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In our recent post on the benefits of music for a child’s development, we discussed how research from multiple studies showed that young children who had access to musical instrument instruction performed better on math tests and scored higher on the SAT than those who did not. This is demonstrated by the fact that learning a musical instrument stimulates a mental route for logic.

You can cut down on the time you would otherwise spend debating which musical instrument would be ideal for your young child to learn. We will start by defining musical instruments before talking about some of the greatest instruments for your young child to be familiar with right away. To assist you in making a decision that fits within your budget, we will go over some of the basic characteristics of these instruments and provide some Amazon pricing.

Table of Content

Table of Content

What Are Musical Instruments?

Types Of Musical Instruments

Percussion Instruments

Wind Instruments

String Instruments

Electronic Instruments

What Musical Instrument Is Best For A Young Child To Learn?

1. Ukulele

2. Guitar

3. Drums

4. Piano

5. Violin

6. Saxophone

7. Xylophone

Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are Drums A Good Instrument For Young Children?

What Is The Best Age To Start Learning A Musical Instrument?

What Are The Best Musical Instruments For Young Children To Learn In 2023?

Can I Enroll For Virtual Music Lessons At Bow Lake Music?

Ready to find out more? Let’s get to it!

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What Are Musical Instruments?

Simply put, musical instruments are objects made with the intention of producing sound. In the beginning, ancient men produced songs with their bodies — clapping, making noises, and stamping their feet — but as time went by, they turned to the use of simple instruments like horns, sticks, and drums made of animal hide. 

Over time, countless devices, methods, and musical instruments were developed to produce more sonorous sounds. Even today, there are individuals who have committed their lives to use these instruments as a source of income; these people are known as instrumentalists. 

Music is a language of the heart, and musical instruments are the means by which this language is expressed.

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Moreso, there are four fundamental categories of musical instruments based on the ways in which these instruments produce sound. We will now briefly go through each of these types.

Types Of Musical Instruments

You need to become familiar with all of the different kinds of musical instruments if you’re interested in learning them. Exploring various musical instruments is thrilling even if you have no interest in playing any of them. This area of our blog will assist you in making a decision regarding the level of musical education you want for your child.

Percussion Instruments

These are musical instruments that make sound through percussion, i.e., by being struck by hands, other instruments, or a beater. They can also be classified as pitched or unpitched percussion instruments. 

Pitched percussion instruments produce notes with a definite or identifiable pitch. Examples are Xylophones, Vibraphones, Marimba, etc. However, unpitched percussion instruments are those percussion instruments that produce notes with indefinite pitch. Examples are Cymbals, Gong, Tambourine, etc

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Wind Instruments

These are musical instruments that use air as a medium to create sounds of various pitches and operate on the wave theory. The saxophone, bagpipes, and flute are a few examples.

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String Instruments

These are musical instruments that use the vibration of many strings to make a sound. When their strings are pulled, they make noise. The length of the air column inside the instrument and the thickness of the string both affect the pitch and volume of the sound they generate. These instruments include several well-known ones such as the violin, guitar, and harp.

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Electronic Instruments

When it comes to usability and simplicity of learning, electronic instruments top the list. Electronic instruments, in contrast to other conventional instruments, require little input from the musician. Modern technology is applied in these instruments, which operate according to the principles of electronics.

For instance, compare the usability and ease of learning a talking drum — a percussion instrument— and a keyboard — an electronic instrument— The Keyboard is a lot easier and faster to learn as the sound production is enhanced and assisted by technology. Unlike the talking drum where much effort is required to produce just a simple sound. Some examples of electronic instruments are keyboards, octopods, synthesizers, etc.

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In addition, we share our opinions on a few musical instruments your child should learn based on our expertise as a music training school. In our last post, we said that young children who had the opportunity to study a musical instrument performed better on math exams and scored higher on the SAT than those who had not. So why not sign up your kid for one of the listed musical instrument lessons at our business,  Bow lake Music?

What Musical Instrument Is Best For A Young Child To Learn?

