Our Top 4 Tips to Help Your Child Pick an Instrument

Is your little one drawn to music? Has your living room turned into a stage? Wondering how to best support this budding interest?

Check out our top 4 tips for picking the right starting instrument:

1. Come to Kindermusik! In all of our Kindermusik for Little Musician Classes, your little one will be able to touch and feel real instruments including: keyboard, drums, violin, ukulele, recorder and more! Having hands-on experience with these instruments will really help them choose their favorite.
2. Expose your little one to as much variety as you can. Listen to lots of different instruments and musical styles. With more exposure, you’ll have a better idea of what your wee one is drawn to. From Opera to the Beethoven Piano Concertos to the jazz solos of Miles Davis, the more variety the better!
3. If your child is not being drawn to anything in particular, then start with the piano. The piano is the perfect starting instrument because the topography of the keyboard matches the music staff making note reading and musical patterns easy to understand.
4. If your child is drawn to a specific instrument, then start there! If your little one is already showing interest in a particular instrument, then follow their lead. This excitement will help fuel their musical growth. With that said, there are some instruments that are better suited for young children: piano, violin, ukulele, cello, recorder and voice. If your child loves an instrument that is not on this list, then try to pick something similar. For example, if your child wants to play a wind or brass instrument, then start with the recorder.

The beginning of a child’s musical journey is so precious! At MLC, we specialize in helping your little one blossom through music in a positive and supportive environment. We’d love to help your child find their musical passion. Click here to learn more about our private lesson and instrumental/vocal programs.

Written by Amelia Vitarelli, owner and educator of My Little Conservatory in San Jose, CA. Amelia has been enriching the lives of children in Silicon Valley for over 20 years.