5 Favorite Instruments for Sensory Regulation

If you’re looking for a music-based sensory regulation experience, or just curious about some of the ways we can work with sensory regulation in music therapy, check out my top 5 favorite instruments for sensory regulation!

Author’s Note: These instruments can be a great sensory regulation tool for many; however, everyone’s body is different. What is grounding and soothing for one individual can be dysregulating or even harmful for others. Always talking through and gaining consent prior to offering any sensory regulation tool- musical or nonmusical- is imperative regardless of age, relationship, etc. Each and every one of the 8 senses (touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing, proprioception, vestibular, interoception) is an intimate part of who a person is, and that bodily autonomy must always be respected. 

Cabasa

The cabasa is a small wooden percussion instrument with strings of small metal beads looped around it. So many folks love this instrument, myself included. Not just because it looks and sounds cool, but for many, it can be a great sensory and grounding tool. Rolling the beads up and down arms, legs, back, or any other body part provides an almost massage-like sensation. Adding this rolling and beaded pressure can offer the same input as sensory squeezes/pressure. It helps organize our nervous system by bringing awareness to where our body parts are in space (proprioception), or even just bringing awareness to those body parts and noticing, “what is it I’m feeling here?” (interoception). Adding a steady rhythm while rolling it on the body, or even adding narrative lyrics can make it even more grounding.

Gathering Drum

This large drum creates a deep and booming sound with a lingering vibration. As the name suggests, the gathering drum can be found in so many cultures throughout history played at various community gatherings. In music therapy, there are so many ways this drum can be supportive for sensory reg. Some folx just like the feel of the sound. I’ve had kiddos lay inside of the drum while it sits on its side, and I keep a steady beat on the head. This way, they are quite literally laying inside the sound, with the vibration covering their bodies. Others use this drum to physically express emotions, hitting it as hard as they can. Even the act of hitting the gathering drum can be regulating, feeling the power in their own body being released, and met with an equally powerful sound vibrate back. When we need to hit something, releasing excess energy or being met with a strong force, the gathering drum can be a great and safe option.

Electric Keyboard

The electric keyboard has endless sensory regulation options. There are buttons galore to adjust the volume, the pitch, even the tone. Some electric keyboards have different voice settings to choose from so that it sounds like a different instrument, or tons of different sound effects. Someone exploring an electric keyboard has the autonomy and independence to explore and set the settings to exactly what their body needs. Perhaps that’s the sound of a pan flute at full volume, or a pitched babbling brook. Some electric keyboards even have pre-recorded bass loops or demo songs to sit back and listen to. Not to mention the black/white contrast of the keys and lit up buttons can be visually organizing. There are so many different textures to feel as well- the raised keys, bumpy speakers, smooth buttons, spin-y dials. Just like the gathering drum and other resonating instruments, you can even feel the vibration from the speakers with certain tones and volumes. The possibilities are truly endless with electric keyboards.

Steel Tongue Drum

The steel tongue drum is typically an enclosed steel drum with different toned “tongues” that are numbered and different sizes. Each tone has a different pitch depending on its size. The steel tongue drum tends to have a more mellow, more resonant, and warmer sound than other steel drums/pans. Similarly to the gathering drum, this instrument produces vibrations that can be grounding and stimulating to the body. However, the steel tongue drum is “more personalized” if you will; in that, this is a melodic instrument with different pitched vibrations to choose from or go between. I personally like to place this drum somewhere on my body (lap, against my legs, etc.) so that I can feel the vibrations from each tone resonate in my body. Because of its heavy material, the weight can also create a calming pressure when placed in your lap- like a musical weighted blanket! I’ve also had kiddos who like to lay their body on top of it (belly pressed against the top of the drum) while I play some tones on the sides. Talk about a full body experience. 

One other way I like to incorporate this drum in sensory regulation is through humming stimulation. The pitches themselves can sound like someone humming. This can encourage the participant to hum along as well. The act of humming has similar sensory experiences to resonating drums, though in this case, the sensation is happening inside your body as your air resonates throughout your throat/head. Humming can be a wonderful support in breathing, lowering stress or heart rate, even supporting sinus health. The hum of the drum, combined with your own, has the potential to be a truly grounding experience.

Ocean Drum

The ocean drum is a drum with small beads that roll around inside when tilted. Some ocean drums have a transparent head on one side, and a synthetic/natural skin on the other; while some have transparent heads on both sides. The latter is my personal preference because of the visual sensation. Many of the folks I play this drum with, as well as myself, enjoy lifting the drum up above our heads, and slightly tilting it back and forth so we can watch the beads flow and regroup from below- like looking up at the sky from under water. The beads fit together so nicely and organized, and yet the fluidity does a wonderful job of mimicking the movement of ocean waves receding. It also mimics the sounds of ocean waves, which can be a soothing experience in itself. Whether this instrument is providing visual regulation, or auditory regulation, it is simply a very cool and unique instrument. 

Once again, these are my personal favorite instruments to incorporate in sensory experiences, and my personal ways to incorporate them. There is no one right instrument, or one right way to use music for sensory regulation. I encourage everyone to get curious with how your body responds to all of the sensations music elicits.

-Mikaila Vieyra, LPMT, MT-BC