1. Ukulele

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The Ukulele, commonly referred to as the “Uke,” is a type of musical instrument in the string family that makes sound by the vibration of its strings and the size of its internal air column. The Ukulele is at the top of our ranking because of its distinctive qualities; unlike the guitar, it has four nylon strings that won’t hurt your child’s finger. They are also appropriate for your toddlers.  In our school, Bow lake Music, the Ukulele comes second on our list of most registered musical instrument training lessons because it is extremely easy to learn.

The Ukulele is a portable, easy-to-use musical instrument that promotes your kids’ development of strong auditory and creative talents. The Ukulele, which is compared to a miniature guitar, can teach your child the fundamental musical notes and rhythms while also fostering their appreciation of music. As it just costs $12 on Amazon, this instrument is easily accessible and affordable. For your kids, this can be a terrific musical introduction.

2. Guitar

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The Guitar is next on our list. In comparison to the ukulele, a regular guitar has six (6) strings and offers a wider range of notes and tones. Any kid can learn the fundamentals of music on the guitar, just like they can on the ukulele.

The guitar can also improve manual dexterity, which is the ability to control regulated movements with hand-eye coordination under specific conditions. As your child develops, this skill will be useful in a variety of situations, including writing, grabbing, and organizing puzzles and other items. Cheap guitars are also available on Amazon for as little as $26.

3. Drums

You can also buy your youngster a set of drums as musical instruments. The noise made by drums, however, worries the majority of parents. Obtaining substitute instruments in place of drums is frequently a source of concern. Parents can choose the electric equivalent, which makes a quieter sound, rather than the traditional set of drums, which is noisier. Your budget for this instrument should be between $50 and $150.

4. Piano

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Our list at Bow Lake Music Learning Center is topped by the Piano. Due to this instrument’s simplicity and quick learning curve, we are frequently astounded by the sheer number of children that come in to study it.

Because it is reasonably priced at our school and pupils complete their musical goals on schedule, the piano also became several parents’ favorite instrument. The keys on a piano are all put out in front of you, making it simpler to reach and master than other string instruments like the guitar or violin, which need a high level of physical dexterity.

The cost is another perk. You have undoubtedly heard that this instrument is pricey from friends or the news. In fact, contrary to popular belief, you can get a child’s piano on Amazon for as little as $21.

5. Violin

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Comparing the violin to some of the other musical instruments we have discussed, the violin is, in fact, a difficult instrument to learn. The difficulty is intended to be a part of the learning process, though.

The fact is that with a great tutor, a school like Bow Lake Music, and your child’s perseverance to push through the initial difficulties that come with learning and mastering the violin, your child will eventually make their way through learning any musical instrument in the world. This is true even though the violin places a significant demand on its user or learner’s manual dexterity.

6. Saxophone

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Another instrument that is ideal for your child to learn is the saxophone. Although it is an advanced instrument, not all children of all ages should play it. Because of its weight, the saxophone takes a lot of strength from the carrier.

Therefore, you should think about whether your children are strong enough to support the weight of the saxophone and hold the instrument for practice before you buy them a saxophone. Before you buy your child a saxophone or sign them up for saxophone lessons, we advise waiting until they are 7, 8, or even 10 years old.

7. Xylophone

We are aware that this term, “simple to learn,” has appeared several times in this post. But this time, we only want you to be aware that the Xylophone is truly the simplest instrument for your children to learn, regardless of their age. We would advise you to acquire a Xylophone or mini-Xylophone for your children in order to introduce them to music while they are still young. For the majority of us, this was our first musical instrument too.

It is a fantastic percussion instrument and the Xylophone is entirely safe. Toddlers enjoy tapping on musical instruments, and the Xylophone is made to be fun for them to play while they are occupied.

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Conclusion

We hope you found this blog post to be interesting. As we draw the curtains, we’d like to point out that before you buy your child an instrument or sign them up for music classes, you should think about talking to them if they’re old enough to express themselves. Furthermore, we would love to know which instrument you or your children decide to play.

