Musical instruments for children
Choosing a musical instrument for your child can be a little confusing as there are so many options! There are a few factors to consider, including your budget, your child's age and their interests. In this article, we'll help you learn about each musical instrument for children so you can make a better decision about which one to buy for your child, or perhaps offer one as a gift.
If your child is musically gifted or interested in music, you should take the chance and seriously consider buying a musical instrument. The Sonodrum tongue drum is an instrument that can introduce children to music because it always sounds great and there are no wrong notes.
Music is a language that anyone can learn to understand, and it encourages children to be active, social, and expressive, so the best musical instruments for kids should be simple and accessible so kids can start playing right away! Almost every parent has heard that their child should learn a musical instrument. It sharpens the mind and gives them something that is a fun hobby at worst and could be a wonderful new career at best. Read on to choose the right instrument for your child.
Best musical instruments for kids with small hands
Even very small children like to blow into something or drum on something. Here are our suggestions with age information.
Percussion instruments (1-3 years)
Real drums are best left alone until children are at least 12 years old. In the meantime, there are some great toy drums that can help children learn the basics of rhythm. Tongue drums and kalimbas are recommended for ages 4-5 and up.
If you're looking for something for even younger children, shakers or percussion toys are the best choice - just remember that these toys are loud and are best suited to very quiet, patient families.
Xylophones and glockenspiels (1-3 years)
We don't know why young children love xylophones and glockenspiels , but they certainly do - and watching them figure out how to play them is entertaining in itself and worth the fun!
This is definitely one of the best musical instruments for children who are too young to move on to larger, chord-based instruments but are still showing signs of musical ability. However, if you have trouble with these types of sounds at home, consider buying your child a tongue drum instead. They will be just as fascinated by it, but the sounds are so much more pleasing to the ears of everyone involved.
Guitar (from 3 years)
A narrow neck that's perfect for little hands, three strings so those little chubby fingers can get used to playing, and flashcards to learn all the chords (and how they would look on a 6-string guitar!). We think this is one of the best musical instruments for kids, aside from the tongue drum and a kalimba.
Piano (3 years and older)
The piano is definitely on most children's wish lists and is one of the main starter instruments chosen by parents, as is the kalimba . But be warned, it's not for everyone. It takes a lot of practice and it's very hard to learn to play songs right from the start. However, there's nothing quite like watching a toddler discover that tapping the keys actually makes sounds, even though most pianos for toddlers are disguised as kalimbas. Plus, learning to play the real piano works best when one of the parents already knows how to play or when a tutor is there. Keep this in mind if you ever want to upgrade to a grand piano!
Kalimba (4 years and older)
Have you ever seen a child discover a kalimba? If not, you're missing out. Kalimbas are European versions of the African karimbas, thumb percussion instruments (or thumb pianos, as they are also called) that produce enchanting, unique sounds. Most kalimbas online are a little pricey, but we're bringing you a kalimba suitable for children at a fair price. You can be sure that it will be fun, educational, and a conversation starter once it arrives at your home.
