A great start for a beginner of any age. The pearwood ensures a clear but soft tone, and the instrument is lovely to play and to hold. The staining of the pearwood is for aesthetic reasons only; it makes no difference to the sound. These sopranos are two-piece, with a head joint and a body, and feature a raised hole at the bottom to enable the smallest of hands to cover it properly. Comes in a zipped cloth bag with cleaning and other accessories. Delivery in 3-4 weeks.