How to Choose a Musical Instrument for Children

While some children have a natural inclination toward playing music, others may not be so eager to start practicing. Choosing musical instruments that are relatively easy to play is generally the best way to go. In fact, when students can pick out a few simple tunes on the guitar or piano, they will be much more likely to stick with the instrument for the foreseeable future. Here is a list of instruments that might be intriguing to youngsters:

Xylophone
The xylophone is an instrument in the percussion family and offers children the chance to get their feet wet when it comes to tones and scales. The xylophone is also a great accompaniment for the guitar or piano. If parents already play another instrument, kids can play alongside them and begin to learn the basics of rhythm. Xylophones are also quite portable and can be carried from one room to the other with ease.

Drums
The drums are great for beginners, because they allow young musicians to pound away without having to learn specific notes or techniques at first. Decent drum kits can be found for reasonable prices, and kids can begin testing out the individual drums to get a feel for the sounds they produce. The hardest part of learning this particular instrument is the ambidexterity that is required. The right and left hands (and feet!) often play different rhythms. With a little practice, however, youngsters should quickly progress to the next level.

Harmonica
The harmonica, also known as the mouth organ, is a classic instrument that is often used in country music recordings, and sometimes rock as well. The harmonica requires players to learn a special breathing pattern in order to produce the correct sound. Because harmonicas cost much less than other instruments, they are a great starting point for very young children.

Piano
Learning to play the piano takes a bit more commitment than the above instruments, but it’s definitely a popular choice for kids. When kids practice their scales and understand how the various keys on the piano complement each other, they should make progress. When children go on to have their first formal piano recital, parents will surely be looking on with pride. Children who love electronic music might begin taking lessons on the keyboard before they move on to the piano at a later date.

Guitar
Guitars are an important part of modern culture. They are the focal points of most popular rock bands, and they produce such a wide variety of sounds that most men and women will fall in love with them at some point in their lives. Children can learn a few basic chords and then develop their own strumming style. When they are more easily able to transition between chords, they can progress to basic songs. In fact, many rock songs require only three or four total chords, which will give amateurs something to shoot for. Guitarists who start at a young age will be quite impressive on the instrument by the time they become young adults.

Clarinet
The clarinet is probably the simplest of all woodwind instruments to learn. Once children have learned how to correctly blow through a reed, they can work through a series of finger exercises that will allow them to produce various notes. Children might even begin with a recorder before progressing to the clarinet. Unlike the flute, the clarinet is played straight-on and is more easily managed by beginners.

In a nutshell, children should be allowed to choose the instruments they are going to play. If they have long been fascinated by the piano, for instance, then they should be given the chance to learn and develop their skills. There is nothing else in the world like music, and kids who develop into excellent young musicians will surely find a variety of professional doors open to them. Children who take formal lessons from a good music teacher will find that they progress much faster than their counterparts.

Amanda Williams is a blogger for TakeLessons. Since 2006, TakeLessons has provided safe, affordable and fun singing and music lessons to students of all ages. Students can find music teachers in over 2,800 cities nationwide, for 38 different types of lessons.