Do you want to bring music into your house as a parent? You may be a teacher searching for top-notch instruments for your school or music programme. Then your search is over! From keyboards and guitars to drums and violins, we’ll cover our picks for the best musical instruments for kids in this piece.
We’ll discuss not only which instruments are best for beginners but also the personal and intellectual benefits of learning to play each one. So make sure your budding musician gets off to a good start by reading up on some of our top instrument recommendations.
Why Should You Push Your Kid To Take Up An Instrument?
Learning to make music and play an instrument is a terrific way for kids (and grown-ups!) to express themselves creatively and emotionally, just like drawing or dancing. Practising an instrument takes coordination and discipline, and the thrill of seeing progress from beginner to expert level is, for some, incomparable. Playing music in a group is also fantastic for building collaborative and social skills.
Therefore, there are many benefits to fostering your child’s musical development, but when is the best time to do so? And how can you figure out what sort of instrument would suit them best?
The Top Instruments That Kids Should Play
When we were young, who didn’t dream of being a famous musician? In addition, it’s widespread knowledge that studying an instrument can help with general education, cognitive growth, and making friends. So if you want your child to have fun while also developing their creativity, choose one of the instruments on this list.
Piano/Keyboard
Despite our lack of interest in the piano now, most of us remember being forced to take lessons and perform in recitals as children. The truth is that an optimistic perspective and some words of encouragement are required. Learning to play the piano or keyboard is crucial because it lays the groundwork for a wide variety of musical styles, but explaining this to children can be challenging.
It’s a rare instrument that can convey not only pitch and rhythm but also dynamics. It’s a great first instrument for kids because it’s simple (you play it by pressing only one note) and because it can help them advance to more advanced instruments.
Guitar
The guitar is the most popular choice for young people looking to take up an instrument. Many listeners aim to emulate their favourite performers. The guitar, like the piano, is a great choice for a first instrument because of its adaptability and the familiar, simple songs. Learning to play the guitar is a great way to get kids interested in music and helps them develop motor skills that will be useful in other areas of life.
Bass Guitar
The bass is an underappreciated musical instrument despite its significance. The bassist is often an unsung hero because of his or her crucial role in maintaining a steady rhythm. However, when heard live or through high-quality audio equipment, bass brings a song to life. Since the bass is tuned similarly to guitars but only has four strings, your child will learn to play it easier.
If you want to play bass but don’t have finger strength, picking up a guitar, ukulele, cello, or violin can help. A skilled bassist will never be without work because the bass is one of the most requested instruments for concerts.
Ukulele
Because of its small size, the ukulele is incredibly practical. Beginner ukuleles are made specifically for children, so they are the right size and weight, and it doesn’t take long to learn the basics and start playing some kid-friendly tunes. The ukulele is also much less noisy than the other instruments we recommend, which is great if you have to endure your child’s hours of practice.
The Drums
The majority of grownups would rather have quiet children. However, drumming is thrilling and can be a great outlet for kids dealing with anger and other difficult adolescent emotions. Learning to play the drums is also a great way to teach kids about rhythm, another important musical skill. Many aspiring musicians are put off by the fact that learning to play the drums requires a deeper understanding of harmony and other theoretical aspects of music.
Parents will be happy to know that children can now enjoy the benefits of drumming while listening to their favourite tunes thanks to electronic drum kits. The use of headphones makes it possible for people to reap the benefits of drumming while practising in peace and quiet.
Flute, Clarinet, or Recorder
In terms of woodwind instruments, the recorder is among the easiest to pick up and play. Many institutions provide recorder classes for groups; all you need to get started is a simple fingering chart to teach a child at home. The recorder is often introduced as a first instrument in music classes because its fingering technique is similar to that of the flute and clarinet.
The recorder is a portable instrument that teaches students the basics of woodwind playing, such as proper breathing and finger posture. A child should feel comfortable switching to the more complex mouthpieces of other woodwind instruments after some time spent practising on the recorder.
Saxophone
The saxophone is another popular woodwind instrument taught in music classes. Because of its versatility, it can be used in many different genres of music, from R&B and rock to blues and jazz. The saxophone, which comes in soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone sizes, is a great crossover instrument, especially when paired with the clarinet or flute.
