What are the Best Kids’ Musical Instruments to Learn First?
Music and learning to play an instrument can have so many benefits for your child! Learning how to play music, how to sing and listen to music are all a natural part of life. Music is about communication, self-expression and having fun! A rewarding experience that can help your child improve their ability to listen and focus, promote good self esteem, self-expression and problem solving skills, and best of all help your child grow as a person.
The best kids’ musical instruments to learn first can be partly dependent on the age of the student and how long or short their fingers are, but the benefits are the same. The other important element to consider in choosing the best kids’ musical instruments is what your child is most interested in. Have they expressed an interest in a particular instrument already?
The Different Types of Music Instruments
Before choosing the best kids’ musical instruments to learn, it’s a good idea to have a basic understanding of the different types of kids’ musical instruments. Musical instruments are grouped into certain families, which are:
- Keyboards – piano, organ, electric piano, synthesizer
- Strings – violin, viola, cello, double bass
- Fretted strings – guitar (electric, acoustic, classical), bass, 5 string bass, fretless bass
- Woodwinds – clarinet, saxophone (alto or tenor to start), flute, oboe, bassoon
- Brass – trumpet, trombone, french horn, tuba
- Percussion – drum kit, conga drums, other hand drums, tambourine, shakers, cowbell
The Different Styles of Music to Consider
The other element involved in choosing the best kids’ musical instruments is the kind of music they like. Certain kids’ musical instruments are associated with certain styles, although it is possible to play any style of music on everything except percussion. Common associations are:
- Electric Guitar – rock, pop, blues, jazz
- Acoustic Guitar – folk, world music, blues, country, bluegrass, classical
- Keyboards – the most versatile instrument and commonly associated with all kinds of music. Piano is great for technique in the beginning, but electric keyboards have a range of sounds which the student can switch between.
- Woodwind instruments – (clarinet or alto sax) pop, jazz, funk, blues, gospel, classical, folk
- Brass instruments – trumpets and cornets are usually associated with jazz, funk, soul, gospel, rock and classical
Our Recommendation for Your Child’s First Instrument
Unless your child has a specific preference, the keyboard is a good kids’ musical instrument to start with for students aged 7 to 10, since it is the most versatile of all instruments. However, this isn’t your only option! If your child has expressed an interest in a different family of instruments we would recommend the following:
- Guitar if they are 8 to 10 or older
- Violin is another possibility for younger students – however, other string family instruments such as cello or bass are not because children’s hands are not yet big enough to cope with the mechanics of the instrument
- Clarinet is the easiest of the woodwinds, followed by alto saxophone – again, we’d recommend that you child start learning this instrument at about 8 to 10 years old
- The trumpet or cornet (the same instrument, but different shapes) would be the best brass instrument for beginners at around 10 years old
- Drums are best left until the student is 10 to 12 years old, as the feet are involved as well as the hands, and younger children’s legs may not have grown long enough to make drums a realistic possibility
Depending on the length of your child’s arms, hands and fingers, they may be suited to a larger or smaller kids’ musical instrument. For example, a child with shorter arms and fingers will find it difficult to play bass, or a “jumbo” acoustic guitar because of the stretch required. In this situation, a ukulele or a “three quarter” size acoustic guitar would be more suitable.
About the Author
Peter Gelling is an Adelaide based musician, composer and author. While he is best known as a bluesman, he is classically trained and his talents extend to many genres. Peter is the author of many music instructions published worldwide by LearnToPlayMusic.com.
– Continue learning with us at LearnToPlayMusic.com
Hi Peter,
I enjoy reading your article. This post has given me some insight as to how I can guide parents in making the right decisions when allowing their child to take music lessons. I also like the way you use this post to educate parents about the different type of musical instrument.
The recommendations are very good too.
Great post! Thanks for sharing!
All the best.
Thanks Carlinton! Glad to know you found this post useful
Thank you for sharing!
Great article Peter, my daughter is 13 and has been playing piano since 6 years. It was an easy transition to guitar and saxophone from the basics.I live in a small space so the drums are out for now
Thanks
Peter Mckechnie
Teaching Your Kids Music and learning to play an instrument can have so many benefits for your child! Learning how to play music, how to sing and listen to music are all a natural part of life. Music is about communication, self-expression and having fun! A rewarding experience that can help your child improve their ability to listen and focus, promote good self-esteem, self-expression and problem-solving skills, and, best of all, help your child grow as a person.
Age 7 Keyboards. Age 8 Guitars. Age 9 Brass and Woodwind. Age 10 Drums.
Its very very useful Article. You have rightly guided us. Teaching our kids is nowadays very challenging…So we have to teach them and keep them updated. Recently I searched for a new type of teaching like, teach our kids via app so i am collecting app… recently i got this app even though you may try this!!! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ajax.learnmusic
What about flute? Is there a right age to introduce it?
Hi Sammy, The most important factor when starting flute is deciding whether or not the student’s hands are large enough to facilitate playing its numerous keys. As a wind instrument, it is also important that the student has the developed lung capacity to play – at the earliest lessons usually begin around age 7 or 8.
If a student starts out playing the flute and they are too young, often times they will have trouble holding the instrument properly and will lean over to one side while playing. This can be both uncomfortable and unproductive, since they won’t be able to get a good tone while playing – if any tone at all. Luckily, there is a solution for younger/smaller students – the curved head joint. A curved head joint reduces the overall length of the flute, while not affecting the overall sound quality or technique. A curved head joint can allow young flute players to play more comfortably.
Typically, many students will seek formal instruction on the flute as they begin playing with a school orchestra in junior high, around age 11 or 12. Flute lessons will give these students an advantage in that a strong musical foundation will be laid which includes the study of musicianship, music theory, technique, and solo flute repertoire.
Triangle, gong, or cowbell.
Great article Peter! Teaching kids is quite challenging these days. My 8 year old kid is so fluent with the trumpet. The guitar can be challenging…
Very insightful! We think a piano is the ultimate beginner instrument.
The right time to bring music into your child’s life would be around the age of seven. Music is shown to help children improve their skills at everything – sports and academics, and of course their sense of tune.
Ten years old or older for drums is a bit of a stretch. Drums are more than just drum set. You can start with hand drums, maracas, practice pads and sticks, plus they make junior kits that are perfect for 4-6 year olds to start with. Music can be introduced early in any form. Some of the best drummers started at 3-4 years old with hand drums and drum sets. Don’t really think the age suggestions here hold much weight considering most instruments are made in toddler form. Just get your kids hands on with making noise and discovering sounds at an early age, it’s not rocket science.
That’s really an informative post. I appreciate your skills. Thanks for Sharing.
I am thinking of having my little Julia take guitar lessons. Last year, she took up ballet classes and now she told me that she wants to learn how to play the guitar. She is now ten years old and I’m glad that she chose this type of lesson. I had no idea that the size of the instrument depends on the length of the child’s arms, hands, and fingers. Thanks for your blog. I shall then find an instrument that suits my child before signing her up in for guitar lessons.
It’s good to know from your article that children between ages 7 to 10 are advised to start learning the keyboard as their first musical instrument. I’ve witnessed my son playing Youtube videos featuring people who play the piano, but I wondered why he never told me about it. I’ll talk to him tonight and ask if he wants to pursue his interest.