Kalimba or African thumb piano is a percussion instrument with wooden soundbox and a variable number of thin metal blades mounted on the soundbox. The metal keys are placed on the soundbox with different lengths to produce different notes. As the name suggests, the player uses his thumbs to strike the metal blades while holding the soundbox to stabilize it. Kalimbas can have 10 or 17 keys.

Last month, I ordered a green-blue 17-key Kalimba from an online store for P594.00 (US $12.25) inclusive of shipping fee. It arrived a couple of days later. The box had a secure bubble wrapping and everything inside it was in perfect condition. 

It has the 17-key Kalimba, tuning hammer, velvet bag to hold the Kalimba, label stickers, and cloth for wiping (since it is pink, TR said it is hers). 

I immediately tried it upon receipt. I watched a number of YouTube videos of people playing the Kalimba in different materials and in different shapes. I already subscribed to a couple of channels. I try to learn a part of a song every weekend for the last three weekends. I still suck at it, but it is fine. I enjoy listening to the “music” my own thumbs make even though I can see TR’s disappointed face (her unmoving face is very expressive in real life). Hahaha. Playing it is calming and I can see myself doing this more often that I have played the ukulele.