Cajon Drum and Various Other Hand Drums
The Cajon, an instrument with its roots in Peru, is increasingly used in various musical genres. The variety of sounds you can get from playing it with your hands, sticks, or brushes makes it a lot of fun to experiment with. When hit in the centre of the face, the sound is low and bassy, while when hit on the side, the sound is higher and resembles a snare drum. It’s a nice bonus that it’s lightweight and small when not in use.
Violin
The violin has a more steep learning curve than most of the other instruments here. To play the violin well, one must cultivate both finger skills and an ear for intonation. However, if your child can get past the initial difficulty of learning the violin, they will soon be able to enjoy the instrument for its complex beauty.
When Should A Child Start Taking Music Lessons?
The young prodigies who can play Mozart on the piano at age six or sing Ave Maria at age nine are impressive. Their innate ability and dedication at such a young age are inspiring. But then, these brilliant pupils surely had to begin their education before they turned two, right? What role do their parents have in that?
In most cases, we recommend a softer, child-led approach. For example, little children who are interested in music and rhythm by listening to music, moving to the beat, and making noises with anything they can find may one day want to learn to play an instrument.
Encourage your youngster to learn an instrument between 8 and 10. It’s crucial to be self-aware as a parent; if your child doesn’t exhibit true enthusiasm in musical practice, don’t force them to do it. This will only lead to arguments and frustration; eventually, they’ll stop doing it completely.
So, which musical instrument is best for kids to start with, and why? If your kid is interested in trying different sounds, this chart can help you decide the ideal musical instrument for kids of various ages. While every child is unique and will progress through childhood at their own pace, consider the following as a general framework.
Age 4
Before teaching your child the ins and outs of music, please encourage them to experiment with different sounds and movements independently. Playing with music at home or in a sensory and sound playgroup for young children is highly recommended.
Age 4-6
Encourage children’s growing abilities in coordination and communication through musical play at home. Sign them up for a beginner’s course. You should not get too cerebral or technical when listening to music.
Age 6-7
At this age, there is a wide range of development in children’s motor abilities, attention span, and general interest in music. If your six- or seven-year-old shows a genuine interest in learning an instrument, then by all means, sign them up for lessons. Children do best when they are not required to lift or hold an instrument at first; therefore, the piano and drums are popular choices for this age group.
Age 8-10
By this age, most youngsters have developed muscular strength, hand dexterity, lung capacity, and mental maturity to play increasingly complex instruments. Because of this, they are more suited to private instruction and can choose from a wider range of instruments, such as the piano, guitar, drums, voice, violin, clarinet, and flute.
What Instruments Should Autism Kids Learn?
Because of the wide variety of interests, preferences, and talents among autistic children in Melbourne, there is no universally correct response to the question of which musical instrument is ideal for them to learn. Some instruments, however, may work better than others for autistic youngsters.
- Piano: Because of its structure, predictability, and visual and tactile feedback, the piano is an excellent instrument for autistic children. Helps with hand-eye coordination and fine motor skill development.
- Ukulele: Some autistic children may find it easier to learn to play the ukulele, a smaller and less complex guitar version. It’s easy to transport to therapy sessions and doesn’t weigh much.
- Drums: For autistic kids, drumming is a great way to channel their energy and find a beat that speaks to them. The drumhead’s vibration and the drum’s sound also serve as a form of sensory feedback.
- Percussion instruments: An excellent way for autistic children to explore rhythm and build fine motor skills is through percussion instruments like maracas, tambourines, and shakers.
- Guitar: The guitar’s adaptability makes it suitable for various musical styles. It can help with fine motor abilities and provide tactile feedback as well.
Depending on the child’s interests and abilities, a child with autism in Melbourne may benefit most from learning a certain musical instrument. To choose the right instrument for your autistic child, it is essential to see a music therapist or a competent music teacher with experience working with autistic children.
Conclusion
The most important details in this text are that learning to play an instrument is a great way for kids to express themselves creatively and emotionally and that studying an instrument can help with general education, cognitive growth, and making friends.
Piano/Keyboard is a great first instrument for kids because it lays the groundwork for a wide variety of musical styles and can help them advance to more advanced instruments. It is a rare instrument that can convey pitch, rhythm, and dynamics, making it a great first instrument for kids.
The guitar is the most popular choice for young people looking to take up an instrument due to its adaptability and familiar songs. The bass guitar is an underappreciated musical instrument due to its importance.
