Recommended musical instruments for children's lessons
If you’re a parent with a young child, you probably want them to develop at least one thing they’re really good at, right?
The first things that come to mind are often instruments like the piano or violin.
But there are actually far more unique instruments out there.
We’ve picked out a variety of instruments, so be sure to check them out!
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Recommended instruments for children's extracurricular lessons (21–30)
Andes
The Andes, a keyboard recorder released by Suzuki Musical Instruments.
Its cute, chirpy tone reminiscent of a flute and the easy playability like a melodica make it perfect for children.
Its construction is almost the same as a melodica, but the range is narrower, so it might be well-suited for playing children’s songs and the like.
The standard color is green, but there are limited editions in other colors as well.
ocarina
The ocarina, whose name means “little goose” in Italian, is a clay instrument known for its rustic, mellow tone.
Its fingering is similar to that of the recorder and is relatively easy, and since it comes in various sizes, even children with small hands can play it.
You can also play in an ensemble with ocarinas, allowing you to experience playing with others and enriching your musical experience.
cajón
A cajón with snare wires stretched inside a box changes its tone depending on where and how you strike it, making it an instrument that can serve like a drum set or percussion on its own.
It’s often affordable and can even be handmade.
You can play rhythm patterns using only the cajón, or play it like a drum set along with backing tracks.
It’s also recommended for those who feel that overly heavy, hard-edged music isn’t quite their style.
djembe
A djembe is, roughly speaking, an African drum.
It’s an instrument whose tension and pitch can be adjusted by tightening the ropes laced around it.
Even if you don’t know the name, you’ve probably seen one at least once.
While the djembe is strongly associated with Afro and Latin music, it actually pairs very well with rock and jazz too.
didgeridoo
A wind instrument of Australia’s Indigenous Aboriginal people.
Take a look at this video of it being played.
You might think you put the end of the tube to your lips and just blow… but that’s a big mistake! Rather than producing sound by blowing like a flute, the sound actually comes from vibrating the lips.
It’s what’s commonly called a lip roll.
On top of that, players use a challenging technique known as circular breathing.
Adults might feel a bit intimidated listening to it, but kids who love to play and experiment would likely enjoy giving it a try!
trombone
The trombone is an instrument that produces various pitches by moving the slide to change the length of the tubing.
A standard trombone is somewhat large, which can make it difficult for small children, but smaller trombones are now available.
They’re recommended for children who might want to join a concert band or orchestra in the future.
gagaku (Japanese court music)
Gagaku is said to be one of the traditional forms of music that came to full bloom in Japan after passing through China and the Korean Peninsula.
It may be rare for children to encounter such traditional music, but there is no doubt it can be a valuable experience.
Some temples and shrines recruit child members for gagaku ensembles, so why not consider visiting one to observe?