Which Musical Instrument Should Your Child Learn to Play?
As a parent, you want to expose your children to as many interesting experiences as possible, and that includes exposure to music. Most music teachers agree that it is not a good idea to expose children to formal music lessons too early because that is a sure way to put them off music. We recommend avoiding lessons before the age of eight, unless they show a real interest in children’s musical instruments before then. Expose them to different styles and genres of music. Take them to live music experiences as often as you can.
In order to learn to play a musical instrument properly they will need to be able to recognise numbers and letters up to G. They should also be developmentally ready as well, both physically and emotionally. For example, if a child is to play the trumpet or cornet, really they should wait until they have their second set of front teeth.
A popular children’s musical instrument is the recorder, it also provides a good introduction to other wind instruments. The recorder can also be played to a high standard and can sound good when played solo and a part of a group. A child can play a recorder early, as soon as his or her fingers are big enough to cover the holes.
Other wind instruments such as the trombone or clarinet are better suited to older children as they require a lot of effort to produce a sound. Generally, these types of instruments don’t come in smaller sizes and when they do (the piccolo or soprano saxophone, for example), they require a higher degree of skill, so they are not good choices for young children. As children mature they usually progress onto more complex instruments.
The piano can be played as soon as a child can reach the keys and have enough strength to press them down. Another popular children’s musical instrument is the violin as this comes in smaller sizes. Stringed instruments often come in smaller sizes, so children can start playing them at a young age. A number of stringed instruments can be one-eighth of the size of full sized instruments. Most guitars, for example, are available in smaller sizes and are suitable for children aged 8 and above.
Sometimes children and their parents forget that the singing voice is the perfect musical instrument. Children should be encouraged to sing from a young age and have self confidence in their ability. Singing is something which all children can be concerned with and is a great group activity for school music sessions.
For a great selection of fun childrens musical instruments suitable for school music sessions visit the Djembe Drum Shop at www.djembedrumshop.com where you can view and buy products online.
