the world, and many of those instruments are still in use today. They are the best education instruments available, made from solid woods for a good, rounded tone, with multiple resonance chambers for harmonic sound quality, our unique Percussion Plus stake & Peg system, and our precision tuned fibreglass note bars.
Our Honestly Made Musical Instruments are manufactured and imported from developing countries in Africa, Asia, and South America.
The majority of the products are made in independent family workshops that are either too small to join Fair Trade groups or are located in countries where such organisations do not exist. However, we can attest that our suppliers, subsidiaries, and smaller suppliers all adhere to Fair Trade principles, which include:
- Agreeing a fair price
- Use of recycled materials
- Paying significant amounts upfront
- Being loyal and reasonable in all dealings
- Prioritising smaller suppliers over large factories
- Manufacturing methods that do not damage the environment
We are constantly attempting to reduce the use of SUP single-use plastics, and some of our Honestly Made products make good use of waste plastic in their manufacturing.
Many of the goods we receive from developing countries are packaged in recycled plastic, and we occasionally reuse this material when packing and shipping goods to our customers; perhaps you will find a good use for it as well.
Our SLAP Djembes and SLAP drumming for younger players are extremely popular with starter classes in schools, music hubs, and community centres.
Our djembes have a plethora of features that make them easy to play, transport, and most importantly, have a great sound. A fantastic design, a well-tuned drumhead with printed how-to-play graphic, and a durable construction - everything you need for group sessions, performances, and demonstrations.
And now we have a selection of SLAP instruments designed specifically for younger players, including gathering drum, bongos, floor tom, tambour, and lollipop drum.
Our Wak-Tubes are brightly coloured percussion instruments made from differing lengths of Reach compliant plastic tubing. They’re fun and easy for musicians of all ages to play, providing a simple and inexpensive introduction to music making. They are produced in the Percussion Plus workshops in Leicestershire UK.
See the full range of Wak-a-tubes here.
Frederick Hyde Ltd owns Percussion Plus, alongside other well-known brands such as Chamberlain Music, Musisca, Octopus Ukulele, and Tom & Will. Our headquarters and main distribution centre are in Haslemere, Surrey, UK.
Our brands focus on creating beautiful musical instruments, leaving Frederick Hyde Music Distribution and key education partners to market and supply our products to schools and teachers all over the world.
We welcome inquiries from schools and teachers, as well as music education suppliers and distributors in the UK and around the world. Email us today.