Start composing your own music—here's how
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Musical instruments for kids - the best choice to get started
Picture: Yan Krukov (pexels)
Kids love music. From an early age, the many rattles, drums and objects from everyday life are the perfect way to create interesting noises. Children are extremely interested in music right from the start when it comes to new sounds. Of course, it's all the nicer when the enthusiasm can quickly be followed by the first instruments. Though, obviously not every musical instrument is suitable for children when it comes to complexity and the associated requirements. So which musical instruments are suitable for children?
Kids and music? An important part of education
First of all, it should be said that musical education for children plays an important role in learning connections at an early age. Practicing with musical instruments is the perfect combination of relaxation and concentration to work on one’s own goals step by step. This is of central importance, especially for later orientation in life, in order to work on personal projects and goals at an early stage. Musical instruments for children are the best way to do this.
Of course, the associated successes also make a good impression and can really have a mentally liberating effect at this point. While learning your own first songs with the instrument is often not that easy, the real fun comes with the first pieces and with your own performances. There are so many benefits to making music for children, whether alone or in groups.
Why the right musical instrument depends on age
While musical activity makes sense from an early age, not every instrument is suitable from the beginning. Especially with large distances between strings and keys, it is not always possible for small children's hands to operate every instrument as desired. For this reason, there are many musical instruments for children to make it easier for everyone to get started in such an important field. This is exactly what we would like to go into in more detail in this article so that the search for the right instruments does not become a problem. So the focus is on the music.
These instruments are a good start for young children
Before we dive into the group of six-year-olds and older, we would like to present you with a few options for the perfect start. Under the supervision of the parents, these are suitable even at the age of three without any problems to create initial experiences with music. With the following musical instruments for children, simplicity and fun are always the top priority.
The Keyboard
As a precursor to the piano, electronic keyboards are an exciting option. With these, the heaviness of the keys does not play a role, since the tones are generated purely electronically. The keyboard is an ideal starting point for the first tone sequences and simple pieces.
The Xylophone
The small and often brightly colored wooden xylophones are a good choice for conveying the different tones. The instrument makes a good impression, especially for the first steps in the field of music. We can therefore clearly recommend xylophones for children from the age of three.
The Drum
If a great drummer is already emerging at an early age, a drum can be just the right place to start. Children often have fun making sounds with a stick, which of course could develop into skillful use of drumsticks over time.
Caution: not every instrument is suitable for small children!
At this point we would like to emphasize once again that not every instrument is suitable for children. This is mainly due to the difficulty involved, the knowledge of notes and tones and the enormous willingness to learn that has to be shown. When starting out in music, a simple musical instrument is recommended above all, in order to focus on fun and commitment. In this way, children feel like devoting themselves to the more difficult pieces over time, learning new sequences and getting better and better.
The right musical instruments as a start for children
We therefore recommend more classic instruments for children from the age of five or six, albeit in a somewhat smaller and scaled-down form. Nevertheless, in many areas it is important to start as early as possible and in this way to be able to better understand all the connections. Especially during childhood, we humans are very perceptive and receptive, which can also be applied to musical instruments. We can recommend the following instruments:
The recorder
The recorder is probably the best-known instrument for beginners, as it is not a challenge even for small children’s hands. The recorder can be learned from the age of four without the complexity increasing significantly over time. The recorder is perfect not only as a classical solo instrument, but also works well in a group.
The Piano
One of the most classic and at the same time most popular musical instruments is clearly the piano. We deliberately recommend the piano and not the keyboard, as the way you play the keys can have a much greater influence on the pieces. If you start playing the piano at the age of six or seven, you will definitely have clear advantages for progressing later on.
The Violin
We recommend the violin for children aged five and over. As a musical instrument for children, it has the advantage that children literally quickly get the hang of it. Of course, it is important to practice several times a day and the associated progress. Not only for playing alone, but also in the orchestra, the violin increases social commitment enormously.
The Guitar
We can also recommend the guitar as a musical instrument for children from the age of six. However, plucking the strings requires a lot of practice before you can really play your first songs. Still, one of the greatest advantages of the guitar for children is that the style of music can be chosen flexibly. Smaller guitars for children’s hands are also worthwhile to start with.
The Drums
Children from the age of seven can of course also devote themselves to the drums if they have a good sense of rhythm and beat. Both the arms and the legs are included in the drumming at this point. Above all, the effort involved in practicing drums should not be underestimated. Half an hour a day should always be invested in the instrument.
This is how instruments simply grow with your children
In very few cases do children stay true to their instrument until adulthood. What is of course common practice with the piano can be solved with special instruments for children with the guitar or flute. With these, the holes of the recorder are much easier to reach, for example, so that one doesn’t face any disadvantages when playing. Of course, the same applies to the drums: from the first set to the eventual band equipment, some changes are still necessary. But for many children that is exactly the perfect motivation to see the instrument grow.
Why practice always goes hand in hand with theory
In principle, of course, the correct playing of the instruments always requires theoretical knowledge. Some of this is taught in school music lessons, but is perhaps more present at a dedicated music school. However, don't expect your children to devote themselves too early to the seemingly easy notes and theory.
Even if good practice always requires theory, the fun of musical instruments for children comes mainly from trying them out in a practical way. This is the only way to develop ambition over time to do more for musical development and to expand one's own knowledge. Many instruments that we recommend for children from the age of three or four can of course only be played professionally with sheet music. However, skills like music reading come later, and aren’t the most important step right now.
The best tips for motivating children to practice
After you have found the right musical instruments for your children, it is always important to practice actively. Progress can only be seen with practice, which will also lead your child to new pieces. To avoid making kids feel like they have to play, it is important for them to find their motivation. The following tips will help you at this point:
- Making music must remain voluntary If your children don't find playing their instrument to be fun, coercion will certainly not improve the situation. In this case, you should accept it for better or for worse, or get the child interested in other instruments. With such a diverse selection, there is sure to be something for everyone.
- Empathetic teachers are important As in school, good teachers play a central role in music. This also makes it fun for the children to go to class and learn more about the instrument. With the wrong teachers, children's enjoyment of musical instruments will quickly diminish.
- Leisure time must not fall behind Most children face the problem of having to practice instruments parallel to school. To make sure that music practice does not become a stress factor, leisure activities should not fall behind the instrument. This is the only way to keep making music fun for longer.
- Individual styles make you want more Many children have their own ideas about what they want to play with. This is exactly what should be in the foreground when making music with instruments, without strictly working through a textbook or other guidelines. This is also best for individual progress.
How to find the perfect instrument for your children
Since you know your child best, you will certainly be able to correctly interpret their enthusiasm for new instruments. For this reason, make sure that the instrument always suits your child's physical and mental condition. Just because the neighbor's child started playing the piano at the age of six doesn't mean it has to be the same for your child. When it comes to the important subject of musical instruments for children, decisions should be coordinated well.
By considering this carefully you can avoid a short-lived love of music, and the resulting negative attitude. Musical instruments for children have the task of opening the way to a musical future and accompanying children from the very beginning. It is also important for you as a parent to support your child and encourage them to make the right choice.
Practice makes perfect – with the right instrument!
Would you like to know which musical instruments for children other users recommend? Then take a look around here at mukken and benefit from our contact ads especially for musicians. We would be happy to help you to find your way around the ever-expanding network and to learn more about making music together. If you need more tips on musical instruments for children, you will certainly find them quickly here in the blog.
Originally published on March 15, 2022, updated on May 9, 2022
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