In this paper we introduce the Drum Duino, a type of tangible actuated musical instrument. The Drum Duino allows fun, playful interaction for children to compose and explore rhythms played on different objects, inspired by traditional methods of play, while emphasizing collaborative participation. We present an iterative research through design approach and evaluation with 10 preadolescents using the co-?‐discovery method. Our results highlight the benefits of tangible interfaces such as collaboration and low thresholds of interaction and exploration.