When introduced the chimes were unique in both appearance and sound quality. The first Woodstock Chimes were displayed at the Cincinnati Craft Fair in 1979, where the sleek aluminum and wood design was well received. Kvistad tuned his chimes to a 7th century pentatonic scale of five notes instead of the usual seven-note scale.
The company began after Kvistad took an instrument making course. His first creation was a metallophone, made of aluminum tubes instead of wood, resembling a xylophone. Woodstock Chimes received positive publicity from a 1980 feature on NPR's All things considered and a 1983 interview by Gene Shalit on The Today Show.
Woodstock Percussion's catalogue now includes more than 50 versions of Woodstock Chimes as well as other finely tuned bells and gongs of various shapes, sizes and sounds.
Woodstock percussion carries various other items along with its expanding catalogue of Woodstock Chimes. Decorative garden décor, jewelry and other musical instruments round out the new catalogue
Besides being CEO of Woodstock Percussion Garry Kvistad tours with musicians Steve Reich and the internationally renowned ensemble, Nexus. Kvistad's Woodstock Chimes Fund supports food banks, shelters, and arts and music programs in New York's Hudson Valley.