Please take note that Bow Lake Music also offers language, coding, and music lessons for your children. Do you wish to learn more? Please get in touch with us on our website or at (587) 997-4616.

Check out our previous post: Children And Music: The Positive Effects Of Music On Child Development.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are Drums A Good Instrument For Young Children?

Yes, you may also purchase drums for your child as a set of musical instruments. However, the majority of parents are concerned about drum noise. They are frequently anxious about replacing the drums with other instruments. However, parents can opt for the electric version, which makes softer noise, rather than the traditional set of drums, which are noisier. Budget between $50 and $150 for this instrument.

What Is The Best Age To Start Learning A Musical Instrument?

As young as three, children can begin learning an instrument. We advise exposing your children to musical instruments from a young age because prior research has highlighted the significance of early exposure to musical instruments for kids, finding that those who had access to learning musical instruments performed better on arithmetic tests and scored higher on the SAT than those who did not. This is demonstrated by the fact that studying an instrument stimulates a mental route for logic.

What Are The Best Musical Instruments For Young Children To Learn In 2023?

The most popular instruments to learn are often the piano, xylophone, ukulele, violin, drums, saxophone, and guitar. Beyond these musical instruments, the list continues. The viola, clarinet, bass guitar, Cajon drum, trumpet, bongos, recorder, triangle, steel pans, cymbal, harp, piano, gong, bagpipes, and octopods are some additional instruments you might think about.

Also remember to take your children’s age, budget, and interests into account while selecting a musical instrument for them.

Can I Enroll For Virtual Music Lessons At Bow Lake Music?

Yes, you can sign up for online music classes at Bow Lake Music for any instrument of your choice. We are a Calgary, Alberta-based provider of music instruction, and we have facilities all around the city. We are experts in teaching the piano, guitar, drums, violin, saxophone, and voice.

Please get in touch with us by visiting https://bowlakemusic.com/ or calling (587) 997-4616.

For the majority of adults, listening to music is a way to pass the time, fight boredom, and for other petty reasons. However, music benefits kids in a lot more ways. Music has a vaooh7riety of advantages for kids, including speeding up language learning and boosting self-esteem.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science has conducted numerous studies that show music fosters children’s ability to learn new words, improve their motor abilities, and develop their creativity. According to neuroscience, listening to music stimulates the brain’s hearing, language, and motor control centers. Also, beyond the realm of research, our personal experiences with music are powerful enough to persuade us of its positive effects. For example, music cheers us up during our moments of weakness.

Hence, we decided to write about some developmental advantages of music for kids in this piece. But first, let’s briefly discuss the historical beginnings of music.

Table Of Contents

Table Of Contents

Origin Of Music

Types Of Music For Children

Music And Children: Benefits Of Music In Child Development

Relaxing music improves your child’s mood.

Children’s analytical abilities are strengthened when they learn to play musical instruments.

Fosters the link between parents and children

Improves cognitive development

Enhances emotional and social intelligence

Good music makes them joyful

Some Musical Instruments To Get For Your Kids

Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How does music affect a child’s brain development?

What are the benefits of music lessons?

What are the benefits of music therapy for children?

Photo from Pxhere

Origin Of Music

Several theories have been put forth on the origin of music, but I would like to focus on the idealism of musicologist Curt Sachs in this article. Sachs said that music has two origins: speech and emotional expression. He stressed that despite regional differences in music, these two distinct musical genres—expressionistic and communicative—evolved independently. In essence, he was arguing that music may be a means of verbal and nonverbal expression of emotions or pure words.

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Types Of Music For Children

There are numerous genres and styles of music in various cultures around the world. But in this article, we will restrict our choices to some kid-friendly tunes you can expose to your children. Some of these tunes are:

• Sing-Along
• Lullabies
• Nursery Rhymes
• Stories
• Music, Pop, and Classical
• Jazz
• Multicultural music

Music And Children: Benefits Of Music In Child Development

Our brief tour of the history of music and some genres to expose your kids to is now complete. Let’s now look at some of the main advantages of music for children’s development:

Relaxing music improves your child’s mood.

