Looking for musical instruments for a small child

Daniel Koster

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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My son (soon to be 4) picked up the neighbor's trumpet and was able to get a note out of it. Did the same thing with their tuba.

To say the least, I'm getting very excited.

Both my wife and I sing in a choir and play piano. She also plays viola and the trumpet.

I'd like to start buying some instruments to just "have around" and see what happens.

Have any suggestions?


Obviously, I can't afford to buy an all-out tuba, sax, basson, etc. Plus the kids probably won't be as careful as I'd like them to be.....

I'm just wondering if there are some good "kid" versions of these instruments (not the $30 ebay specials) that are decent quality, but sized down....

Where can I find such things?

I started piano at 5 or 6 (can't remember) and I plan on allowing my children to explore that option (in the process of rebuilding a baby grand). I want a few other instruments too, though. Maybe a clarinet?

Suggestions are welcome!
 
My son (soon to be 4) picked up the neighbor's trumpet and was able to get a note out of it. Did the same thing with their tuba.
Click to expand...

America has finally produced an artist who can flugal the Minute Waltz in under fifty seconds!
 
I love listening to that, btw.....Chuck....great stuff.



Slit-Gong....:eek: :D



Somebody needs to invent a kick-gong for my 2 year old....:rolleyes:
 
Recorder?
Harmonica?

I have seen some 'decent' kid-sized saxophones, trumpets and trombones, but I have not seen them lately. Are you ruling out percussion instruments? You don't have to get a drum set, but a small xylophone might be a good learning tool. You could also find a dulcimer or ukelele for him to experiment with.

Just be aware that whatever he becomes interested in, you will have to listen to his skills develop over a very long period of time. ;) Good luck.
 
How about an accordion?...Hefting/playing one of those will also help to build-up his muscles.:D.
 
Daniel, I have no instrument to suggest, but I do have a question...

What's the deal with viola jokes?

http://www.mit.edu/~jcb/jokes/viola.html

What is the range of a Viola?
As far as you can kick it.

What's the difference between a chain saw and a viola?
If you absolutely had to, you could use a chain saw in a string quartet.

What's the similarity between the Beatles and the viola section of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra?
Neither has played together since 1970.
 
I second the recorder and the harmonica, things that I often give as presents to kids, also xylophone, tinwhistle, a simple electronic keyboard, small acordion, drums and other simple percussions.

4 is an excellent age to start learning music, my two daughters started at Yamaha Music School at that age, my 23 year old left after some 16 years, my 18 year old (19 next week) is still there, they both have developed a fine ear, have good knowledge of music theory and play piano and organ well.
 
You might consider something as simple as bongo drums. Rhythm and timing are also essential to learning music. I know it isn't glamorous, but it sure is fun. :D

Bill
 
He's had a harmonica and recorder for a few years already. I wouldn't have thought anything about a "real" instrument yet, except that he expressed an interest himself - always a good sign. ;)
 
Don't let a four-year-old anywhere near a clarinet; he'll break it. In fact don't let an adult near it -- when he assembles the sections there's about a 50/50 chance he'll bend the bridge key.

Besides the things already mentioned, get him a slide whistle, and a pennywhistle and a recorder. That's enough woodwinds to start with. In my experience it's hard for small kids to get the idea of fingerholes, but a slide whistle is easier. :cool:

When my nephew was small I got him a toy keyboard that can only play one note at a time -- that's a good thing; he can't make discords with it and if he plays only on the white keys he's always in key (limited to the key of C, but that's okay). Try it -- if you only play one key at a time and only white keys you can't make it sound too bad, and it's not too hard either to pick out songs you know or make up your own.

Limited instruments are a good thing when you're starting out. For the same reason get him a simple diatonic harmonica, not a chromatic, and if you want to get him into stringed instruments you could start with a dulcimer rather than a guitar.
 
I'm going to HIGHLY recommend that you allow your son to play the drums or guitar, so he can meet friends in college, or at least the piano/keyboard. If he really is musically inclined, he will do much better professionally and socially playing the piano/guitar or drums (last), just my opinion....
thanks. Guitar/keyboards for kids can be had for under $100,
although, don't buy a junk guitar, think about the small Tacoma guitar (under $100), actually marketed under their "other" company name, if you want details, let me know.
thanks.
 
Teach him piano first. The knowledge he gains with keys (as in C major or G minor) and chords is invaluable, regardless of what insturment(s) he decides also play.

For cheap insturments, try pawn shops and of course ebay, especially right after school gets out. Or put a WTB ad in a paper or local internet trading circle. Lots of kids that were forced to play in band as an elective in middle school might want some extra cash before their freshman year in HS.
 
I would recommend piano. But get one with at least 61 keys - if he uses it he will grow out of the really little ones quickly, if he doesn't it has decent resale value. We got my son a Yamaha with a good basic book when he was 4 1/2. He turned 6 on Sunday and he still uses it. It doesn't take up much space and it does percussion and a bunch of other cool tricks.

My favorite instrument joke.
What's the difference between an accordian and an onion?
When you cut an onion in half people cry.
 
I 2nd bagpipes! You could even get him the practice bladder set, it's smaller, and mostly for lung practice, but still has pipes.

Could always go with a Sousaphone. :)
 
start him with a Pianor..or a keyboard available at any Electronics store...Get some letter note books..where you put the letter on the keys and they can plunk out a tune..my kids started this way. Piano is a great instrument to begin because it can lead to many other musical instruments. My kid now his brother is also playing piano and he has also graduated to the French Horn..( now just called the "Horn") Piano is where he should stard
 
I gotta agree with Lifter and Blackwatch, go with the bagpipes. On the other hand, I also know how much a good set of pipes cost, so...

From what I've seen, I think Don Luis and Cougar have the best ideas with the tin or pennywhistle. They're easy to learn, cheap, and you can make some nice music with them. If you want to transition to a simple-to-learn stinged instrument, it's hard to go wrong with a mountain dulcimer, and they can be found pretty inexpensively on Ebay all the time. And with that in mind, I'd like to plug a local luthier, because he did really good work for me, and was a heck of a nice guy. His name is Kevin Jones and he makes something called a Walkabout Dulcimer. Essentially it's tuned like a mountain dulcimer and played like a guitar/mandolin/what-have-you. I bought one for my wife and she's already taught herself to sing four or five songs on it. Granted, she's a trained vocalist, but everything she's learned on the walkabout dulcimer she taught herself. They're not cheap, but it might be a good idea for later on. And they too show up on Ebay occasionally.

Good luck, and get him learning. Music education is important.

James
 
My wife, an elementary/middle school music/band teacher, recommends either a piano or a stringed instrument. For the piano, don't need a scaled down one, as you could just use the baby grand you're rebuilding (build fast!!! hehe). For the strings, she mentioned the ability to get scaled down versions. Is not a violin just a bass for a wee one?
 
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