Choosing a Musical Instrument for Your Child: What Should You Consider?

The ability to play a musical instrument is a wonderful skill to have. The best time to learn how to play a musical instrument is when you are young. The trouble early on is that for many children that are indecisive, selecting the instrument is a daunting task. Here are some ways to help your child narrow down and choose the instrument that is right for them.

Choosing a Musical Instrument for Your Child: What Should You Consider?
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Age Of Your Child

The choice of instruments will vary on several different factors. One of those is the age of your child. As your child grows, they develop different skills and abilities that translate to coordination, movement, and other factors that provide them the tools to be able to learn an instrument efficiently. If your child is older than 6 years old, they will be more likely to pick up more instruments than those that are younger. Younger children are better suited to learn violin or piano, as these give the fundamental tools that can also translate to other instruments. A child can better understand music by playing piano, as this translates music theory into a visual representation of music. Violins are beneficial for younger children as they are easier to handle for smaller students, as well as the ability to understand how to hear music and tune your instrument. 

Height And Size

People are all different, and this plays a role in the type of instrument to consider for your child. There are instruments of different sizes, and depending on the height or even strength of your child, you may want to reconsider different instruments. Instruments may vary not only in size but also in weight. These factors may make it difficult to hold and play certain instruments, notes, and songs and if that is the case, your child may be better suited to avoid such instruments as bassoons, tubas, and cellos until they grow and develop more.

The Ability To Practice

Crucial to a child’s development and skill when it comes to learning an instrument is practice. They will need ample time to learn and need to do so on a regular basis. You want to encourage them and their time spent practicing, allowing them to make mistakes instead of hindering their practice time. Ideally, you will own the instrument that you will have your child play, as this will increase practice flexibility. Of course, some instruments are more expensive and may cause some parents hesitation, but they are necessary for learning. It will be difficult to develop your skills if you are relying solely on lessons to learn without having the instrument at home to practice. Noise and size of the instrument also play a factor when choosing, as you might not want to have certain instruments take up so much room. It is important to factor in all of these when choosing your child’s instrument.

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Their Interest

Ultimately, you want to consider your child’s feelings and passions when it comes to learning and playing an instrument. It is wise to go over the benefits of continuing to play an instrument, especially if they have time for it, but you don’t want to pressure them into doing something they don’t want to do. If they no longer have a passion for that instrument, playing will simply feel like a chore and hinder any ability to grow.

Guitar

The guitar is one of the more interesting instruments for kids to learn. They will often see it as the most fun to want to learn, as it is popular in mainstream music. As highlighted by https://www.allstringed.com/, there are plenty of different types of guitars to consider when you first start getting into and playing guitar. As you progress, you will come to find a multitude of accessories as well, waiting to be discovered to take your musical interests to the next level.

Piano

The piano is one of the best instruments to build a foundation of music. They say that once you learn how to play piano, you will know how to play other instruments, and learning them will be much easier. The entry into learning a piano may be costly, but they don’t come with quite as many accessories. The piano is also associated with a more affluent upbringing and class, leading many parents to gravitate towards this to give the best to their children.

Violin

A violin is another early instrument to consider. It is great for children as it is small and easy to handle. Unlike a piano where your reach may be limited or a guitar that is too large for smaller children, a violin provides the perfect size to be able to play. The drawback to the violin is its lack of mainstream popularity, and your children may not feel as inspired or passionate early on. However, it does provide the structure and musical creativity that you might want to start out with.

Studies have shown that playing and learning an instrument has transitive properties that align with academic success, improves social skills and physical coordination. These practical factors work together to showcase the benefits of learning an instrument as a child. Regardless of the instrument you choose, you will find a benefit to their growth and development.