The first sound that a developing fetus hears is between 16 and 18 weeks into the pregnancy. By the time the child reaches 24 weeks, the hearing sense has developed enough for it to be able to consistently pick up sounds from its surroundings. At this point, the fetus starts to listen to its mother’s voice and words. Listening to or singing peaceful tunes will help to lift your child’s spirits at this point and even till postpartum. 

Slow, repetitive, and classical songs might help children unwind by slowing their heartbeat. Also, to help children develop a more regular sleep schedule, parents are encouraged to sing lullabies to their children.

Children’s analytical abilities are strengthened when they learn to play musical instruments.

Several studies conducted in the past have shown that young children who were exposed to learning musical instruments fared better on arithmetic tests and received higher SAT scores than those who were not. This is because learning musical instruments stimulates a cerebral pathway for reasoning.

Fosters the link between parents and children

Children tend to recognize their parents’ voices, especially their mother’s, even before they are born. Hence, teaching your child new songs and singing to them is a wonderful way to strengthen your bond with them. 

Improves cognitive development

This is unquestionably the most notable advantage of music for your children. Children are frequently described as quick learners. Your child can be put on the proper developmental path with the appropriate exposure to music at the appropriate time. The extras that come with good music include physical coordination such as jumping, clapping, waving, pointing, slamming, and more. Your youngster can also learn new vocabulary, intonations, pronunciations, and numeracy skills through music. You can as well teach your kids essential ideas through music.

Enhances emotional and social intelligence

When directed toward a common objective, teamwork, social, and the majority of emotional abilities become highly developed. Your child can develop their social and emotional abilities by participating in group activities such as singing, listening to music, learning a new song, or playing an instrument. This might foster a sense of unity among them and their peers. It is also a great means to boost their confidence.

Good music makes them joyful

Have you ever seen children move spontaneously to music? That is because they enjoy good music as well. Beyond brain growth, music is a terrific approach for your youngster to hone their emotions. Music improves children’s moods in the same way as it does for most adults. It is a fantastic method to make your youngster happy; if your child is always gloomy around the house, play enjoyable music continuously and watch as they move from boredom to excitement.

Some Musical Instruments To Get For Your Kids

Choosing the right musical instrument for your kids can be as stressful as shopping for groceries. There are several factors to consider before deciding on which instrument to get for your kids. 

Some of these factors are the age of the child, your budget, and your child’s musical needs. However, out of numerous options to pick from, we decided to help you by creating a simple list of some instruments to get for your kids across different age levels.

Some instruments to get for your kids are:

• Egg Shakers
• Harmonica
• Hand Cymbals
• Xylophone
• Piano
• Drums
• Hand Bells
• Kalimba
• Triangle
• Violin
• Tambourines
• Boomwhackers
• Guitar
• Hand Percussion

Conclusion

Conclusively, your child’s early development will improve by adding music to their norms, routines, and plays. Music can enliven them, provoke thoughts, and stimulate originality. Making and listening to music is an additional way to help your children develop their emotional, literacy, and numeracy skills.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How does music affect a child’s brain development?

The American Association for the Advancement of Science has undertaken multiple studies that demonstrate how music assists youngsters in acquiring new words, increasing their creativity level, and improving their motor skills. Also, the hearing, language, and motor control areas of the brain are reportedly stimulated by listening to music.

What are the benefits of music lessons?

It has been demonstrated in a number of studies that young children who were exposed to learning musical instruments performed better on arithmetic exams and obtained higher SAT scores than those who were not. This is because learning musical instruments stimulates a brain region involved in reasoning. 

Here at Bow Lakes Music, we offered affordable music lessons and instrument training sessions. We will be more than happy to feature in your child’s success story.

What are the benefits of music therapy for children?

Slow, repetitive, and classical music may aid in children’s relaxation because slow music slows down the heartbeat. In contrast, fast music can help lift their spirits. Finally, parents are advised to sing lullabies to their children to help them establish a more regular sleep cycle.