String & Woodwind Instruments

A Guide To Suitable Musical Instruments For Children

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 childrens musical instruments before then. Expose them to different styles and genres of music. By taking them to see live music they can really engage in the whole experience and it may just inspire them to learn to play a musical instrument.

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 childrens musical instrument is the recorder, it also provides a good introduction to other wind instruments. When played well, it can be played up to concert standard, and can be a very rewarding and beautiful instrument. 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. Strong lips and being able to produce a good “puff” is crucial. These instruments do not usually come in smaller equivalents, and when they do (the piccolo or soprano saxophone, for example), they require a good level of skill and so are not really ideal 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. The majority of guitars, for example, come in smaller sizes and are suited for children aged eight and above.

Of course, singing is also a wonderful way of enjoying music without needing an instrument. Children should be encouraged to sing from a young age and have self confidence in their ability. Singing is a thing that all children can be concerned with and is a great group activity for school music classes.