Is the Orff method popular in the US or Great Britain? It is in Germany, where I live, and the music stores here sell a nice selection of Orff instruments: hand drums, tambourines, glockenspiels, maracas, etc. I used to have toy instruments like this as a child, and even a Monkees drum set! It disappeared fairly quickly, as I didn't play with it very often. I didn't show early talent as a percussionist, but I would love to have toy instruments like those again.

I think I may have had a recorder or a whistle at some time, and I'm sure I could have if I had wanted one. I remember having a harmonica or two. Sadly, I didn't learn to play by ear as a child and music education of the time discouraged playing by ear. That's probably why I never got very far with these instruments, or the beautiful autoharp we had, and a reason why I've become a True Believer in playing by ear.

I've got a couple of whistles and I like them. It's a challenge getting the accidentals. I've been playing my recorders more, though. This is a recent addiction for me and I haven't gone hog-wild buying flutes and whistles yet, but I fear it's only a matter of time.