This all-pizzicato work for young strings imitates an African instrument called the kalimba (also known as an mbira or thumb piano.) This lovely-sounding instrument consists of a series of metal tines above either a piece of wood or a hollow resonating chamber, arranged not in a scale pattern but mostly in thirds.

The composer, Lauren Bernofsky, created the haunting melody of "Kalimba Lullaby" by improvising it on her kalimba, and your students also can experience this multicultural music making by playing this unique, easy string work.