Not long ago, a parent asked me about which musical instrument I would recommend to her child. As a music teacher, I could not quickly answer, for I know that there are around 1,500 to 2,000 musical instruments worldwide. So, I played safe and told her that she could let her child learn piano, guitar, or xylophone.
But what musical instruments are best suited for children? Well, I think you can let your kids learn whatever musical instruments as long as your child can handle it. Yet, if you want to know about the most appropriate musical instruments for your kids, you can continue reading.
Best Musical Instruments for Your Child
You want, as a parent, your child to have balanced growth, physically, mentally, and intellectually, and playing a musical instrument does contribute to balanced child development. So, I will not hesitate to encourage you to allow your child to learn musical instruments. You can check out the following most recommended and the easy musical instruments for kids if you want your kids to learn a musical instrument:
1) Piano/Keyboard
One musical instrument best suited for the child learning is the piano or keyboard. Most pianos come with keys designed for adults, but you can also buy your child a mini-piano for kids. The piano sound is very engaging for kids and encouraging your kids to learn it may prove beneficial to their holistic growth.
Of course, you cannot force your child to learn the piano, just like what some parents would do, forcing their kids to perform their piano recitals, which makes learning the piano very routinary to the child. Yet, if you can encourage your child to learn it, you will surely do your child a lot of favor.
The piano is one of those musical instruments that let your child learn about the important elements of music like harmony, melody, rhythm, and dynamics. Thus, learning the piano is an excellent step for your kid to learn other musical instruments.
The piano allows your child to be familiar with the pitch and tones of notes. Moreover, it is easy to sound even if your child’s hands and fingers are still pudgy and delicate. Your child may develop greater love and interest in music upon learning the piano.
2) Boomwhacker Xylophone
As a child, my mom gifted me with a Boomwhacker xylophone that gave me the first foretaste of playing a musical instrument. It fascinated me and engendered in me a fascination for tones and notes. It is easy to play, and I think the first series of notes I learned to play was played using a xylophone.
The xylophone features a series of tuned keys arranged just like those of the keyboard and piano. Each bar of the xylophone is an idiophone that is tuned to a particular musical scale pitch. So, I think your child will indeed be fascinated by this instrument, just like me when I was a child.
The Boomwhacker xylophone is best for older kids aged four to six. Playing this instrument is not beyond your child’s capability. Because of this reason, I would surely recommend this instrument for your child.
3) Guitar
Well, we all know that the guitar is a fascinating instrument that could pique the interest of your child. If you would strum, for example, a guitar in front of your child, you will notice that the child’s attention is greatly piqued. So, if you can find a way to encourage your child to learn the guitar, you are doing your child an excellent service.
The guitar is like the piano, for it can provide your child a chance to learn the basics of music. The guitar will also let your child develop that needed manual dexterity that can be very useful in his/her life.
Guitars come in a wide variety. You will find acoustic, electric, and even classical guitar. The guitar is also fretted, which means your child would need to develop strength in their fingers to produce clear notes and chords.
4) Ukulele
When I was a child, the ukulele seemed to be a huge instrument to me. Yet, as I grew old, it becomes like a childish instrument. So, I will surely recommend it for any child. Its diminutive size is best suited for your child’s tinkering.
You can buy your kids a beginner’s ukulele to encourage them to learn a few chords and play familiar songs with it. Of course, the ukulele is perfect for kids because it is easy to grapple with and relatively quiet when played.
Ukulele’s chord patterns are more straightforward and easy to handle than guitar. It’s an ideal first string instrument for your child to learn if you planed to progress to guitar in the future.
5) Drums
Parents are often irritated when their kids are noisy and louder. So, you might not consider letting your child learn the drums. But drums are fun to learn, and kids will indeed love to toy with them. Playing it can be a stress-reliever for your kids and a way to let out their pent-up feelings and emotions.
Playing the drums teaches kids the value of rhythm that is crucial to good music. Every good music gravitates around good rhythm and drums.
The good thing about drums is you can now buy electronic drum kits for your kids. So, you can let your child practice in silence without disturbing your neighbors because they can use headphones while they practice. Your child will love to play the drums, for the drum beats are very engaging to kids.
Drums belong to the percussion instruments like the tambourines and xylophones. So, if your kids have playmates, they can play any of these instruments together. Moreover, your child’s smaller hands will indeed be capable of manipulating the drums, allowing them to learn better hand coordination and a sense of rhythm.
6) Violin
Although the violin comes with a steeper learning curve, it is not impossible for your kids to learn it. Your child will need exceptional hand dexterity and an excellent ear for various notes and intonation. Yet, I have included this instrument as suited for your kids because it is learnable by kids, and time and again, many kids have learned to play it.
If your kids can go over the initial challenge when learning violin, they will indeed learn this instrument’s beauty. You can buy your kids a smaller violin so that they can manage to play it with their pudgy and nimble hands. With the use of the violin bow, your kids will further improve their reflex and body coordination.
Essential Factors to Consider When Choosing a Musical Instrument
Given the myriad of musical instruments at hand, it will help if you know the essential factors when choosing a musical instrument for your child. Below are some of these important factors:
Musical Genre
Your child may not be aware of the different music genres, but if you want your child to thrive as a musician, you can introduce your child to different music genres. Soon, your child will favor one genre over another. But your influence on your child will be a significant factor in a child’s choice of music genres because the music you often play at home will sink into his subconscious mind.
You can also engender in your child a love for classical music by enrolling him in classical music lessons. Your musical insinuation will have a lasting influence your child’s choice of genre and musical preference.
Learning Curve
As you choose a musical instrument for your child, you need to be cognizant of the learning curve associated with a musical instrument. The steeper the learning curve, the more difficult it will be for your child to learn musical instruments. Moreover, it will be helpful to consider the disposition of your child.
If your child is impatient, then an instrument with a steeper learning curve will never be suitable for him. If your child exhibits great patience, then you can ask him to focus on learning more-difficult-to-learn instruments.
Learning an instrument requires constant practice. Thus, with your encouragement, you can enable your child to become consistent with his/her daily practice. Daily practice, of course, is critical to your child’s progress in learning a musical instrument. Thus, you need to factor the learning curve in your choice of a musical instrument that you would like your child to learn.
Consider the Age, Physical Strength, and Other Physical Attributes of Your Child
When choosing an instrument for your child, you will need to consider your child’s age, physical strength, height, size of hands, and many other physical attributes. You should likewise consider the personality of your child and his likes and dislikes.
Since your child will be the one to indulge in learning the instrument, his attributes will be crucial in your child’s success in learning a musical instrument.
Conclusion
Choosing a too difficult to learn a musical instrument for your child may only create frustration in your child. Yet, if you choose the right musical instrument, it will engender a sense of accomplishment and achievement once he masters the musical instrument. As such, you need to meticulously consider the instrument you would choose and make sure that that instrument is within your child’s capability to learn and master.
Your encouragement, of course, and guidance will play a crucial role in your child’s attitude in learning a musical instrument. With proper motivation, you can enjoin your child to become whatever he wants to become in the future.