The ukulele is a practical instrument made specifically for children, and the drums are a great outlet for kids dealing with anger and other difficult emotions. Drumming is also a great way to teach kids about rhythm.
Thanks to electronic drum kits, parents can now enjoy the benefits of drumming while listening to their favourite tunes. The recorder is the easiest to pick up and play, while the saxophone is another popular woodwind instrument taught in music classes. The Cajon drum and various other hand drums are increasingly used in various musical genres.
The violin has a more steep learning curve than most of the other instruments, but if a child can get past the initial difficulty of learning it, they will soon be able to enjoy the instrument for its complex beauty. When should a child start taking music lessons?
Content Summary
- Learning to play a musical instrument is a great way for kids to express themselves creatively and emotionally.
- Playing an instrument takes coordination, discipline and practice.
- Playing music in a group is fantastic for building collaborative and social skills.
- Piano/keyboard is a great first instrument for kids because it’s simple and lays the groundwork for a wide variety of musical styles.
- Guitar is the most popular choice for young people looking to take up an instrument.
- Bass guitar is an underappreciated instrument, but it’s crucial in maintaining a steady rhythm.
- Ukulele is incredibly practical because of its small size.
- Learning to play the drums is a great way to teach kids about rhythm.
- Flute, clarinet, or recorder are among the easiest woodwind instruments to pick up and play.
- The recorder is often introduced as a first instrument in music classes because its fingering technique is similar to that of the flute and clarinet.
- The saxophone is another versatile woodwind instrument that can be used in many different genres of music.
- The Cajon drum, an instrument with its roots in Peru, is increasingly used in various musical genres.
- Practising an instrument can help with general education, cognitive growth, and making friends.
- Learning to play a musical instrument is a great way for adults to express themselves creatively and emotionally.
- Practising an instrument takes coordination, discipline and practice, and it can be a great outlet for kids dealing with anger and other difficult adolescent emotions.
- Many aspiring musicians are put off by the fact that learning to play the drums requires a deeper understanding of harmony and other theoretical aspects of music.
- Electronic drum kits are a great way for children to enjoy the benefits of drumming while listening to their favourite tunes.
- Beginner ukuleles are made specifically for children and are the right size and weight.
- Learning to play the guitar is a great way to get kids interested in music and helps them develop motor skills that will be useful in other areas of life.
- The bass guitar is tuned similarly to guitars but only has four strings, so it’s easier for kids to learn to play it.
- The recorder is a portable instrument that teaches students the basics of woodwind playing, such as proper breathing and finger posture.
- The saxophone is a great crossover instrument, especially when paired with the clarinet or flute.
- The Cajon drum produces a variety of sounds when played with different techniques.
- Practising an instrument takes discipline and coordination and can be a great outlet for kids dealing with anger and other difficult adolescent emotions.
- Learning to make music and play an instrument is a terrific way for grown-ups to express themselves creatively and emotionally.
- Playing an instrument in a group is fantastic for building collaborative and social skills.
- The thrill of seeing progress from beginner to expert level is incomparable.
- A skilled bassist will never be without work because the bass is one of the most requested instruments for concerts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Easiest Instrument To Learn For A 10-Year-Old?
The guitar is by far the easiest and coolest musical instrument for kids. In addition to being fun to play, it is also an ideal musical instrument for learning the basics of music.
What Is The Hardest Instrument To Play For Kids?
- Violin Is One Of The Most Difficult String Instruments To Learn
- Harp
- French Horn
- Piano
- Accordion
- Organ
- Guitar
- The Clarinet.
Which Instruments Are Easiest?
The easiest instruments to learn are the ukulele, harmonica, bongos, piano, and glockenspiel. Learning these instruments as an adult will be straightforward and accessible, and we’ve included step-by-step tips for each.
What Is The 1st Hardest Instrument To Play?
Violin. The violin is a wooden stringed instrument part of a larger family of similar instruments. It’s the smallest and highest-pitched instrument in its family and normally has four strings, although some violins can have five.
What Is The Easiest Instrument To Play In A School Band?
Most elementary school band programs start with the “Big 5” instruments. These instruments include flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, and trombone. These are the most common instruments to begin playing because they are fairly easy to learn, but they still take decades to master.
