Music is a great way for a child to express themselves in a creative way. It can open up a whole new world for your child, teaching them an appreciation for music, as well as discipline and dedication. Furthermore, learning an instrument can boost self-esteem by giving children a sense of achievement, each time they learn a new note or tune. Additionally, studies have shown that playing a musical instrument can improve academic, physical, and social skills in children.

Choosing A Musical Instrument for a Child

To make sure your child gets the most out of their learning experience, you need to make sure that you choose the right musical instrument. This is not something that you can do alone. It is important that the child has an input in the choice of instrument they want to play, otherwise, you may see their interest waning rather quickly.

There are some factors that will come into play when choosing a musical instrument for a child, such as their age and size. Children who are small in stature may not be able to play full-size instruments, but often there are child versions or smaller compatible instruments that they can get a good learning foundation with. When choosing a child’s first instrument, the most important thing to consider is what instrument your child has expressed the most interest in.

If Your Child is Undecided

If your child has expressed an interest in playing a musical instrument but is unsure of what to play. the piano or keyboard is a great place to start. As one of the most versatile musical instruments is is perfect for children of around age 7 and above to start learning music. It will give them a good understanding of scales, notes, and harmonies. However, the piano is not the only option – there are many choices for a first musical instrument for a child that will help them express their love of music. These include:

• The Guitar – With electric, bass, blues, and acoustic, there are many types of guitar that may be of interest to your child. Once a child reaches between 8-10 years old should be able to handle a guitar, but any younger they may be a little small. A good alternative would be the banjo or ukulele to start their musical journey.
• The Clarinet – If your child has expressed an interest in woodwind instruments, the clarinet is the easiest one to learn and handle. The saxophone would also be a good choice for beginners, as it can be accommodated by small hands.
• The Drums – A full-size drum kit is probably only suitable to children over the age of 10, as the hands and the feet need to be involved, which could be a stretch for smaller children. If your child does want to get involved with drums at an early age, consider a set of electric drums. They are smaller than a full-size kit, and headphones can be plugged in to prevent any excess noise.
• The Trumpet – The easiest brass instruments to learn are the cornet and the trumpet. They will give a great foundation if they choose to move on to other brass instruments in the future.
• The Violin – As one of the smallest of the string instruments, the violin is perfect for young music learners. The larger string instruments, such as the cello and the double bass, could be taken up in the future, but they tend to be too big for shorter arms and smaller hands.

Perhaps your child has expressed a certain interest in a particular style of music, such as funk, jazz, classical or rock. For each of these styles of music, there are musical instruments that are best suited. For example, the electric guitar is mostly associated with rock and blues music, whilst string instruments like the violin are more commonly associated with classical and jazz music. A professional at a music store will be able to take you through all the instruments that are most associated with each style. Furthermore, your child will be able to try out a few different instruments to see which one they take a shine too.

The Benefits of Learning Music as a Child

Since children are curious by their nature, they will take to an instrument quickly and really thrive when they have a love for it. A child will learn so much more than notes and tempos. They will learn how to communicate and express themselves whilst having fun. Playing music is a deeply rewarding experience for a child, which will also improve their focus, listening and problem-solving skills, and boost self-esteem and self-expression. Most importantly, playing a musical instrument will help your child to discover their own identity and grow as a person.

If your child has shown an interest in music, it is important to get them enrolled in some music classes as soon as possible. Having a creative outlet is extremely important for a child, and channeling this creativity into music can be rewarding in so many ways. The right instruction, like that, provided at Brooklyn Melodies, will help your child to nurture their love of music. They provide music classes catering to the very young, right up to adulthood, with a number of musical instruments available.

Get in touch with Brooklyn Melodies today and discuss options with one of their qualified music teachers to see which class will be best to enroll your child in. As the founder of Brooklyn Melodies, Laith Michael states: “The best everlasting gift for your child is music!”